Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-12
THE COMMENCEMENT
High School Graduates Presented
Diplomas Last Evening.
EXERCISES HELD AT THE GRAND
Largest Glass in the History Of the
School-Address by Prot. Thomas III.
MacBrIdc, of Iowa Clty-EIghth
Observation-Disclosures
H'rom Fridays Daily.]

(f'rom Fridays Daily.]
Thirty-one young women and twelve
young men were presented with GER
{ tificates of graduation from the OF
stumwa high school at the twenty-siXth;
81. annual commencement exercises at,
she grand opera house last evening.
1T was the largest class in the history
OF the school, and the formal closing
of the term was attended by several
HUNDRED of Ottumwa's representative
people. Ottumwa is proud of her
schools, and when. the curtain rose
last evening and the long line of grad,
uates filed onto the stage and took
their respective positions, the wave of
applause which swept over the vast
audience was prompted by sense of
justifiable arrogance. The scene but
demonstrated to those present the pos
esibilities of the young people. of this
country which boasts of its fine insti-
buttons of learning, and in no state
nor in any city could the significance
be more, prominent than in Ottumwa---
IN Iowa.
This particular point was promin-
emily referred to by Professor Thomas
d. Mcbride, OF the State University,
of Iowa City, who delivered the address
sofSSthe evening. 1t was a poignant
truth which sank deep into the mind
8of every person present.
The Seniors, Middlers and Juniors
were seated on the stage. Tn class of
1000 occupied two long rows of chairs
arranged in a semi-circle across the
stage. The other pupils We're seated
oman ampitheatre Immediately in the
Z rear of the graduating class. e
The interior of the opera house was
pyofusely decorated with the class col
ors, pink and green, interviewer with
green foliage. The decorations were
under the direction of the class of 1901
to which much credit is due for the
pleasing effects produced, and the sue
cessful elimination of the part assign
ed sot, its members.
attorney o.. Z. McElroy, president of
the school board, addressed the class
md presented the diplomas. The re-
slinder OF the program consisted of
lartettes and choruses, the Wapello
Chief orchestra assisting in the music.
The girls glee club and the Fran
csscas, a quartette of ladies', respond
ed to encores. The vocal music was
under the direction of Mrs. Frances L
Clark, director of music in the Ottum
wa high school. The first number OF
4 the program was a chorus: (a) ."Hov
Lovely Are Thy Messengers" by Men
delssohn; (b) Gypsy Life" by schu
man. The boys glee club, consisting
of Lester Linton, Ralph McElroy, Car.
Hoglund and Charles Wyman, first ten.
D ors; Den Edgerly, Felix Hughes and
Clyde Roberts, second tenors; Walter
OYerman and Dubois Forbush, first
\ bassos, and Abner Birney, Harvey
Schamp, Paul Rea1n, Frank Perdue.and
Dan Steck, second bassos, sang, Now
Are the Days Of the Roses" the obi
cato being sung by Miss Bessie Boude
4 and Miss Myrtle LeCompt. The Girls
Glee Club, comprising Margaret Veitch
Bessie Boude, Lucille Wyckof, Agnes
Doran and Chloe Sauders, first so
praons; Fora Messenger, Esther Work
4 Evelyn cElroy and Edith Forbush
second sopranos; Mabel Simmons, Fa,
McIntire, Edna Norfolk, Anna Hogluni
Lpliise Brown and Clara Emery, frs
4 altos, and Marie Messenger, j ennie Wei
Y bus, Ida Dubois, Bertha Thompson an,
Edith Edmunds, second altos, san:
Crossing the Bar" by Neidlinger, ant
4 also responded to an encore. Follow
y ing Prof. Mac Brides address, the Fran
cescas, consisting of Myrtle LeCompte
Marie VandeVen, Susie Barnum ant
Lora Warren sang "Spring Time, b,
q Mepdelssohn, and responded to an en-
core. A chorus in two parts, (a) "Ser
enade,' by Schubert, and (b) '.Song O
the Mountaineers,' by Smith. proceed
h ed the presentation Of the diplomas
4 and the closing number was chorus
delssohn.
Presentation of Diplomas.
In presenting the diplomas, Mr.. Nc
Elroy said:
Young ladies and gentlemen: You
principal and teachers, thru your su
/ perintendent, have presented you
n names to the board of directors as per
\ sons who have completed the course O
study provided for our high school an.
satisfactorily passed the required eS
aminations, and are now entitled t
diplomas.
The necessary resolution has bee
4 passed by the board approving of thei
Recommendations, and directing tina
your names be entered on. it's perms
nent records as graduates of thi
school, and directing that the diploma
be granted.
ut is now my pleasure, as a repre-
sentative of the board, and in, its b.
half, here in the presence of you
friends, to present you with these d
plomas, which simply evidence the fas
that you have completed this course Q
study.
1t has been said that the object Q
our public schools is to furnish on
scholars with firm and lasting founda
tions for future successful careers. ]
seems to me it would be more prope