Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-07-02
GRADUATING EXERCISES.
Thirteen Not an UnluCky
Number.
Hon Rowland Conner OF Bay City, De
livers an Intercs ing Address.
From Republican Leader, ST. Louise

graduating exercises of the city schools
took place IA the opera house in the
presence of large concourSc If people
whr filed every available scat. the
aisleS and standing room. The house
was beautifully decorated Tor the Oc-
cason. Ferns inlcrminglcd with ro,'S
aud other flowers occupied she front of
the stage. Steamers of bunting
crossed the room from corner To corner
and wide streamcr elegantly >panglcd
with flags encircled the parquct, and II
streamer bearing he elias, motto Vita
Sine Litcris Mors Est" crossed the
stage, 1t was about S:4j when the eX-
erciseS opened by music by the orches-
ira, followed by Invocation 10y Rev. y.
5. McGreaham; Mrs &. W Althouse
then rendered beautiful solo, entitled,
blossoms 1t had been found wisc in
this instance to deviate from the Gus
tomary order of conducting these eXer-
|
| substituted for respective Orations b!
the class. After few remarks al eN-
plantations Supt, Coyeil introduced th'
speaker for the evening, Hon. Rowland
Common, of Saginaw who delivered
brilliant address on the subject, "A Plea
for Education" The pleasing way IL
which he spoke for three quarters ot a"
everyone present could not help being
filled with noble impulses ard inspira
lions.
Mr.. Conner spoke of the blessing-
the people OF Michigan are enjoying
He cited conditions in other places,
especially in New England and Eastern
kentucky, in which localities he hac
had personal observation and exper
nee. TO think" said he, .'that viii
the opportunities for learning of tn
present day, there should be natura
born citizen of thus country 80 years q
70 unable to read and write II,
cited Instances while prepal Ing article.
for the editor Of the New York Mor
during Investigations in New England:
he had found district, ~ poor OF il
disposed to hold school but fractio
IF year and numerous districts Ina,
40 school whatever. During bu,inc>
"trip to the remote eastern part of Ker
lucky he was surprised at the ignoranc'
Of the noble deccndents # Dauie Boon
and his followers, where he found
bundled miles from any railroad, H.
school or institution Of learning at Il
p .opie who had inhabited the countr
or generations showing no sign OF az.
yancement and scarcely doing cred,
to the middle ages He next remak,,
upon the superstitions Of our fore
father. The now moon i, just a luck
an omen seen over either shouId,r
Event, transporting on Friday do uo
always token disaster. The grca
yclone prophesicd to sweep over % ~
ern Michigan via Chicago vii! uo,
happen till later developments in Tia,
atmosphere occu which viii be- a.,
covered by the weather bureau, 80 th
enlightened inhabitants need hot to,
ow the example Of an aged couple !.
Michigan tho lost their rest one Nhoi
| i-h, To- be in readiness when the grca
storm should come. The numor
thirteen is not unlrcky and the thIrtcct
graduate, present have the brightest
prospect, before them. From b., ov.
experience in our state Legislature b,
Illustrated the benefit of the kuow.cdg.
IF history to our law makers. The law,
enacted aud tried in past generation.
,h 'uld be lamp OF guidance Turr-
ng to the graduate he gave then a
few words of valuable advice and said:
Don't let your studies drop. Go ahead
and per,evere. He mentioned the IN
duence Of time in revolutlonizjug pro.
ie,sion,, but this is not to be Lccded,
for If Time one thing it does d,facc.
another comes to take its place" Study
he past and profit in the future.
After music by the orchestra Miss
Leonard's class, the eighth grade. thirty
one in number, marched to the stag,
when, after being briefly addressed b!
Supt. Covell, were given their diplomas.
The graduates then rose to receive THEN
diplomas from Mr.. Covell, who briefly
addressed them. that he was pleased
after they all had worked 50 earnestly
together, to present them with some
: thing which was more than paper, ;
token Of hard-earncd endowment.