Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-08
TWENTIETH COMMENCEMENT.
Class Of '99 Rendered an Excellent Pro-
gram Last thursday Evening.

g di Ldol iHul oUdy EFCiiiiS
Every life has milestones which
mark epochs in its history that are
recalled with pleasant memories. The
graduate always looks back to Com
mencement day with renewed interest
and recounts every feature of the pro-
gram, including the gestures and acts
Of each member of the class. 1t is,
therefore, proper and right that we
make great deal of these events.
The class of '99 of the Grand Rap
ids Howe High school has every rea-
son to be proud of the exercises rem
dered by it at the Grand Opera House
Thursday evening, June L.
The opera house stage was beauti-
fully decorated for this occasion and
its furnishings gave it more the ap-
pearance Of a residence parlor than a
public play house. Upon the right
hand was 'Old Glory" draped in large
flowing folds on the side walls and a
life size picture of Admiral Dewey,
while upon the left wall was the class
motto, "Find a Way or Make One"
A sea of beaming faces greeted the
graduates, Misses Matilda Bunge,
Katherine Mccarthy, Stella Emmons
and Messrs. Coole Cotey, Paul Philleo,
Edward Mccarthy and Burton Nc
Laughlin, as they appeared upon the
stage followed by Superintendent Geo.
p. Hambrecht, while Anton HirZy s
popular orchestra rendered the open
ing overture.
After an invocation by Rev. E. a.
Nimits, pastor of the NJ. e. church,
CooIe Cotey, president of the class,
briefly addressed the audience as a
prelude to the program that was to
follow. His manner was easy and one
would have thought his appearance on
the public platform was common
occurrence instead of being his first
advent. His gestures were good and
he could be heard distinctly in all
parts of the house.
Edward Mccarthy gave the class
history, not in detail, for if he had it
would probably have been more spicy.
The history he gave was the real, and
he referred to each member of the class,
giving each characteristic particularly
fitting his subject. He did it well,
however.
The Misses Blanche and Belle
Hardin rendered song, selected, in
their usual sweet and charming man
ner.
Miss Stella Emmons handled her
subject we'll THE Heroes Of Today" E"
and found many ideals in the recent
war with Spain. She reviewed the
heroic deeds of Dewey, HObson, Schley
and Sampson, and gave full credit to
each for the part they had in the
recent unpleaSantneSS. Her paper
was excellent and we'll rendered.
"The Rise of American Literature"
was Burton McLaughlin's subject, and
Judging from the excellent, matter of
were especially we'll adapted to each
other. While Burton is the youngest
| member in the class and rather bash
gems of the class His delivery was
clear and distinct but he made nc
attempt at oratOry.
| An instrumental selection by HirZy's
orchestra at this point in the program
was heartily enc0red.
Empress Josephine" the most con.
spicuOus character in French history
and probably one of the most to be
admired for her many virtues, was the
subject of Miss Katherine Mccarthy
grafton. She handled it well but those
, in the back part Of the house could
not hear her distinctly.
Mesdames e. P. Arpin, W. E. Little.
| N,,i (Nnn,arn11 1n1inS
Quartette. furnished a very enjoyable
part of the evenings program in an
original selection, which was heartily
received and encored. They re-
SpOnded to the encore with a second
selection.
"Gladstone," that grand old man
who has had such conspicuous part
in the recent history of England, was
given full credit by Miss Matilda
Bunge in her Grafton. He lost none
of his virtues through her neglect fol
they were all brought out vividly tC
her audience Her delivery was
almost faultleSS and she is entitled t(
great credit for the excellent manner
in which she handled her subject.
Paul Philleos "ClaSS Prophecy
was vivid one. The facts came tC
him in a dream and each member Of
the class, except himself, received {
birdSeye view of his Or her future a!
he saw it, The dream was not sucl
an one as would come to you from {
dySpeptic stomach, but rather from
inspiration of higher and noblel
things 1t was all right, too.
President Coole Cotey then delivered
his closing address, thanking all TO
their kind and courteous attention
, and interest bidding farewell tt
teachers and familiar scenes and re
minding his hearers that although th,
event of graduation week may appea
to them extremely commonplace, the,
were to the graduates at least, th
most mOmentOuS events that had thu:
+ far taken place in their lives, and th,
recollections thereof would not be en-
tirel effaced from their memory a
long as life should last
The diplomas were then presented
by Superintendent Hambrecht to eacl
member of the class, accompanied b,
his warmest we'll wishes for thei
future welfare and happiness.
The program WAS closed with on
of HirZy'S popular OvertureS and Rev
Nimits pronounced the benedictiol
which completed the commencement
exercises of the Class Of so.
noath Of Mrc Amanda HamjIton