Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-06-03

For years Rocky Ford has been proud
OF her public schools. It has been tho
good fortune OF the district to elect di-
rectors who were deeply interested in the
educational advancement of the commu-
nifty and who gave much intelligent
tllought and management to the schools.
The result has been that tho schools OF
Rocky Ford take rank with the best in
the state.
Another successful year closed last
week with fitting, and highly enjoyed
ceremonies. Commencement week
opened with the bnecalaurcate sermon by
DR.. Slocum Of Colorado College, Colo
rado Springs, on Sunday afternoon at the
opera house. The attendance was large
and the sermon received the warmest
commendntion, being voted by mnny to
be the ablest discourse ever addressed to
Rocky Ford audience.
Tuesday evening came the high school
commencement. II is on occasions like
this that the need Of larger public
building is felt. For ordinary assem-.
blages the Odd Fellows hall is OF ample
capacity, but when the people OF district
No. 4 turn out to testify their interest in
our superior public schools the room is
only half large enough. Standing room
wasat a premium. The capacity Of a sar-
dine box was never more fully tested
than the hall was during the commence
ment exercises. The stage was beauti-
fully decorated. Arched over the front
WINS the class motto, "Onwarl md Up
ward" wrought in graceful letters Of
green. The sides OF the stage were COW
cred with artistically arranged floral Or
namentation. The stage settings were
handsome.
The program opened with the invoca-
ton by Rev. 8. j. Greear and was inter-
spersed with vocal music by the Misses
Larmorc, Mesdames Hall and Robords,
Messrs. Maltby, Young, Smith, Bolles,
Elser and Burr.
Miss Letha Shumate's Grafton was de-
livered in clear strong voice md was
an eloquent and ingenious plea for q
right estimate OF woman's worth and for
her proper treatment in all the relations
shown to be in proportion to the develop
ment Of christian civilization. A high
but not too elevated view was taken Of
woman's influence in the worlds work i.
Miss Jessie Thompson's address forci-
bly, presented the value Of energy and
persistence in human activity. Will
power and determination were shown to
beimportnnt factors in material success.
Laborious use OF the talents possessed
was rightly estimated to be the secret oi
| n successful career. Hard work is more
pot ent than genius in the effort to win
ron own.
Miss Minnie Egbert's Grafton dealt
with the elevation Of character rs con-
nected with mental activity. There was
great danger in allowing nction to pre-
ceed Thought. The rule to think twice
before YOU speak WAS an excellent one,
Miss Egbert's address wns replete with
good advice, which could be profitably
followed by both young and old.
Miss Gertrude Guthrie spoke OF char
acter building as the all.important work
OF life. Our Individuality will hive
more to do with our success than the
degree of culture We mny DO able to at.
tain. Tho highest human qualities cease
to be such when they are devoted to pure
ly relish ends. Love OF something
higher than ones self WINS tho secret oil
true greatness.
Miss Jennie Gobin delivered the vale.
dictory md. tho subject Of her address
was "Clouds and Sunshine. She spoke
Of the folly Of looking ut the ugly things
Of life in preference to the beautiful, as