Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-06-30

~-N w - ocHOClS lnJO ina
broad sea over
which they must make the voyage o
life. Their school days here are ended
and they have been so faithful and dill
ligent in their studies as TO bring honor
upon themselves in this closing event
Their work has been well done and
they start out upon this voyage full ol
hope and with high ambitions. AS
usual the hall was crowded with an
interested audience. The stage was
beautifully adorned with drapings oI
red and white, the class colors, and an
American flag also gracefully arranged
in the center with large eagle beside
il. formed fine background for the
speakers.
After piano duet by Misses Kittie
Smith and Mabel Spencer, the class
came on the stage and remained while
Rev. o. J. Golden pronounced the in
vocation.
chorus Of young ladies sang '"The
Twilight Star" and "a chorus of boys
gave two selections, FAIRY Bells are
Ringing at Dawn of Day." and "Wag-
oners Chorus. They had been well
drilled by Miss Agnes Spencer and
their numbers, also violincello
solo executed by Master Palmer Fales,
made excellent sandwiches in the pro-
gram.
Each graduate was remembered with
many beautiful boquets and baskets of
flowers and gifts from relatives and
friends. At the close of the valedic-
;ory, H. }. Leonard presented the
diplomas, making fine address and
referring feelingly to the absent mem
ber OF the class, Morse Royal Palmer,
who had responded to his country 5
call and whose vacant chair was draped
with the national colors. The bene-
diction was pronounced by Rev. w. l..
Munger. The class motto was "Deeds
Not Words;" class colors, red and
white; class flower, carnations.
The presidents address was given by
Ray Reuben Tower, who chose for his
subject THE Past in the Present.,
and in its presentation he brought out
many good thoughts and suggestions.
In part he said:
"The good book says the sin of the
father is visited upon his children, even
to the third and fourth generations;
and in no way is this fact more clearly
shown than in the readiness with which
we adopt the customs and habits of our
ancestors. How difficult it is for us to
rid ourselves Of the foolish notion that
to look over our left shoulder at the
new moon is sure omen OF ill-fortune!
| How true it is that being defendants
Of savages, we have not yet become 50
we'll civilized as to be able to master
all the traits OF that descent, traits
which show the brute in us, either by
occasional outbreaks, or by continual
display of this Inherited characters.
tic sometimes called the old Adam.
At present our attention is directed
toward the Cuban rebellion, which has
developed in "A Spanish-American war.
! We are all familiar with the tales oI
terrible suffering in that unhappy is.
land. The brutal and inhuman treat
ment Of the luckless Cubans gives us a
vivid picture OF Spain, name that
will ere long be synonym OF barbar.
ism. A country once among the most
powerful monarchies OF the world, but
now fallen into ruin, the Just and in
evitable fate of a nation which 'in the
name OF Justice has done more injus.
tice, and i'm the name OF christianity
has destroyed more christians than
any other country on the face Of the
globe Such is Spainl Her treat.
ment Of her subjects is, If possible
more than the persecution OF the early
christians. Spain has not advanced
with the world; she is the best exam
pie we have at the present day OF a
mediaeval monarchy. Only one-third
OF population OF $4,000, 900 are able to
read and write; a truly barbarOus con.
ditioul And in times OF peace and
plenty, when there are no helpless in
surgents TO starve or murder 10 still
more brutal ways, the Spaniards saw.
age thirst for blood finds relief in
watching n bull-fght.
Yet with all our advanced civliza
tion we are not in position to boast