The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-06-28
4" NITI EST vINCERE."
Annual Commencement Exercises OF the
Paw Paw High school.


OF the Paw Paw high school were held
at the rink last Wednesday evening and
were of "A character that reflected great
credit upon the class as well as upon
the corps of instructors who have had
charge of the school.
The stage, under the direction of Mrs.
Rose Miller, who has a talent for that
kind of work seldom equaled, was beau
tifully decorated for the occasion, being
profusely draped with lace curtains
generously loaned for that purpose by
some of our enterprising and public
spirited merchants. and elegantly
spread with fine carpets and rugs. At
the back of the stage, standing out in
large white letters from a background
of green, were the words, "Class of 49,"
and above this the class colors, yellow
and green, handsomely illuminated.
The stage was divided by the curtains
of lace into three compartments, the
center being occupied by the class and
Prof. Wilson, the right by the principal
and assistant, the clergymen and board
of education, the left by the yocalists
and pianists while over the stage in front
was displayed the motto of the class,
NIT est Vincere," TO strive is to con-
quer), and the whole beautifully illumi-
cent electric lights, the body of the hall
being lighted with couple of arc lights,
all of which had been specially placed
for the evening.
At the appointed hour, as the Dowagiac
orchestra was discoursing selection
from the comic opera, "Gasparone," the
lights were turned on, and the class
and teachers marched down the aisle
and took their appointed positions on
the stage.
The exercises were opened by brief,
but appropriate invocation by Rev. w.
Il. Stinchcomb which was followed by
another selection by the orchestra.
Miss Ann X. Dillon then delivered
the salutatory, which was addressed to
Friends, teachers, members of the
board of education, and citizens of Paw
Paw" The self-possesslon, clear enun-
citation and intelligence displayed by
the fair speaker fairly captured the vast
audience of l 200 listeners and marked
the auspicious beginning of one of the
finest commencement exercises ever
held in Paw Paw.
The next number on the program was
"Heroic Lives" by Harry +. Douglas,
who handled his subject in way that
evinced much culture and deep thought.
Like the others of the class, he acquit-
ted himself in manner that merited
the applause he received as me took his
seat at the conclusion of his interesting
address.
He was followed by Mr. II f. Squier,
who sang Il fine solo, entitled Sun of
my Soul" Our people have learned to
expect a musical treat whenever they
have an opportunity to listen to Mr..
Squier's singing, and their expectations
were not disappointed on this occasion.
Miss Floy Snow accompanied the singer
on the piano.
The next number was reading by Mr.
A. Lynn Free, who chose selection
that gave him fine opportunity to dis
play his well known elocutionary abii-
ty and which was by no means the least
interesting part of the program. His
familiarity with his subject, King
Robert of Sicily" would warrant his
effort being called recitation, instead
of select reading.
Another beautiful selection, Behind
the Scenes" was rendered by the or
chestra, after which came the 'Class
Prophecy and History" by Jonathan w.
Hunt. The fanciful and humorous ideas
of the speaker as he portrayed the flu
ture lives of his classmates were great
ly enjoyed by his hearers The class
history was brief, and showed that out
of a class of twenty-eight members who
entered the high school four years ago,
but four bad practiced the class motto
until they had completed the course.
"Jottie" did himself credit, both in the
matter of his oration and the manner
of its delivery.
Mrs. +. II Harvey then sang "A solo
that greatly delighted the audience, the
beautiful rendering of which by the tai
ented songstress mede it a fit compan-.
ion piece to the one previously rem
dered by Mr.. Squier. Mrs. w. K. Sell
lick accompanied Mrs. Harvey ON the
piano.
Mr.. Free then favored his listeners
with another select reading, taken from
"King john" which was followed by
another selection by the orchestra, at
the close of which Miss Dillon read a
fine essay entitled "Blind in the Midst
of Beauty" Beginning by aluding to
physical blindness, she passed to blind
ness as to the beauties of nature, artistic
blindness, literary blindness, and con-
cluded by commenting on spiritual
blindness. Her production, called an
essay simply because she held the paper
in her hand, but which she did not con-
suit, was one that showed large de-
gree of intelligent research and would
have been creditable to person of
much matUrer years than the young
authoress.
Following Miss Dillon, Harry Douglas
pronounced an appropriate valedictory,
not rs lengthy as is usually the case on
such occasions, but none the less inter-
esting on that account. His words were
well chosen and were fitting conclu-
sion to the class work of the course
The president of the board of educa-
ton, Mr.. w Rowland, then conferred
on the members of the class their well
earned diplomas, which will entitle
them to enter the Michigan university
without examination, should any of
them desire so to do.
After another selection by the orches-
ira, Rev. A. l.. Kennan pronounced the
benediction, and another school year
had passed into history.
Besides those who took part in the
pragram, a diploma was conferred on
James OGrady, a member of the class,
who was compelled to leave school a