Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-10

SOUTH OMAHA NEWS. !

The First Methodist church, Twenty
third and N streets, was crowded to the
doors last night, the occasion being the
commencement exercises Of the senior class
Of the South Omaha High school. Con-
trary to the usual custom the graduating
class, which consisted of eleven young
women and one young man, was not per-
mitted to have floral gifts sent to the church,
so that the decorations consisted merely OF
some handsome palms, which were placed
on either side OF the platform. Members Of
the Board Of Education, teachers at the
High school, the graduates and Superintend-
ent Wolfe occupied seats on the platform
as did also Hon. e. II. Hnshaw of Fair
bury. The young women wore becoming
dresses Of white. The exercises opened with
e prayer by Rev. H. H. Millard, pastor Of
the church, and this was followed by the
program, which was printed In The Bee a
day or two ago.
Superintendent Wolfe introduced Hon. E.
II. Hlnshaw of Farbury, the speaker of the
evening, In an appropriate manner. In
these remarks DR.. Wolfe called attention to
the fact that formerly each graduate was
compelled to write an essay or deliver an
Grafton on graduating, but this practice had
been discontinued to some extent. He said
that the graduates now prepared such pa
pers, but did not read them on graduating
as of old In his Introductory remarks Mr..
Hinshaw spoke of the peculiarites of our
educational system in that eleven young
women and one young man were graduating.
while in the olden times 1t was thought
necessary to educate only sons, leaving the
daughters to get along as best they could
with little learning. 1t was, said the
speaker. wise move on the part OF our
forefathers when they began the education
Of both sexes, as now the young women
were equal to the young men in learning at
the time Of graduation.
Continuing, the speaker said that ones
daily life should be one OF useful toll, and
urged upon those just entering what he
called a new life to bend their energies in
the right direction. Briefly the speaker told
of drones he had known at college and how
before life had been ended they had been
compelled to work hard to accomplish their
desires and ambitions, He spoke OF General
Lew Wallace and Lord Byron as spoiled
children who did not realize in youth that
incessant work and study were necessary
to greatness. The energy of Wizard" Edi-
son was mentioned In contrast and the
statement was made that the great in
ventor's success had been the result Of
genius coupled with incessant toll.
Mr.. Hinshaw's address was attentively
listened to by all and was greatly appre-
ciated. Following the address came the
presentation of diplomas by John Fitz Rob-
erts, president of the Board OF Education.
After the exercises at the church the
alumni OF the High school gave a banquet
to the graduates at the Reed hotel. Flow
ers were not barred at this function and
each graduate had baskets OF roses and bo-
quets without number. Rowland Smith ad-
dressed the graduates after all had been
seated at the tables and Clair Willsley re-
sponded Dr. Wolfe spoke OF the proposed
new high school building and President
Roberts made a brief address. The other
speakers were Charles Johnson, Mary Haw-
ley, Hattie Moore and Charles Wells.