The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-25
AIGH SCHOOL HON0RS
The Graduates Receive
Their Medals at the
Commencement Last
Night.
UNUSUALLY BRIGHT ESSAYS
Miss Brensinger Voted the Best
Speaker Mr.. Cowles' Address
The Graduates Dance.

The High School Commencement was
held last night in the Academy of Music.
It was an excellent programme. The
essays were of a high grade. The subjects
were interesting and they were worked up
we'll. When the curtain rose the gradu-
ates, the chorus and the Board of Educa-
ton were seated on the stage. In front
were the flowers sent to the graduates by
their friends. The audience applauded
the pretty sight. Principal Charles
Haskell presided. Cranmer's orchestra
played IN overture. Life a Dream"
Eilenberg. The Rev. Charles ]. Allen
made the invocation. The orchestra
played .Canzonetta,, Langey-and Super
%intendent Henry Snyder presented the
class. He said the High School presented
the ninety-one graduates of the four and
two years courses as examples of what it
can do. 1t is ready, and it is not afraid
to have the world judge the school by the
class; not by its essays, but by the work
1t will do in the world in years to come.
Miss Emma Olivia Mencke, Salutatorian
of the January class, gave the salutatory.
She welcomed the Board of Education,
Mr.. Snyder. the faculty of the school and
the parents and guests. She said hers
was the smiling task of welcome and she
hoped all would enjoy the exercises.
Miss Frances Melita 'Corbett had for
her subject THE Debt of Gratitude" She
spoke of the Bunker Hill Monument
erected to the heroes of the Revolution.
of the Grant tomb and the monuments
of the civil war. and she said it is well
that our gratitude is recognized by the
monuments. There are debts of gratitude
which can never be repaid, debts not to
heroes of wars. but to literary heroes.
She quoted VOLTS remark that he would
rather be the author of Gray's Elegy
than lead the English to victory. and said
that the great writers of the century are
the people to whom we owe the greatest
debts of gratitude. ,Their work will last
and will help others. Miss Corbett had
an easy name and a pleasing delivery
The chorus sang a four part chorus by
Balfe.
Miss Anna Marie Jensen. vaiedictorian
of the January class, gave a character
study of Robert Louis Stevenson. She
e~ulogized both his character and his
works. She said the good the gentle man
in his far away Samoan home did for
humanity is i~ncalculable. Miss Jensen
praised his versatility and marveled at
the diverse types of characters he tells
about.
The subject of the speech by Mr.. George
j. Fermier of the Commercial Glass was
Commerce and Civilization" He said
the two are closely allied: m al
ways brings civilization. Whenever new
sources of commerce are opened civiliza-
ton ensues. In history the civilization of
barbaric nations in all parts of the world
is the result of commerce. Mr.. Fer1mier
closed with a hope that the audiences
would appreciate the civilizing power of
and respect it. Two numbers
sung by twelve young ladies (a) The
Smiling Dawn, Haendel, (bl Cottage
Wee B~eschnitt, were a pleasant feature
of the programme.
Miss Adeline Katherine Roster in 1.-THE
Wal Drum Silent" made a plea for arbi-
tration. She was so earnest in her sup
port of it that she gained the sympathy
of the audience Immediately. III said
that this killing of people by civilized
nations is barbarous. She quoted the
Duke of Wellington and Grant to show
t y great warrlors nave a horror
millions of people and the billions of
money Napoleon cost France, of the
Iatherless children and the widows made
by his wars. She drew a strong pic
ture of the desolaticn of France and
then gave a. picture of the happiness
France would have had had Napoleon
spent the billions in educating the peo-
pie. Miss Roster said arbitration must
come, and she hoped the audience would
do them best to help them along. Miss
Rosters sweet, rich voice added greatly
to her excellent speaking.
Miss Helen Ferret Page, Salutatorian of
of the Ages She said it is common
now to talk of the wonderful inventions
and discoveries of the nineteenth CEN
fury. She wished to call attention to the
Inheritance of the ages. She spoke of
The architectural beauties of Greece and
Rome that have been handed dow
through the ages We do not stop and
consider how grateful we should be for
this inheritance. Ever now though we
build on steel and iron, the outward
form differs but slightly. The architee-
forefathers, and it is as important in its
effect upon people as the discoveries of
today. The orchestra played a selection
chorus sang THE Heavens Are Telling
from The Creation," Haydn.
Miss Louise Edith Mackay delivered
livery was excellent and her gestures
were forceful. She seemed to enjoy see
ing the blank amazement on the faces
in the audience as they listened to her
glib phrases in a to many unknown
tongue. She said money is. indeed, nee
essary and is an important factor in
everyday life.
Miss Katherine T.. Harvey sang very
sweetly, 'sS~pringtime,' Becker, and an
encore, .Mignonne." D'Hardelot.
Miss Thekla Petersen spoke strongly in
favor of Society, the Great Educator
in their way. but they do not ompa
with society as an educator. All these
things are good they are necessary, but
society educates more surely than any.