The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-02
FIRST
Graduating Class as the NOrih-
western Normal.

lege hall, Thursday evening, June IS.
The largs hill was packed to its utmost
capacity when the class lei by President
James E. Ament appeared and was seat
ed on the stage. Univers Il int +, st e.
tended to this graduation lee us it was
it was the first in the history of the
Northwestern and the members of the
class had come up through great tribull-
tion to the present happy occasion.
They were the pionee who had n orn 3
the brunt and burden of the conflict
when the existence aof the school was
still an uncertainty, and when 50 much
depended on the loyalty of the S sudents
and the class of 1900 was now found
wanting
Besides the class, there was seated on
the stage the members of the faculty,
Mr.. j. d. Shaw representing the board of
regents the ministers of the city and the
college chorus.
After selection by the college orches-
ira and the invocation by Rev. Green
lees, the salutatory was given by Mr..
Augustus Grant Vinson.
In pleasing and well chosen words he
made mention Of the many ways in
which the citizens and churches of Alva
had aided the school and in the name of
the class of 1900. He bade a hearty wei
come to all who so largely encouraged
the efforts to establish the school and
especially those whose k ndly efforts were
of help to this class.
The following is the program of the ex-
ercises:
IN bidding good bye, Miss Barbara Kacr
the vale1ictorian, feelingly voiced the
sentiment of the class when she spoke
of the one sorrow that tlnged the happy
hour that of parting from the school
which had become so dear to each one.
Addressing Mr.. j. d. Shaw, tn srep e.
sentative of the board of regents, she
said:
In this hour when the normal seems
the closest and most dear to us, we meet
the men who founded, and have car, d
for it the past three years. We are the
first to pluck the fruit of your labors and
say good bye. You will have our Listing
remembrance for many times as we have
pored our different lessons, we have been
inspired to greater effort and nobler pur-
generous plannings, that have surround
ed us. With high appreciation of your
kindness and loyalty we say farewell.
western Normal but to us our honosei
and beloved friend, we must say the
words of parting. Our association as in
structor and students for the past three
years has taught us to regard you with
respect as a scholar. and with the af-
fection of friend BY all yous instruc-
ton and by your example you have even
tried to lead us to appreciate the beau
tiful in all things.
Through your efforts we have had the
privilege of attending school, the past
years, in one of the most beautiful build
ings in the west. You have proven one
true friend in all our work, and the ex-
ample you have set US, will inspire each
member of the class of 1900 to look even
favor that which will enable him to build
noble and beautiful character l. now.
IN the name of the class bid you fare
we, thanking you for all your kindness.
and hoping you may be spared to lead
others as you have led us
Members of the faculty-honored in
suuctors, we must now take leave of YOU
and as we begin to more realize that
our opportunities are past we more just
ly appreciate the worth of our daily in
tercourse with you.
ITO you has been given the privilege Of
implanting in our minds and hearts the
seed, which will ripen and grow ONTO
more perfect manhood and womanhood,
and how faithfully you have labored in
our behalf can only be seen by the fu-
ture In the name OF my class whose
representation l am proud to be, l bid
you good bye, trusting that your memory
of us will be a spleasant as ours shall be
Of you.
Fellow students Of the Northwestern,
we leave you tonight, leave in your caro-
this beautiful building, and when we
are gone these rooms will ring with your
cheers in which we have so often joined
We do not expect to be long outnumbered
by you, but we are proud to leave such
stout-he arted mon and women to fill our
places and those, too, who will love and
care for our normal even as we have tried
to do, and who will honor II as such an
institution deserves to be honored In
the maze fthe future what more can we
say than to give you our best wishes and
bid you farewell.
Classmates, the time has come for us
to say good bye. We have tried to avoid
it, putting it off by saying next term;
in two weeks; but at last 1t has arrived,
and we are here as normal students for
the last time.
I'VE have reached the place where the
road branches, each path leading over
hills. and through valleys; some seem
bright, others look dark, yet, each as
far as we can see, Is lovely. For awhile
some Of the paths are close together,
and we can call TO each other on our
Quincy, and exchange old memories of