The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-06-15
THE AHTANUN ACADEMY.
The First Commencement Exercises Of the Pop
uiar Institution Graduation Of Miss Etha
Henderson.

The first annual commencement OF the
Woodcock Academy took place at the
Congregational church on the Ahtanum
last Friday evening. A most elaborate
and praiseworthy program was witnessed
byia large and appreciative audience
not only of local Ahtanum people, bnt
also nun Der from the adjacent valleys
and town. The church WAS filled to it's
utmost capacity. but little standing room
boys packed sardine-like in the gallery.
The sole graduate was ushered in by
her little army OF flower girls and attend
ants, to the time of the pulse-thrillng
and excelently rendered march. The
Dough Boys" by Miss Grace Bunnell.
After the invocation VIM. NJ. Thomp-
son, bv most expressive instrumental
solo, touched the hearts and brought the
feelings of his auditors into harmony
with the occasion. Then followed other
preliminary features of the program.
Among the most striking was physical
culture drill in which the participants
not only acquitted themselves with great
credit, but reflected the remarkable skill
and painstaking care on the part of their
instructor, Miss Dixon. The spprecia-
ton of the songs by Glee Club best
speaks for itself in the fact that frequent
The browning feature of the evening
which had been anxiousy looked for
ward to by all was at last to grace the
rostrum in the person of the graduate
Miss Etha Henderson. Fully uucon-
scious did she seem of the merit due for
the one great step she had just taken, of
her accom- plishment OF that which, alas,
so few accomplish; this fact was demon
strated in the choice of her modest class
motto, "soum incipiens'- only begin
ming.
The cynosure of all eyes, she stepped
gracefully to the front of the platform
which WAS beautifully decorated with
roses, columbines, everereens and an
elaborate display OF the class colors, red,
white and blue. She began her Grafton,
1.-The Heroes of Our Nation" in an ell
oquently patriotic manner in which it
was evident she was master of the stu
alton and that her heart was with every
American patriot and hero in his most
daring deeds and trying hours-from
Washington to Dewey-and not once for
getting the poor private whose life blood
ebbed away in the sitting swampv
trenches or among the winters withered
description of the Battle of Manila her
praises OF "our Admiral Dewey" were 80
o'erfraught with feelings of intense pa
triotism that there were few among her
listeners who were not moved to tears.
She closed by forcefuly enjoining upon
all ito honor the life they gave, honor
the name they made-noble heroes OF
our Nation"
Miss Henderson took her seat amid
torrent of boquets and the flower-glrls
placed other simpler emblems and pres.
ents around her in wreath-like shape,
forming crown OF laurels which her eff
forts well deserved.
There were also number Of very
creditable essays and well delivered rec
tations. After a cordial invitation to all
to partake of the refreshments that were
to be served at the academy dormitory,
the entertainment closed with a most
excellent and highly appreciated piano
solo by Miss Bunnell.