Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-05
Annual Commencement Ex-
ercises Last Night.
HARPER's THEATRE FILLED.
Essays, Grafton and Songs
by the Graduates.
Words of Greeting by Presi.
dent F. E. Robbins,

The oath annual common cement Of
the Rock Island High school was held
last evening at Harper's theatre. An
immense audience was present. The
happy faces Of the graduates formed
. pretty picture. The boxes were
decorated in the national colors,
while the school banners were sta
toned about in conspicuous places.
The class motto. knowledge is
Power" hung above the graduates.
It was artistically worked in the
class colors, green and white.
The board of education, Supt. r.
G. Young and the instructors Of the
High school occupied the boxes.
The exercises opened with selection
by Bleuer's orchestra. Them prayer
was offered by Rev. c. o. McCulloch,
pastor OF the First Methodist church.
There were two essays, one by
Miss Anna Holcombe Marshall and
another by Miss Emile c. Mertz.
The formers subject. 1.-The Indian
in His Relation to the World" vas
treated most beautifully. the young
lady tracing the red skin down to
the present time, and holding that,
Notwithstanding his low condition,
there was q sympathetic side to his
life, and for all of that he was but
human, born OF the same spirit that
his moro civilized brother is. Miss
Mertz treated Of "Our National
Bard" She said while much had
been written, We are yet at the be-
ginning Of the golden age of litera-
ture and have yet to claim national
bard. Her essay was ably coz
structed and charmingly delivered.
The class Of '97 sang the "Chorus
of Pilgrims"
Frederic r. Keator's grafton on
Socrates" was . treat. and the
young gentleman has occasion to feel
proud of his effort. In we'll chosen
language he paid q glowing tribute
to his subject. ''True education
had its birth in the life of Socrates"
he said. Though dead for over TWEEN
ty centuries, the influence of his life
lives after him."
J. w. Cook, LII. D.. president Of
the State Normal school, gave an elo-
quent and scholarly address on 1.-THE
spirit of Modern Education"
The class song, "Life's Voices"
was sung by double quartet COM
posed of Miriam Anna Haverstick.
Elizabeth M. Bowlby, sopranos;
Clarissa G. Freeman. Nancy John.
ston Stewart, altos; Leo A. Larkin,
Harrison Gregg WEIGH, tenors
Charles Edwin Sears, Carl o. Bern.
hardi. Jr., BASES, Ethel Lucretia
Daugherty being the accompanies.
Presentation Of Diplomas.
The diplomas were then presented
by F. E. Robbins, president of the
board Of education, who said, ad.
dressing the class: "Another yea,
has passed and you, the class of 81
one Of the largest that has come from
our High school, have done honor
not only to our schools, but to your
parents, friends and teachers. You
will, to the end Of your lives, remem
Der this day, for it is one SO freight
ed with pleasure aud pain, so full O.
comingled joys and SORROWS. that it,
remembrance will ever abide will
you. You have passed from the tn.
telage Of your faithful teachers ou
into that immense school, the schoo
Of life. Go forth, strong In the be
lief that you will conauee honorably
and successfully Whatever undertak
ing your aspirations may lead 20,
to. No doubt some of you will ris
to places Of great responsibility, an,
some to places of eminence, but re
member that though the path Of lii
at times seems narrow and hard t
follow. sill by looking straight ahea'
and to Him Who notices our ever
need, you will be an honor to on
schools, your parents, friends an,
the world in general" Mr.. Robin
said that the graduates should al
ways remember with kindness an
reverence their teachers. for the ser
Ivices they have rendered them, an,
the inspiration they have given Their
in words Of encouragement and sym
pathy.
The graduating class was com
posed Of: Blanche E. Barnhar,
Maud Cecilia Bear, Carl o. Bern
hardi, Jr.. Elizabeth NJ Bowlby
Elizabeth Cham berlin, Nelly CRAIG
Ethel Lucretia Daugherty. John 3
Fezler. Julia Agnes Fleming. Mar
lgares Washburne Francis. Wilhel
NINA j. Frederick, Clarissa G Free
man. Lucie Frysinger. Suzanne Coz
don. Grace r. Hall, Lula May Harril
Miriam Anna Haverstick, Clar
Marie Johnton Frederic &. Keatol
Elizabeth Kennedy. Anna Sabin
HOLMAN. Leo A. Larkin, Susan Ceci
Lee. Helen A. Loosely, Anna Hol
combe Marshall. Katherine Leonid
Mcdonald. Emile C. Mertx, Flozenc
Louise Mixter, Minnie Irene Quayls
Charles Edwin Sears, Charles 3
Spickler. Nancy Johnston Stewart
David P. Stephens. Jr.. May voll
Harrison Gregg WEIGH. vada Eros
Wilcox. Mary Alice Williams. MOI
man C. Woodin. James Bruce Wright
Maud Mvrtlo Wyues.