Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-17
THE COMMENCEMENT
Entertaining and Mirth Provoking
Exercises at Government Indian
School Last Evening,
RECEPTION BY The JUNIORS
Musical, Literary and Social Affair in Hon
or of Graduating Glass Of the Normal
Department Of the Government
Indian School.

There are three government Indian
schools in the country which have a
norma department, and rank highest
the educational institutions pro-
vided for the Indians. The school near
Santa Fe is one of these, and it ranks
with the famous school at Carlisle, Pa.
It's annual commencement, which was
begun last evening with very interest
ing and entertaining exercises, n a
reception by the juniors to the seniors,
is therefore of more than casual impor-
lance. The pretty chapel was crowded
with Indian pupils representing thirty
different tribes, and gathered from all
parts of this vast western domain,
There were present also Superintendent
and Mrs. Viets, the faculty of the In
dian school and a few visitors, includ-
ing Messrs. Mcpherson, Woodward, Mr.
and Mrs. Shelby and Mr.. and Mrs. WAL
ter. The exercises We're of a mirth-pro-
voking character, and brought out an
unexpected side to the character of the
Indian. The music by the band, which
introduced the entertainment, was eX-
cellent. Ned Manning gave an amusing
recitation, and was followed by a dia-
logue that caused much laughter and
brought forth loud applause. 1t was en-
titled 1.-The Train to Mauro,' with May
Throssell, Sterling Price and Ralph Gu
.-,1. 4.1.,,r ,,ort Misc hr,nCCn11 UnC
the star, and demonstrated that she is
a good actress. Will S. Hall followed
with a vocal solo that was well rem
dered. The orchestra gave a concert
that proved it to be a well-trained mu-
steal organization. Both popular ano
classic music was played. Strains thai
were sad and Turing, joyful and thrill
ing followed each other, and were en-
cored with unmistakable fervor by the
audience.
As the orchestra struck up "A Warm
Baby" the first couple to take part in
a cake walk stepped upon the platform.
They We're greeted with %uproarious
laughter. A second couple followed,
even more grotesque in costume, car
rage and style. Couple after couple
followed until there were six pairs
vieing with each other in their effort to
represent an old-fashioned southern
negro cake walk, for there was a fine
large cocoanut cake to be awarded to
the couple whose PRESERVATION was the
most natural and effective. The audi
ence laughed and applauded until tired.
There was nothing Objectionable in the
action of the young people on the plat
form; in fact, it was rather their stud
led sedeateness and earnestness that
provoked encores. Three judges, Messrs,
Mcpherson, Woodward and Walter,
awarded the cake unanimously to w
T. Sheldon and Miss May Throssell, al
though at first the decision seemed a
difficult one, for all taking part in the
cake walk did their part well. Mr.. Nc
Pherson presented the cake, making the
presentation the occasion for a neat lit
tie speech. The guests Of the evening,
including the seniors, then retired to
the reception room, and later to the
dining room, where a delicious collation.
was served. Hours elided by in a most
delightful n in social intercourse,
instrumental and vocal music, games
and the examination of the splendid
school work of the pupils that was dis
played on b~lackboards and in moving
racks. The paintings, drawings, spec
linens of penmanship, demonstration of
geometrical and algebraic problems,
and the thoroughness and neatness with
which it was done are superior to that
any one of those present had seen in
any of the public schools of the land.
The occasion was one that will long
be remembered by those present, but
especially by the dusky juniors and Sc
niors. When they return home to their
parents they will tell a tale of that So
ciable over and over again to eagerly
listening and proud parents. And as the
old chief and his squaw look at their
neatly dressed children, just home from
'Nii'oi III iC . ldGCS UedIIl
ing with intelligence and their lips ut
tering wise talk like that Of their white
brethren, the old people will be con-
WINGED that civilization and the coming
of the white man has it's recompenses
after all, and that the great father at
Washington is the head of a nation that
doing a grand work for the Indians.
The b~accalaureate sermon to the
graduating class Of the school will be
preached tomorrow evening at s
in the chapel of the school by
Rev. A. II. Switzerland, of the M. e.
at Cerrillos. The program for
the occasion is as follows:
Piano Voluntary ....... ..........
Miss Addie Schormoyer
Hymn, Where Are the Reapers?"
School Choir
Anthem, Nov to the Lord'......
School Choir
W. H. Moore
Vocal solo, Dear Refuge of NY
Weary Soul Douglass Holt
B~accalaureate sermon. ...........