Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-06-01
Commencement Exercises.


Thursday evening Rockers opera house
was packed with friends OF the school TO
listen to the commencement exercises.
The stage WINS handsomely decorated
with flowers and on the wings were dis.
played fine portraits OF Washington,
Lincoln, Franklin and Shakespeare.
Over the stage WINS largo banner with
he class motto, "He Conquers Who
Will" in yellow and blue.
Prayer by Rev. Warren Mayo was fol-
lowed by song by n quartet composed
OF Mrs. Hall. Mrs. Sigman. J. p. Pollock
and a. .. Sloan. jr., which was warmly
applauded.
Miss Edith Robords delivered the fol-
lowing salutatory:
Ladies' and gentlemen. class Of
I'D extends to You its sincere and heart
| felt greeting. We have looked forward
to this occasion with much anticipated
pleasuresnot only for ourselves, but for
| those who honor this occasion by their
presence. 1t has been the custom for
the members Of the class to claim your
attention for the entire evening. A
slight deviation from that custom will be
made tonight, which, we trust, will be us
agreeable to you us to the members OF
the class.
Doubtless, It is true that mnny Of tha
high school graduates never reach the
college, but We nre glad 70 know there is
q way by which the college, or IL part OF
1t at least, may DO brought within the
] reach Of everyone. This happy means
our Board has adopted, and instead OF
graduating essays we have to offer You
an address by Professor Parsons OF Colo
RADIO College.
Prof. Parsons said TINT the great
throng OF friends were there to congratu-
late the graduating class while he
brought the congratulations of those out.
side. He would give them his views Of
the type u mInd and character which
would best them for their life work.
Reverence for the past is necessary to the
best work OF the present. We stand on
the shoulders OF thousands OF genera.
tons. To help the future we must study
the past, but the thinking of today can
not be confined to tho methods Of the
past. The world wants originality-the
past and present transformed through
our own personality. The soul is more
important than mere material things. It
is better to be defeated while working for
the right than to wrongfully win vic.
tory. 1t hus been said that there is 60
much trickery in business that IN honest
man cannot succeed. The excuse for
dishonest practices that II must live" il
not q good one. You don't have to live
il your living must be bought Mt the ex-
pense OF honesty. The early martyrs
did not have to live, but their heroism
has transformed the world. Strive to
obtain the power OF guiding others.
Pointing to the class motto, the speaker
said, He Conquers Who WILL" il he
wills to do do Gods will. Let the will
of God be done in your lives.
Prof. Parsons address was interesting,
cultured and uplifting, and if its pre-
cepts shall be needed by the class OF 30,
they will surely make u success of life.
Miss Maude Larmore and Florence
Elser, Roy Elser and Paul Burr rendered
a very pleasing song.
Miss Clida Smith, valedictorian, spoke
as follows:
There are those before lis tonight who
have especial claim upon our gratitude.
10 the members OF the School Board
we return our heartfelt thanks for the ex.
cellent high school advantages they have
afforded us in our own home; also for
their generosity and enterprise which
have made the commencement of '99
rival all others in the history OF tile High
School, in interest and profit. We shall
ever feel noble pride in those who have
SO wisely and so generously placed the
means OF education within our reach.
10 our teachers we return our sincere
thanks for their hearty md continued in.
terest in our welfare. 1t is not in mere
compliance with custom that, in behalf
OF our class, / extend to MIR. Bolles our
sincere gratitude for his helpful and sym.
pathetic relations with us in the years
now closing, And now, fellow classmates
the ties which have bound us together
must be severed, never again to be united
in the school.room. The frail bridge of
Time, on which we tread, sinks back into
eternity at every step we take. The past
is gone from us forever. 1t belongs to
us no more; no single step can ever be
retraced. The present onlyis ours Let
us live, then, in the active present.
Hearts within and God DER head" II
it be not ours to achieve renown, it may
be ours to live good lives; think high
thoughts aud help to bring sunshine into
this great world of ours. God be with
each one. and il our first class reunion
be III the Great Hereafter. may euch be
able to review an unclouded path OF
glorious labor and triumph back through
the scenes OF time to this spot where
now we part. In all the varied tongues
OF earth we find one word, that word
that draws the curtain upon the brightest
scenes OF earthly life. We breathe it
tenderly, we breathe it earnestly, for it
bears in its accents blessing and
prayer-that sad, sweet word, Fare
wellr'
Rev. B. L. Mitchell, in presenting the
diplomas to Pearl E. Deweese, Misses
Anna Brown, Lillian Barnes, Edith Rob-
ords, Rena Jackson and Clida Smith,
spoke of his pride in our public schools
and the gratitude that should be felt for
the benefits enjoved. The class, was
highly complimanted for their work dur.
ing The past four years and urged
to cultivate their talents not drop books
and study. Don't dnnerd O.. yIs.,uu-
mept. but live :or d p. ,...se.