Arizona weekly citizen., 1895-07-06
YOUNG YUMA GRADUATES.
A Fine Closing Programme Given
 by the Senior Glass.
Amid Applause and Flowers the Boys and Girls Bid Farewell to the
 Grammar Grade.

Yuma, our sister city by the Colorado
 had the honor of graduating the first class from the grammar grade of her schools on the 2lst inst. Prof. Neither ton, who was present and delivered a fine address, stated that it was the frst class ever formally graduated from the grammar grade in Arizona.
 The exercises were held in O'Toole's hall, which had been beautifully decor ated with flags, flowers and evergreeps.
 The programme was exceptionally good and reflects great credit upon the principal, Mrs. E. $. Antrim, for her untiring industry.
 The class gave several fine musical selections and the recitations by Misses Ida F'redley, Stella Hornbeck and Charles Ing Ills were spiendidly render ed and evoked merited applause. An abundance Of lovely flowers were pre-. sented to each member of the class by Mrs. P. D. Ewing and Mabel Morris of Yuma aud Miss Lottie Tompson of Los Angeles, a former schoolmate of the graduates.
 The Philharmonic band gave several meritorious selections.
 The following composed the graduat- ing class: Mir. Luls Ramirez, Mir. | Charles Ingalls,, Mir Jose Molina, Miss Ida Ere Hey, Miss Stella Hornbeck. After the exercises, the class and theIr relatives and friends were entertained by the class of '96. Ice cream, cake aud merry making lasted until 12 o'clock.
 ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY LUIS RAMIREZ. Ladies and gentlemen, friends and parents, 1t gives me great pleasure to bld you, "a behalf of my class, s hearty vel. come to these the closing exercises of our school life in Yuma.
 To us this Is momentuous occasion one to which each day of the past year has continually pointed, and the thought of which nas ever hghtened the labor of long history lesson, has enabled us to tTy once more the difficult problem, to attemp5 With new zeal the analysis of a long sentence. or to study with renewed ia terest the delicate working of the brain.
 Although We have had much hard studyiGg to do, and there have been times 0. Encouragement, times of long and tedious examIl atioDs, 1 believe that 1 express the feelings of my teacher and my class when 1 say that 1t has been a year of earnest and happy work, a year Ot sunshine and pleasure, to us all, and tonight it Is with feeling of pleasure and regret that ws nave attained that for which we have been striving.
 4 feeling of pleasure, since it is always B pleasure and satisfaction to reach the goal for which one sets out, asd feel ing Of regret, since, 1t Is breaking the golden chain of friendship which has bound our class together and to which each day of the past year has added a new and ever brighter link.
 We may enter schools of higher learn ilg, We may have beautiful surroundings, finer buildings, every facility for the higher education which We so much desire, but We eau never forget that, that desire WAS created in the littla known school house in Yuma and we will never spurn the ladder-by which We have ascended.
 Our school life has not only taught us to master the subjects which our gram mar school course has prescribed, but it has taught us that if we wish to win we must be dilligent, persevering and patti ent.
 IL has taught us to be kind and thoughtful for those about us, and to respect the rights of others.
 And if haa tauOht n fO lOva 0ur c0up try that mas given the means of free education to all who are willing to accept it.
 h behalf of my class 1 wish to thank the people of Yuma for our new school house, and for all the facilities they have given us for education.
 I wish to thank the trustees for thei kindly interest in our advancement and fer their hearty cooperation with the teachers for our highest good.
 1 wish to thank all here tonight for showing their interest in us, by their presence, aud 1 wish to thank our teacher for the untiring zeal and patti 7nce which she has worked to bring us to the exercises of this hour.
 We feel that this Is our commence ment, the commencement of our educa-
  ent schools and colleges to which we shall go, may our motto be always there as l. has been here, Onward and Up ward"
 CLASS HISTORY AND PROPHECY.
 As we look back over our early school life in Yuma, we see the little old adobe building ou Main street with it's mud roof and it's broad porches, where many happy hours were spent in playing, swinging, jumping rope and other games that were pleasant pasttlmes, and ln whose large cool rooms We took our first steps in education which were to lead us on through the coming years to the exercises of thIs hour, from this build ing the scene of our school life was changed by the flood of 1891 which swept away our old building and for time our school was continued m the Lyons (Eow Levy) building and from there to the little Methodist church.
 Many pupils were in our class at differ ent times, some leaving school and some moving away, but the class was graded or organized as 1t now +, three years ago with the exception of Helen Rolfe, who joined us from San Bernardino two years ago.
 After having school in the church five montks our new building was completed and it was with great pleasure we moved into II. From that time We have enjoy ed the bright, pleasant rooms and ali it's facilities for making school life interes.- ing. Oar class two years ago consisted of twelve mem bers, but for different reasons they have been obliged to leave school, until only five remaIn to con- plete the grammar course.
 The average weight of our class IS 115 pounds: its average height IS five feet five inches, and the average age is 16 years.
 Although it is small in number we | have been united in our interests and ln | our alm.
 Strong ties of friendship have been