River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-06-27
Commencement Week.


Rosalie Hatherell were exemplary of
what can be accomplished by this
grade of pupils, and were not only a
! credit To the instructor but TO the
students. Twelve from this room
received certificates admitting them
to the first year class in the normal
department.
The next day in the forenoon the
model departments held general
exercises in the chapel. The most
interesting portions of the program
consisted of the hoop, fan, flag and
broom drills, and Indian club swing
ing. Several pretty songs were sung,
and a number of good recitations
| given.
In the afternoon the graduating
classes held their class day exercises.
The parts most appreciated were the
| presentation of ladder by the senior
class, represented by Miss Blanche
Langdon, to the elementary class,
represented by Mr.. w. +. Lusk: the
Characterization in "Shakespearian
| language" of the numbers of the
elementary class by Mr.. Lusk an old
| fashioned reading class conducted by
Miss Maggie Anderson; and the class
song, medley in which many neat
hits were made, compliments given,
and regrets at leaving the school ex-
| pressed.
June twentieth ushered out from
the State Normal School, six gradu-
ates and twenty-five students who had
satisfactorily completed the ele-
mentary course. The exercises were
held in the chapel of the Normal
building before a house packed with
the relatives and friends of the out
| going students.
The stage was simply decorated
with flowers: the back ground consist
ed of two large U. S. flags, a drapery
of white bunting, and large engrav-
| ing of Columbus as a centerpiece.
The senior class motto, "Nulla
Vestigia Restrorsum, occupied a
place on the right. and by its side was
| the dream, Duty, Deed of the ele-
mentary class. Besides Pres. w. d.
Parker, the stage was occupied by
Rev. Mckenzie of the NJ. E. church,
who, after the chorus, Welcome"
by the school, offered the invocation.
Maggie Anderson, Margaret Ashton,
Henry A. Bruenn, Amy NJ. Chapman,
William Albert Clark, OrlO l.. Fuller,
Hattie L. Flint, Laura E. Flint,
| Charlotte b. Grant, Ethel ID. Grant,
John L. Hale, Anna b. Kane.
William Il. Lusk, Daniel j. O'Keeffe,
Patrick A. O'Keeffe, Hermione A.
Pratt, Charles E. Seller, Jesse p.
Soper, Rose l.. Thelen, Amanda
Thorson, Nelson 0. Varnum and
| Agnes A. Walsh, who constituted the
elementary class then ranged in two
lines in front of the stage and re-
ceived their certificates from Pres.
Parker who in a short address adj
monished them to remember that
only the half way mark had been
reached in their progress toward
graduation and that they should keep
in mind their duties toward the state,
their patrons and them selves.
After a quartet well rendered by
Misses Dodge and Langdon and
Messrs. Mackin and Miller, Miss
Jennie Harnsberger read her thesis
"A Dream of Music" in which she
| spoke of the Emusic of the spheres"
and the influence of music in uplift-
ing and humanizing mankind.
Mr.. Edwin Ii. Bratberg then
delivered an grafton on industrial
Liberty as Factor in Human
Progress" and after showing that
love of liberty had overthrow tyran-
meal and oppressive governments
and established better administra-
tions. he argued that love of liberty
would successfully conn bat the wrench
ing, grasping octopOd of capital which
threatens the life of our nation thro'
its oppression of the working classes.
George Kern Purves next spoke on
"Myths-Their Origin and Influence.
lie traced myths from their origin in
the superstitions Of the early people,
thro' various transformations until
they formed the basis for a religion
which is most potent in shaping the
destiny of people.
After the semi-chorus, &c
night Beloved, Miss Blanche Langdon
read her thesis, Truth in Mythol-
ogy," in which she dwelt on some Of
the pretty superstitions of the
emphasized the importance of
familiarity with mythology i'm order
TO properly understand much stand
ard literature.
Miss Bernice Emily Roberts in her
thesis, zone of the Ships that Pass in
the Night" eulogized Rev. Gunsaulus
for the influence he had left in his
wake, and asserted that every one was
a ship that, crossing another's track
in the night, spoke and vanished,
leaving only the influence of the
word.
William Nelson Mackin closed the
ella IS exercises by an able Grafton on
"The Teachers Influence" in the
course of which he alluded to the pure,
upright character and strong, decisive
personality which a teacher should
possess, and the consequent influence
on the pupil. At the close of the
Grafton Mr.. Mackin was greeted with
round of applause.
After a sextet, Their Native
Land" rendered by Misses Dodge,
| Langdon, Lien and Heasley, and
Messrs. Mackin and Miller, Pres.
Parker presented the diplomas and
made the classa short farewell address
and dismissed It's members with
"God bless you" The school lead by
Mrs Florence NJ. Thatcher then sung
1.-The Revel of the Leaves and the
president formally declared the term
| closed.
Books and bouquets in profusion
were presented the out going students,
congratulations poured in upon them,
| 1 Il !