The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-06-29
THE FINAL EXERCISES
Of the Yale High School Grad
yates Were held at the M. E.
Church Friday Evening.


We have heretofore noted the pleas
ing exercises of the 1st and I'd Primary
schools, as also the excellent program
rendered in the High School room on
Thursday afternoon, June 2lst. We
now have the duty of chrOnicling the
more elaborate, if not more important
part of the program, which was execut-
ed at the M. +. church last Friday eve-
ming.
The announcement of this culminat-
ing event had long been made, and
there was high degree of expectancy
on the part of the public. There was
also labOrious preparation on the part
of teachers and pupils, which involved
vastly more than the program. The
place of holding the exercises was most
beautifully decorated, which meant
days of collecting material and other
work. The decorations showed exquis-
ite taste in the decorators. The beau
tiful fan-shaped figure in the back of
the rostrum, was surmounted by very
tasty motto, "Loyal to Duty" On eth
side of this was q fine trimming of ever
green, which gradually shaded off into
the bounteous display of national col
ors, and most beautifully blended with
the maze of flowers and shrubbery
The fitting blend and proportion of the
various parts of these decorations was
very notable feature.
At about $50 o'clock the march was
played by Miss Mary Hayes, and the
graduates, Misses Rhea Hisey and Olive
Morsehead, accompanied by the Hon.
G.. a. Gearhart, and Prof. j. q. Roode,
marched to the platform and we're seat
led. The graduates were attired in be-
coming white, and under the flash of
electric lights, looked the queens of the
occasion, fitted to receive their crowns.
This was followed by piano solo,
executed by Miss Hayes, and the invo-
cation prayer by Rev. j. a. Rowe. a
vocal solo was then rendered very thrill
ingly and beautifully by Miss Rada
Rapley to the delight of the vast audi
ence.
AT this juncture of the exercises, Prof
Roode introduced Hon. q. A. Gearhart
as the speaker of the evening. His
theme was "The Dawn of the Twentieth
Century" We had occasion last winter
to speak of Mr.. Gearhart's ability as a
speaker, and in every particular on the
present occasion he verified all the
words of praise we then used. He is
possessed with clear, we'll modulated
voice, which is under rare culture, rich
and deep in tone and most pleasing to
the ear. He handled his theme in a
very eloquent, yet impressive manner
and we have yet to hear the slightest
adverse criticism, but on the contrary
whole volumes of praise. In this con-
nection it would be improper to attempt
an analysis of his rich and racy line of
thought: and it is beyond our power to
follow him with type picture of his
| flights into the realms of fancy.
After singing "America" by the whole
audience, Harvey Tappan, the Director
of the Yale Board of Education, came
| forward, and in behalf of the Board
in very fitting frame of words, pre-
sented the graduates with the diplomas
awarded.
The next feature of the intensely in
teresting program was the song given
by quartette composed of Miss Rada
Rapley, Mrs. Jas. Wallace, and Messrs
Schum and Newell. 1t was a fine Sc
lection, and as finely rendered, and the
whole audience woke the echoes with
their enthusiastic cheers. The encore
was both loud and sincere, but the sing
ers declined the compliment with
thanks.
The period was placed to the final oi
this very elevating and interesting ex
ercise, by Rev. j. B. Keith, who invoked
the Divine blessing and the immense
throng filed out and to their homes wei
satisfied that theirs had been a highly
privileged lot.