The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-06-21
GRADUATED.
oskaloosa High School Grants
Diplomas toa Class of Fifty.

public schools is graduation day.
That this interest is not waning was
evidenced Friday evening by the
great crowd that was in attendance
at the 2sth annual commencement Of
the oskaloosa High School. The
opera house where the commence
ment was held was crowded in every
corner and fully as many people as
were packed into the house failed to
get place to see and hear. Long
before the announced hour for the
opening of the doors of the opera
house the street in the front of the
buildiDg was crowded by hundreds
of parents and friends of the mem
bers Of the class seeking admission
The program commenced promptly
at s O'Clock. superintendent Finley
acted as chairman of the evening.
There was chorus "Rock of Ages"
by the class of 1900. The Divine
Blessing was invoked by Rev. A. M.
Duboc Of the Baptist church. There
was another chorus by the class. and
the speaker of the evening was in
trodueed.
According to the program as ar
ranged the address was to have been
delivered by William Bayard Craig,
of Des Moines but the gentleman was
unable to appear on account of severe
illness. A most worthy substitute
was sent in the person of Prof. Ed
Amherst OFT, of the Drake Uni
versity. He delivered his noted
lecture on "Sour Grapes" adapting
it to the needs of the hour and the
occasion of the class commencement,
and parts of it were directed to the
class itself. The gentleman was quite
lengthy in his address but this was
regretted by no one for the closest
attention of the audience was held.
The address was one of the most
striking that has been heard at any
High School commencement here
The speaker took for his theme
Success in Life. He handled it in
a new way that appealed immediate
ly to all his hearers. The influence
of heredity upon the chances of sue.
cess was analysed and explained.
Example after example was held
forth to prove the theories advanced
and crying questions of the period
were handled in a manner that was
convincing as it was striking.
The advice given to the young peo-
pie of the class was to have "cour-
age" Dare to do that which is known
to be right. Have a conviction and
dare to follow il and success will at
tend the EFFORT.
There was enough of humor and
sarcasm in the style of the address
to make it beyond the ordinary in the
manner of carrying the point enter
tained by the speaker. His manner
Of presenting thought is unusual
and thoroughly effective. The adj
dress viii bear fruit in the minds of
many of the young people who heard
it, and there we're many older ones
in the audience who took many of
the truths of the words home with
them.
Miss Beulah Drinkle followed the
address with a beautiful soprano So
10 and then came the presentation of
the diplomas. The class is the largest
to receive the honors of the school
Twenty-one young men and women
received the diploma of the classical |
course and twenty that of the scien-
life. Four of the class have COM
pleted the three courses of the
school,s three have completed the
work in classical and scientific and
here was one each in the courses of
ousinessIand science and business,
making fifty in all.
The presentation of the diplomas
vas made by Superintendent S. J.
finley and his words contained much
,ood and sound advice. The class
ong of Farewell to School Days"
losed the program as announced.
About the Class.
The class of 1900 numbers fifty
raduates and is the largest that has {
cen graduated from the schools of ]
lskaloosa. The class has been do
lg some very good work and the in I
Lructors have the congratulations s
{ tie community for the splendid 8
howing made. Superintendent s. I
Finley has reason to feel gratified
t the splendid record that the class :
saves behind it.
The class collectively is one of the :
est that has ever been In the i
ehools. 1t has been so recognized 9
y the teachers and the work Of the
lemhers shows the best results. In !
le class sermon delivered 10 the !
lass Sunday Ievening by the Rev. !
colt w. Smith the following facts !,
ere developed:
The average age Of the class is is ii
ears, month and days. The 3,
verage age Of the boys is IS years, a
month and IA days, and that OF the ii
iris is is years. month and 4 days. '
here are 50 girls in the class and "
10 boys number 49,
Fourteen Of the class win enter o