Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-13
RECEIVED Their DIPLOMAS.
THE CLASS OF 's6 GRADUATED
WITH H0N0RS.
The Abilene High School Commence.
msnt Greeted With the Usual
Large Audience, Plenty Of APP
plause and Many Bouquets.


plause and Many Bouquets.
Commencement in these latter
DAYS means more than it used to.
It includes addresses, sermons, pres
ents and new dresses but 1t Is never
theless an enjoyable and to the
participants a memorable occasion.
The browning hour Is the graduation
Of the class which receives the honors
Of the day and in the case Of the
class Of '95 Of the Abilene high
school the honors were freely bestow-
ed by the friends Of the graduates.
The sixteen young people who sat in
q semi-circlc on a handsomely
decorated stage at the opera house
last Thursday, with 1885" in white
letters above them, saw in front Of
the footlights an audience which
filled the house, nearly every seat
being occupied. The IA young ladies
Of the class were all dressed in white
and made q pretty appearance
All spoke their lines with ease and
voiced helpful sentiments and earnest
words Of philosophy, description and
advice. They had completed four
long years Of study and had right
to be philosophical II they wished, to
be reminiscent II they chose and to
indulge in pleasantries at the ex-
pense Of their fellow citizens.
THE GRADUATES.
Not all the efforts Of the graduates
were in the line Of essays and orations.
BY giving them an opportunity to
use their talents in recitation and
defamation a pleasing variety was
given to the program.
II. Lois Mutt whose rank in class
entitled her to the honor Of giving
the salutatory acquitted herself with
honor. Her theme was "Deyelop-
ment." She compared the growth
and development Of mind to that OF
flowers and drew a parallel between
the realm Of thought and that Of
nature, leading to immortality as the
browning feature Of the souls domin-
ion.
Mary A. Giles made no attempt in
her Grafton on "Soclal Ethics to
enter psychological discussion but
made q striking argument for such
social surroundings as will uplift and
not degrade. A man is known by
the company he keeps and owes 1t to
himself to keep only the best. Her
Grafton was well delivered and care
fully written.
Daisy G. Hunton exercised her
storytelling ability by giving a charm
ing original short story, ITO Be or
Not to Be-" 1t was a helpful uplift-
Ing sketch Of young girl who, dis
Outraged with her lot in life, deter
mined to end her existence by |
drowning herself. On her way to
the river she received new hope in
the open country, Its flowers, birds,
blue skies and the sunset. The ex-
perience was well told and the inter
est well sustained.
Frances Hornaday had m essay,
1.-The Power OF Circumstances" She
held that environment made the man,
that had Washington gone to sea as
he desired when youth he might
never have been great, had Napoleon
not followed war he might not have
been heard Of in history. Her argu-
ments were brought up in pleasing
array and she made strong plea for
her position.
Grace A. Toliver devoted her time
to criticism Of Goods FOOL the
much discussed novel by Maarten
Martens, the Dutch writer. While
admitting its strong interest she
thought that the motive Of its most
thrilling incident was weak, that Its
characters had not enough Of strong,
living personality to make them for
long figures in fiction. She had EVIL
IDENTIFY read the book closely and done
hard thinking on its literary style.
Lillian +. Jackson's essay, "Shirk-
ing Responsibility a Crime Against
Humanity" was plea for greater
independence of character, willing
ness on the part OF each to bear his
or her part in the worlds battle. The
man who refuses to do this plays q
towards part and deserves only the
condemnation of his fellows.
Daisy |. Balliet's offering was a
recitation made up Of selections from
q number Of thrilling scenes from
spirited pieces Of verse. They gave
an opportunity for showing her ex-
ceptional talents in defamation and
she acquitted herself well.
Lolita M. Northcraft delivered in
spirited style an GRAFTON, "0ur Coun-
try's Heroines.' She praised in well