River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-06-28
Commencement al The
State Normal.
Its Twenty Fifth Anniversary.


niyersary. 1t was notable COM
mencement in several different re-
spects: first, as marking the first
quarter century OF its growth and the
zenith of its popularity and influence;
next as an evidence that the fire and
its consequent changes of three
years ago has not only left no marks
of injury upon the school but has CIV
en- it wider sympathies and power;
and finally, as an object lesson of
the new movement which strips the
commencement exercises Of much Of
their old-time formality.
In all the exercises of Commence
ment week there was refreshing alb
sence of pomp and parade. Things
were presented in their native digni-
ty, without ceremonial or blare OF
trumpets. At the graduating exer-
cises of Thursday the President alone
sat on the rostrum, and directed the
program. The other mem bers Of the
faculty occupied seats In the body Of
the house where they could best hear
the graduates. For the commence.
ment dissertations were as new TO the
teachers as to the public, the gradu-
ates having been left to their own re-
sources. For the most part they con-
fined themselves to strictly profess
sIonal topics, treating more or less
philosophically, according to the bent
of the graduate, themes that have
been their chief matters Of thought
and study throughout the four years
training which has been fitting them
to become teachers of men.
Owing to the unprecedented num-
Der of graduates, two sessions, fore
noon and afternoon, were held for the
addresses. These were all short and
without exception, interesting Some
reached high point of oratorical ex-
preston, others eXcelled in grace of
creation, others in ease of presenta-
tion; some were sound arguments on
present problems, still more were his
torical and few were charmingly DO
etic. There is little need to review
them, individually here; but to any
thoughtful person who heard them,
they must have brought the reassur-
ing proof that the young teacher is
alive to the problems Of his profession
and ready TO meet them soberly and
yet with smiles.
-Four delightful choruses, chiefly
from the grand operas, were sung by
the Normal Chorus under Mrs.
Thatcher's direction during the two
sessions, and the Glee Club also sang
a beautiful selection. At the morn
ing session Archie Shepard played
a piano solo, and received a cordial
hand. After the opening chorus in
the morning, Rev. Mcintosh, in his
ferVent manner and with quiet dig
nifty, gave nobly worded Invocation.
When the graduating addresses
were concluded at about three o'clock,
Pres. Brier turned to the class, which
rose respectfully to greet him, and in
a few succlnct remarks gave them
some apt suggestions on the added
obligations which their new dignities
imposed. ''Noblesse Oblige" was a
legend which applied with peculiar
force TO those who had been freely
provided by the state with so rich an
equipment for a high calling. The
alasc 1iutonnI IN nj 10 o
the President with absorbed atten-
ton, and at his indication took their
places on the rostrum and received
their diplomas. A very lively sympa-
thy and fellow feeling seems to have
existed between the President and
the students
The following were the graduates:
Rena Mabelle Adams, Margaret
Andersen, Roy Baird, Orizaba Boor-
man, Eleanor Louise Burnett, Pau
line Coggnshall, Ella Gardiner Getch-
ell, Arthur John Gunnison, John Es-
by Hale, Constance Haugen, Faunsti-
MA Irle, Margaret Irene Kavanagh,
Grace Bell Kellogg, Maurice Larson,
Annabel McShane, Gustaf Adolph
Mattson, Edward Mooney, Oliver
Needham, Emily Mules, Mary Olson,
Charles Frederick Peterson, Charles
William Rand, James Lee Rogers.
Bessie Lucy Rounsevell, William
Henry Tousley, Grace Savage Wales.
LAST FRoLIC OF THE ELENENTARIEs.
The real graduates of the Normal
for the year 1900 are the twenty-six
young people whose names are given
above. But besides this large class of
graduates there is another com pany of
outgoing enthusiastically three in
mum ber--who have completed the
Elementary" course and secured GER
tificates to teach. There has been a
tendency Of late years to subordinate
the exercises Of this class, and make |
it merely an exhibition marking a |
stage in the progress of the studei .,
who, as rule, comes back to complete |
the course and secure the regular di- |
ploma. The Elementary takes his
subordination very cheerfully, and |
rarely presumes to anything like the
scholastic erudition and profound |
sanity of the full-blown graduate.
In fact, he rather plques himself on |
being q merry fellow, and turns his
class day into prolonged lampoon Of
the seniors gravity. The Elemenr
taries OF 1000 were very successful in
this. In their exercises Of Wedues-
day afternoon they first exalted them
selves in a class song, then will
ed all their properties and precious
as Sophomores to the
class below them miss Iverson), had
their lives and characters duly en-
balmed in a chronicle Miss Irle),
and then, after having their futures
by careful study Of
the behavior of the planets Miss Hat
field, found themselves in fine spirits
to give the senior his due. They first
through their spokesman,