Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-09

TWenty-siN young people of the twin
school life to find way or N Ike one
along the winding highways Of society
and through the stubborn world Of
business. With the indomitabe spirit
of Caesar they are heard to exclaim,
"The die is cast and no matter how
hard the nut, we will crack it," The
public exercises which divided the
theoretical or eparatory period from
the practical side of life occurred
Thursday evening in Opera House,
Grand Rapids, and Friday evening at
Unity church, Centraia. On both
occasions the programs were breezy
and well rendered, while the audiences
were as large as the buildings would
admit-nOt vacant seat to be found
either night.
AT OPERA HOUSE
The stage was cheerful to a high de-
gree, presenting a homelike bower of
comfort by pretty arrangement of house
plants, palms, ferns and flowers, not a
great mass but in sufficient quantity to
be beautiful and of pleasing effect. To
the front and on one side Of the stage
appeared significant patriotic display,
the national colors draped beneath the
portrait of Admiral George Dewey, the
Farragut of modern naval history. On
the opposite side was the class motto,
"Step by STEP" IN neat design of flowers
worked along the rounds of a ladder of
evergreens. Exercises opened with
the rendition of a musical selection by
DR.. and Mrs. Harvie, Mrs. Geo. ?.
Hambrecht, John and Frank Steib, on
violin, mandolin, guitars and piano.
Their strains of melody blended most
happily and it was pleasure to listen
to them. Then followed the invocation
by Rev. F. S. Wheeler, and after this
Supt. G. s. Ford called the grammar
school class to the platform and pre-
sented diplomas to the twenty-five
students who had received promotion
from the grades and Will next year
enter the high school.
The class of '9S then took places on
the platform, midst rousing round of
applause from the audience. f. Lee
Love, who had the honor of beng
chosen president of his class, was the
first of the graduates to speak. His
subject related to the school course of
'0S and to an expression of appreciation
for the advantages made possible to the
young people by those who maintain
the Howe High school.
The pure, ,consecrated work of Frances
E. Willard was Interestingly treated in
an Grafton by Miss Anna Granger,
followed by an Grafton on "Music in the
Public Schools" in which Chas. Downie
offered some real nice suggestions
especially applicable to the institutions
of learning in the twin cities.
should the United States own and
operate the telegraph" was a question
debated on the affirmative by Henry
Demitz and Archie Bulls, on the mega
tive by Herman Wipperman and John
Compton. The young men showed
careful preparation for this forensic
contest, and by their easy style and
earnest manner proved the valued
training which students receive who
are conscientious laborers in the Forum
society.
A vocal duet by Miss Esther Thorn
and Rev. F. S. Wheeler, of the Con
gregational church choir, preceded al
exposition of the Lynch Law by
Miss Mamie Molloy. ''1nternationa
Arhitration,' an Grafton by Miss Lucy
Wood, was we'll handled and was a sub
iect of particular interest at this time
Otto Rpnius paid tribute to James G
Blaine" in almost faultless oratorica