Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-05-20
The Public School Class.

the beginning of the exercises the hall
was filed to over flowing. There was
not even standing room for those who
were interested i'll this entertainment
Promptly at eight O'Clock Prof Wilcox
the principal of the public schools
announced an instrumental duet by
Messrs Thatcher and Hasbrouck These
gentlemen did not respond at that time
SO Rev. J. ID. McConkey pronounced the
invocation. Mrs. Thompson also failed
| to respond when her number on the pro-
gram, vocal solo, was called. Messrs
Thatcher and Hasbrouck having arrived
in the meantime they responded with a
mandolin and guitar duet. This was
encored and they rendered a second
duet that was well received
The five members of the graduating
class took their places on the platform
amid profusion Of flowers Only three
essays were on the program. Miss
Mary Doyle appeared first with all essay
entitled, "The End Cometh." She
presented a dignitied and at the same
time grceful appearance upon the stage
but the surging mass of humanity and
the nurmur of discomfort from the
crowd prevented the reporter from
gathering All idea of the subject matter of
the address sufficiently ineligible to
warrant an opinion of its merits. The
same may be said i'll a degree Of all the
| essays offered by the graduating class,
With the programs for guide it may be
announced that Miss Kate Gregg under
the title of The Rise and Fall of a
Great Nation,' recountered the chief
events in the history of Spain. Miss
Mamie Palmer delivered an address en-
titled True Nobility" She dispensed
with her manuscript and her effort was
made impressive by forcible off hand
delivery. Miss Kester rendered very
pleasing piano solo after the graduates
had finished their numbers of the
program.
Professor Bryan Of the Pullman agri-
cultural college delivered the address to
the graduating class. The subject was
Character. Prof, Bryan is a speaker
of force. He made himself heard as the
audience had become somewhat settled.
Those who found seats were quiet and
those who were still standing were too
tired to be noisy. All present except the
small boy who is never contented and
never gets tired took deep interest i'll
Prof, Bryan's psychological treatment OF
an intricate and interesting subject. He
divided education into the formation OF
character in counter distinction from the
mere utility Of the subject. The forma-
| tion of character is claimed should he the
| higher aim of education On character
more than the common acceptance ofvis-
ible attainment from the ordinary results
of education he claims depends the balm
of society and of government. His idea
of character takes its form from the in
ccption of home influences as well as
from the school. He holds the theory
that the childs education begins in the
cradle i'll its mothers arms, and is practi-
cally we'll advanced when it enters the
school room at six years Of age. The
character is moulded by the first figures
that are traced upon the brain by the
| woman influences Of the home into which
| it is born. The great visible forces Of the
world are compared to the silent influ-
and the glare OF the lightning flash III
comparison to the silent force of cleo
trcity that RACES the oak or splits the
mountain. Like silent force that leaves
| its visible devastation, the Influences OF
childhood influence character. He ridi
cules various types of young people and
visited upon the deeds, the tough and dc
nothings of both sexes, the severest terms
OF sarcasm and condemnation.
His speech was loud strong and con
vncing throughout. The tired audience
honored him with close attention for a,
| hour until the close of his splendid effort
President BRYAN did noble work here
He is surely an important factor i'll III,
educational Fl III of the northwest, il
which he is interested.
Miss Gregg won the silver medal whicl
is presented annually by Rev. J. ID. Nc
Conkey. This medal is awarded upol
the ptpers from the recitation room ex
tending over the term Of school.
/ The Tribune medal which is awarle,
ANNUALLY to the graduate presenting tn
best original essay, Miss Kester ant
Messrs Il. O'Neill and {. l.. McDonal,
were the judges Of this contest and the.
awarded the prize, a gold medal, to Mis-
Mamie Palucr.
Mrs. II. II. Craven sang a Deautitu
solo as the concluding number of In
program.
With this commencement eSercis
closes the most successful school tern
ever taught i'll the Lewiston Independent
district. Prof II. D. Wilcox has gained
new laurels as an educator by his frs
years OF successful work in Lewiston
1t seems to be universal hope that Ii,
will succeed himself in the work another
year. His excellent assistants have beer
equally faithful and successful in the re
lspectiye branches of this great work o
education. Lewiston's public school Ia.
lgained greater place i'll the educationa