The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1897-06-11
COMMENCEMENT
The Class of '97 Goes From School Life
to LIES School.
ATTENDANT PARTICULARS ATTRACTIVE
Exercises We're Held in the Congre-
gationai Church and Attend
ance as Usual Exceeded
all Provisions Made.

Last TTludy eVcHluS, the MCSOOk uiSI
school graduated a class of thirteen
seven girls and six boys. The com
mencement exercises were held in the
Congregational church, and as usual the
attendance largely exceeded all provi
sions that could be made for the accom-
mediation of the people-for nothing
seems to warm their hearts cookies and
draw them out en- masse like the com
mencement exercises of the city's pride,
our city schools.
At the appointed hour, the members
of the class. the orator of the evening,
and the awarder of diplomas took their
seats on the rostrum to the music of a
march from the new school piano. The
scene was an inspiring one: Pretty girls
in simple but attractive hummer raiment,
manly boys in conventional black, drap.
cry, evergreens, rugs, flowers in great
%profusion.
The school sang, God Save Our Pres
ident'' with hearty will and voices strong,
after which Rev. G. w. Sheafor delivered
an impressive invocation. The brass
quartette, Messrs. H. P. Sutton, J. F.
Kenyon, F. A. Pennell and S. c.. Beach,
played one of their popular selections.
The salutatory was delivered by Miss
Edna Dixon in a strong, clear voice as
follows. 1t was brief, but to the point:
sALUTAToRY.
Dear Friends: This evening we meet
to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the
commencement exercises of the McCook
public schools. To you we extend a
hearty welcome. I see before me many
former years stood where we nov stand:
we are glad to see them return nee more
to the exercises of their school. To you
whom we leave in the school-room, we
acknowledge the pleasure we have had
lin working with you; and we welcome
you tonight.
1t is a fitting time for us, as ~arclass, to
express u indebtedness to the McCook
public schools. The lessons in literature,
the lectures in chemistry, the theorems
in geometry, and the TRANSACTIONS in Vir-
gil, have. developed our minds and
strengthened our characters. These will
enable us to fight life's battles better;
and it is with regret that we leave our
school.
You come with fragrant flowers and
best-wishes to cheer us, and for all these
we thank you; and when in the future,
we look back on our school-days spent in
McCook, your memory will haunt us like
pleasant dreams. By our good works we
trust to merit your approval.
Then followed a vocal solo-"Song of
the Brook by Nunu-by Mrs. A. P.
Bonnet, which was artistically rendered
and received warm marks of appreciation.
The orator of the evening was then in
troduced, and after somewhat profuse
announcement, Hon. N. K. Griggs of
Lincoln launched upon one of the most
fantastic, though original and forceful,
addresses ever heard in this city on a
similar occasion. We shall o attempt
to follow the eminent gentleman's ome
what torturous ways. His remarks were
not intended to be orthodox nor his style
oratorical. He urged the study of nature
to supplement that of books and in
weighed strongly against the disposition
of graduates to leave the farm and go into
the already over-crowded professions;
mingling his suggestions and advice with
some warm roasting of woman suffrage
advocates, cigarette smoking ETC., in the
which he was more pertinaciously blunt
and upsettingly frank than artistic. The
address was unique. After its conclusion,
Mr.. Griggs favored the audience with a
number of songs and Rotations of his
own manufacture, which were evidently
appreciated.
The school children sang PERI Merri
Dictum'' with spirit and enthusiasm, and
the following bright and "hitty" class
history was read by William McManigal:
CLASS HISTORY.
Ladies and Gentlemen: To me is given
the task of presenting the Class History,
and in spite of Napoleon's statement
that history is a series of lies agreed up
on, 1 q assure you that this has not been
agreed upon.
The superintendent has frequently told
US that in some respects we are superior
to any other class he has graduated.
With the exception of the qualifying
clause we are inclined to agree with him.
We have been together many years in
school and out. We have frequently
quarreled, of course, but only that. we
might kiss and make up. And we are