The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-06-10


The Essays Were Excellent Ig-
natius Donnelly Delivered an
Entertaining Address.
Last Monday evening occurred the
third annual commencement of the
Princeton High school. There was
the usual crush of spectators which
shows that the people of the village
are deeply interested in our schools.
Indeed they must be, for the crowd re-
manned in the opera house from 7:45 to
Ills with undiminished numbers,
packing the aisles, anterooms and
stairway almost to suhocation. The
opera house showed the skillful work
of the juniors who trimmed the stage
with potted plants, wild ferns and cut
flowers.
One of the pleasing features of the
evenings entertainment was the cho-
rus of the school children, who had
been carefully trained for the occasion.
The members of the chorus we're
seated on a steep incline at the rear of
the stage and were virtually bank of
rosy children's faces. Their first num-
Der, 'Joy! Joy! Freedom To-day!"
opened the program and was followed
by an eloquent prayer by Rev. G. D.
Moore. Another chorus followed after
which Miss Bessie V. Shaw delivered
the salutatory. In welcoming the peo-
pie of Princeton, Miss Shaw thanked
the taxpayers for the support they had
given the schools making it possible
for the pupils to enjoy the privileges
of an excellent high school and open
ing for them the paths leading to
knowledge. She spoke of the slow but
interesting growth of plants. How
biologists saw in the granite of the
hills the slow growth and upbuilding
which had continued through centur-
les. Perseverance was necessary for
success. The young lady acquitted
herself very creditably and was warmly
applauded at the close.
''Man's Dominion Over Nature' was
the subject of Charles L., Freer's ora
tion The effort showed careful pre-
paration, good thought and delivery,
and was as warmly received as the
previous production. Man at first had
been an inferior animal. He could
not contest with the other animals by
reason of his inferior strength. FL
nally his intelligence came to his aid
and he began the conquest of beasts.
Progress continued until the rivers
had been turned into channels of COM
merce, the lightning was harnessed
for mans service and railroads and
steamships annihilated time and space.
away in order to compel man, Ma.
lures greatest work, to exercise and
develop the superior faculties given
him.
A male sextette executed the next
number, 1.-THE Hunters CALL" a very
pleasing melody, which was greatly
enjoyed by the audience. Miss Anna
Longs essay, "Those Good Old Times,
followed. Miss Long did not believe
that the good old days so often spoken
of possessed as many desirable quail
ties as the present. Formerly the
children of the poor had no opportun
ity to secure an education. Rich men,:
posterity only enjoyed the advantage!
of instruction and to complete thei1
education it was even then necessary
to send them to Europe. Now schoo
houses are on every hill disseminating
wisdom to the children of rich ant
poor alike. Libraries assist in tn,
work of advancement and through tn,
medium of the university extension
college educations may be secured b,
the penniless but persevering seeke
after knowledge. The woman of to
day is mans equal in every pursuit
Through the grand educational system
of this nation the poor are advanced t.
a better plane of life and the ''good oil,
times" are not to be compared will
those of the present. Miss Long has
deliberate and forcible delivery an,
her efforts were received with ap
plause. j..
Joseph S. Mahoney's grafton, ssPriso1
Reform" showed that the young MAJ
had carefully Investigated the method
of criminal correction and had studio,
his subject we'll. He compared tn
old prisons to those of modern days
Every castle formerly had it's towe
and dungeon and while they wer
built primarily to detain criminals ur
! til trial, they frequently contained tn
owners rivals or objects Of his dis
pleasure. John Howard started th
first reform at the beginning Of tn
eighteenth century but the improv,