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

before US one vast body with a thousand
heads-and here we are. Thus have 1
brought this famous class from its infant
stage up to the maturity of graduation -
Miss Mabel Compton gave the Fare
well to Buildings and Instructors" with
much feeling; VIII @orcoran in his
"Advice to Juniors ard Richard Wip-
perman as the prophet. were witty and
original
Rev. T. A. Nimits closed the exercises
with benedictioD, after Mr. Ford had
presented diplomas to the graduates
Then a reception was held on the stage
by the class.
AT UNITY CHURCH, CENTRALIA.
Never has the interior of Unity church
been more resplendent with decorations
than it was Friday evening for the sixth
annual commencement of Centralia
high school. The class colors (red,
white and blue) IN long strips of bunt-
ing; evergreens ir chains; stars and
bars in festoons; banks of house plants
and boquets of flowers; oil paintings
all contributed in one artistic mixture
of combinations and arches to make a
handsome and inviting setting for the
grand finish of high school race. High
above the platform was the class motto
in white letters on background Of red
"We launch tonight; where shall we
anchor" Beneath it sat the ten grad
yates, alternately attired in black and
white, five boys and five girls.
Rev. f. A Nimits opened exercises
by invocation and the Colcord Mandolin
club enlivened the throng of people,
packed into every corner and available
seat space, with a quickstep selection
from Sutorius.
Robert Houston, in his selfpossessed,
quiet way, paid we'll worded compli-
ment to the power and influence of
oratory, placing at the head Of the list
of the worlds great orators the name
of "Henry Clay"
Miss Della Menier told of "The Char
acter of the Jew" Her Grafton was
bright, original, and delivered with an
earnestness that left no doubt as to her
mastery of the subject in hand. She
found in history the names of many
prominent leaders of men that were
Jews and proved forcible champion of
the wandering race.
A pretty piano solo by Miss Helen
Steib was followed by a spicy exposition
of the "Young Man in Politics. ." treated
by A fired Sweat. "American Genius
was presented in its splendid succession
of achievements by Miss Lettie Dick
son. This young lady is an accom-
plished speaker and won favor with her
auditors.
Misses Lorena Blac.lmer and Amy
Carrington delighted their hearers with
vocal duet, ooh, That We Two Were
Maying;" then Sidney Denis launched
into an oratorical tribute of "Bismark'
and Miss Anna Getschall spoke of
DCbSdlCI ALL do lllc Sul6CG VI ucl
oration. Both were good.
The Waltz, "Only Dream" by the
Colcord Violin and Guitar trio, was a
dream sure enough, being too sweet to
last long otherwise. The club did not
respond to its encore.
E. Benning Smart had a subject
which was near to his heart and he did
it full justice. He dipped into an earn.
est temperance talk which he termed
''An Issue of the Day" His remarks
were appreciated particularly because
they were away from the ordinary
stereotyped Grafton style.
Fifty Years Of Statehood" was the
timely subject discussed by Miss Edith
Nash. The history of our common
wealth since 1S4S with its manifold pro-
g1essive steps to 1898 were passed in
pleasing review by the speaker. The
glory of our statehood and its golden
jubilee were clearly aud entertainingly
depicted.
Miss Nellye Schnabel favored the
audience with one of her incest piano
solos, then Ebert C. kellogg, in his
own good way, wittily supplied the
"Class History and Prophecy"
The REPORTER regrets that the Grafton
and valedlctory Hull House" by Miss
Maurine Johnson cannot be published
this week in full. 1t was a splendid
effort, full of sentiment and thought,
one of the finest contributions to a
commencement program that a twin
city public has heard for years. With
out reflection on any other graduate we
must accord to Miss Johnson special
honors for delivery, composition, gen.
eral construction and appearance
Prof. Sherman NJ. Kyes presented
diplomas to the class with a few we'll
chosen remarks followed by selection
from the Colcord Mandolin club which
ended the exercises. Many hearty
handsEakes and congratulations on the
platform were the final order of the
event and then '9S passed out toward
their respective homes to meet the
world in a struggle for success.