Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1898-06-03
COMMENCEMENT DAY.

UUEsatslINVEUik UHI.
There are few entertainments which
seem to be OF such general interest as
commencement exercises. There is
an irresistible attraction to most peo-
pie in the bright faces, the prettily
clothed figures and handsome floral
decorations which are the usual ac-
compartments OF graduation day.
So the fact that the Academy of N1u-
sic was crowded to overhowing last
Friday evening was no surprise for
the event was the second annual COM
mencement of the Oakes High School,
The class this year was small being
composed only Of Miss Nellie Morgan
and William Lynch but an excellent
program was rendered. The stage
was handsomely decked with flowers
and flags. The piano was covered
with them while veritable banks of
plants in bloom stood at each end of
the platform. The class motto "non
quis, sed quid" was hung in letters
above the stage.
Rev. Carver opened the exercises
by a very appropriate prayer and was
followed by very pretty song by
Miss Anna Bong. William Lynch's S
Grafton on Our Neighbors was very
we'll written production and well de-
livered considering that this was his
first public appearance. His refer
ence to our duties to our Cuban
neighbors was heartily applauded
The piano duet by Misses Grace
Fenton and Pearle Trauger was re-
markably we'll rendered, while Roy
Denning pleased the audience by his
recitation, Miss Pearle Traugel
struck popular cord by her voca!
solo, Lost with the Maine. Miss
Nellie Morgan's oration would have
done credit to any school. Itshowel
a great deal OF work and the histori
cal illustrations of useful lives nobly
ended were all good. Miss Nellie'E
delivering was easy and commanded
the attention of tho audience. Bott
the oraters received numerous bou
quets Of flowers and presents from
admiring friends. Little Pearle
Fenton sang very pretty little song
entitled The Soldiers Cradle Hymn
after which county superintendent
w. E. Hicks delivered the address tc
the class which was mastcrly pro
duction and delivered in such way
to hold the the closest attention O.
the entire audience. Below we prin
a portion Of the address and regre
our unnhility to publish it in full.
The graduation nf ihcsc yourg people ant
their beginning oi the t.ore difficult duties
OF life, suggests the theme for nay remarks
The old Romans had a provcrb which may
with some freedom, be translated or para
phrased, "Take heed to the beginnings
With nearer approach to the original it ma.
be rendered, "Stand up stoutly against tn
beginnings"
The Hebrew proverb maker wrote, eth
beginning of strife is as when one lcttctl
out water; therefore leave off contention be
fore it is mcddled with" Resist the yer,
beginning. Leave off before you begin.
A more modern provcrb says, cit is th
beginning that costs,' or put in other forms
"Well begun is half done," or "The begin
ming is half the battle"
All these, and others which might be quot
ed, are intended to set forth the importanc
of the bcginning-th the danger, if it is be
ginning of evil, the worth, If it is a begin
ming of good.
The reference in the Hebrew provcrb t.
the "letting out of water" finds its illustra
tion in the history of the dikcs of Hollan.
and the levees along the banks of the Miss
issippi. 1t is vivid and forcible ilustra
tion of the danger of evil beginnings, and o
the imperative necessity Of resisting then
by all possible means.
Much of Holland, as you know, is man
feet below the level Of the neighboring sea
Dikcs, constructed at great cost of none
and immense outlay of labor. shut out til
waters, and resist the force of the in-comin
tides. The body of the dixie is of earth, an
the top often forms a roadway. Tho begr
of the letting out of water takes place whe
some small amphibious animal, like th
water-rat, bores It's hole into or though tn
broad earthly embankment, and q littl
stream of sea-water begins to follow tn
borer's track; or when the tide, rising to a
unusual height by the mad force of the an
CRY wind, just begins to trcklc over the VI
per surface in a tiny and harp. loss lookin
strean-a stream which the foot or tn
hand of child might stay. But it is Il be
ginning, and unless resisted, the tiny strcan
becomes u rivulct, the rivulet becomes
river, the river swells into mighty, rus h
} ing, foaming current, sweeping over tn
broad, fertile, cultivated fields, bearing dc
vastation, ruin, death. A single lnundation
scme centuries ago destroyed $4,000 huma
lives. 70 look after and Withstand thes
possible beginnings, during the stormy
, winter months, watchman, like miltar
sentlnels in our Cuban war; patrol the dixie
by day and night, marking with utmos
care the threatning tide and the trcacherou
waves, ready, at any moment, if begin
ming appears, to give the signal of danger
setting in motion, with laborlous effort, o.
the top of some high, steep hill, in Mich
gan, a bowlder of moderate dimension:
Very slowly it rolled at first, willing tu sto
if the foot or hand stayed its moyemen