The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-06-11
ALUMNI BANQUET.
Redwood High School Graduates
Get Together.

The alumni of the Redwood Falls
high school held its annual banquet at
Hotel Francois last Friday evening.
The parlors of the hotel were appro-
priately decorated with roses and
house plants for the occasion.
Prior to the commencement of the
banquet the band serenaded the alum
nj, the latter INDUCED in reminiscenc-
es of old school days and in renewing
acquaintance. Several piano solos
were rendered.
About ten o'clock the dining room
was thrown open and the alumni,
headed by the class of '96, marched in
and took their places at the tables.
The latter were arranged in L shape,
with A. M. Welles Of Minneapolis,
former principal of the school, at the
head as toastmaster.
After partaking of the various cours-
es Miss Fannie Everett introduced
Mr.. Welles as POSTMASTER of the occa-
sion, and the latter, in an exceedingly
happy and humorous strain conducted
the toasts of the evening. The address
of welcome was delivered by J. R.
Hitchcock, and was responded to by
James Beecher. Prof. F. V. Hubbard,
who was succeeded by A. M. Welles,
was booked to respond to the early
Days of Our High School," but he
was unable to be present. He sent
etter of regret, which was read by
Secretary Daisy Clayson. Miss Birdie
O'Hara responded to "School Remin-
iscences," Miss Ella Hawk to "The
Old Maid," Prof Torrens to "The Old
Bachelor" Frank Clayson to "Bene
dicthood," Geo. Stegner to "The Glass
Tree Emily Wilson to The Alumni
Babies" and then came Mr.. Welles'
speech on "In Memoriam." The
speech was tribnte to the characters
of the departed William Brainerd
Finn and Malvina Hammer, and was
\ as follows:
There is no flock however watched and
But one dead lamb is there;
There is no fireside howsoe'er defended,
3 But there's one vacant CHAIR.
The grim DESTROYER has entered the ranks
INf,v 10 ha Nd = M r. II ia
r full bloom of youth two OF your beloved COM
paniOnS; at this festive board tonight there
are two vacant chairs But tho gone these
twain are not forgotten Their memories
. linger with us and will be fOndly cherished
while life shall last. 1t is my sad, yet pleas
3 ant duty to pay tribute to the memories of
the departed ones: sad, because of the ten
q der ties that have been broken, pleasant, for
= I am ever glad to bear testimony to the
. worth of those who are near and dear, even
I though death has come between US
1 How we'll do l remember that bright Sept
:. ember morning decade ago when ! hrst
= Redwood Falls high school Among the faces
that greeted me on that occasion was that of
Malvina Hammer. Quiet, modest unassum
, ing, her daily tasks we'll and COnSClentIOuSly
j performed. her hand ever ready TO help and
her heart always opento every call for sym
!. pathy, she went in and out among US her
= life continual benediCtiOn The light OF
heaven ShOne from her eyes and her sweet
O ! smile mrrored the purity of her soul. Those
. who knew her best loved her most. l often
r used to think that the positions of teacher
and pupil should be changed and that
g ought to sit at her feet and learn lessons OF
Christian love and torbearance: AS she
b stood on the stage in the hall on the evening
of June II. 1887, and read her essay and re
J. Ceived her diploma. little did she, or any OF
\ US think that her originating dress was tc
. ways, and when the leaves began to fall He
y called her home. AS her pale form. r0bed il
q white, lay in the CaSket, that sweet smile
. that we knew so well in life, fingered on hel
IS lips, and it seemed as if she must speak to Us
from beyond the shadows. AS we laid hel
a away the rain fell gently. as though all ma
ture wept that one 50 good and pure SHOULD
q linger with us for such a little while. We
, turned away from the new made grave witt
d bowed heads and ChaStene1 hearts, but the
o memory of the one who had gone remainet
% with us, an inspiration in our daily labOrS.
O But twelvemonth had passed before
- death again invaded the ranks OF ST an(
: carried away William Brainerd Finn. vii
lie was a bright, manly fellow, the soul D
:, honor and a universal favOrite. never say
a youth whose latent posi- bilitleS developed
% 50 much in the same time as did his durin:
the year / had the privilege of acting as hi
II instructor. He was inclined to be a dream
er and needed a rude awakening. 1t tool
some time to arouse him, but when aWak
< he arose grandly to the occasion. Ottel
smile as l recall the argument l had wit
Ut him over his graduating Grafton. He hat
worked out line of thought and it too
III some time to convince him that a chang
o was desirable. He stood manfully to nj
Z, guns during the argument and when tnall
u forced to CaDitulate, surrendered GRACEFUL,
y but with CoiorS flying. How proud we Wer
ia of him when it came his turn to speak O
graduating night. He awoke to full reali
a. tzatiOn of his abilities, threw his whole sou
into the delivery of his part and won rOun
s. after round of applause. He had complete
one year of study at the State Universit
w and had just entered upon second. whe
:: disease laid its heavy hand upon him an
10 they brought him home to die. He LINGERIE
40 a few days, patient sufferer, and then pass
~ ed peacefully away. There was sorrow /
#. the high school when the news of Willie,
- death reached us. And when we gathere
err to pay our last tribute to the departed, tn
taSSet that that hid the form so dear wa
ut covered with flowers affections Offering
and our ewes were dimmed with tear
e., Again the Clods fell upon the coffin and agai
- we turned homeward with heavy heart
eF But we sorrowed not as those who have n
;, hope, for we knew that Willie had chose
the good part and had entered into rest.
n So Malvina and Willie have only passed O
~ a little while before us to complete their eC