Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-05
SPEECH and SONG BY SIGNS
Deaf Mutes Entertain Their Friends at the
Annual Commencement,
CLASS OF THIRTEEN IS GRADUATED
Years work of the Iowa school for
II Deaf Brought To n Close
by a Very Pleasing
Program.

Yesterday was commencement day at the
Iowa School for the Deaf, and crowds of peo.
pie from the city and the vicinity of the in.
stitute thronged it's halls to witness the silent
exercises.
All departments where the students work
was displayed and the large lecture room
were beautifully decorated, and the air was
sweet with the rich perfume OF flowers. Red,
white and blue bunting draped the platform
and across the arch was suspended the motto
OF the graduating class, ION This Foundation
We Build" Other notices woven in ever
green were placed at the back of the room.
Incandescent lights with colored globes were
promiscuously arranged among the decora-
tions on the platform and the initial letters
OF the name of the institution formed a mono
gram in red, white and blue, which was placed
in the center OF the background of the stage
and illuminated with small incandescent
lights. Huge vases of roses and peonies with
various were intermingled with the
other decorations OF the platform, and In all
made an effect that was extremely beautiful.
The girl graduates were dressed In pure
white and the young men wore neat hitting
suits OF black, and as they formed in a semi
circle and in concert recited the class poem
In their silent language the scene was very
ailiBl anu itI Al .
thirteen this year and is composed Of five
girls and eight boys. The essays and other
oratorical exercises showed some ready wit
and deep thinkers among them.
Miss Edith Plots, speaking for the grad
uating class, extended a cordial welcome tc
the friends present In her salutatory address.
The poem Truth" by Rev. George w. Crof,s 6,
was recited In concert by the graduating
class. CUBA was the subject of an essay
by G. w. Clark. 1t was a well constructed
article on the history of the island and the
revolution now in progress there.
Mary C. Baerthel gave an essay entitled
"a Mothers Influence" 1t contained some
excellent advice. Four little girls with glossy
auburn curls, wreathed with artificial sun
flowers, in concert recited the poem -Four
Little Sunflowers.' The audience seemed to
hold its breath as the clear voice of the prin-
cipal's daughter read the pretty little poem
and the eight little arms and hands so grace
fully expressed its words In the sign Ian
guage. Miss Bessie Blake recited THE May
Queen" and Miss Jennie NJ. Duea recited
Rock of Ages" beautiful selections and well
rendered. Lille Ward and Lila Purchaser
each gave an oral recitation, which was a
good example of the way the voice may be
developed and used by the deaf.
THE Fox on the Wall was rendered par
TALLY in p%antomime and partially in the sign
language by John G. Halpin. 1t was one of
the best numbers on the program.
NFiilluI " ~ otioHb lis duuTtss
in a sober and digulfed manner that was
we'll becoming TO the valedictorian of the oc
casion. His address was full of expressions
of gratitude to the people of Iowa and to the
superintendent and instructors of the insti
tuition.
A number of little girls gave a gymnasium
drill, after which the graduating class gave
the farewell hymn, God BE with YOU and
then received their diplomas.
AT the close of the formal exercises the
visitors were invited to inspect the rooms in
which the students work was displayed. The
display Of needle work was unusually fine.
Those graduating this year were: Bessie
Blake, Churdan, Greene county; Mary Cath
erina Baerthel, Cedar Rapids, Linn county
Edith Plots, Russell, Lucas county; Kate
Ella Daily, Lone Tree, Johnson county; Jen-
ME Matilda Duea, Roland, Story county
George Washington Clark, Hartford, Warren
county; Albert Charles Clouss, Jackson Cen
ter, Webster county; John Garland Halpin,
st. Joseph, Mo-; William Charles Smith
Oelwein, Fayette county; William Morris
Strong. Platts City, No.; Ira Edwin Hartman,
Gosden, Ringgold county; Fred Albert Dixon,
Boone, Boone county; John Thompson, New
York City.