Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-06-10
SWEET GIRL
GRADUATES
| Thirteenth Annual Commence
ment Exercises Last
Evening.
Seven Young Ladies Presented
With Diplomas by
Supt. Downs.

me interest of the general public
IN our schools is not on the wane if
the size of the crow at the Presbyte-
rian church last q hing is any crlte
rion- Every ayafahe .Saat was filed
and when there was d More sitting
room people lined the walls of the
lecture room and formed n fringe
around the doors.
It's little odd, come to think of il
| the way great many people complain
OF The length ana general tlreaome-
hess "f graduating exercises. but ney-
er fail TO be present when the oppor.
iuhlty occurs II Is true there have
been cases when we grew "A trille wea
ry as the long hours dragged by and
there seemed TO be no end of much
speaking" Nevertheless there
must be some fascination about these
celebrations that attract peoples pres.
enoe against their will, If they really
mean what they say.
Last night. however. there was nc
excuse for any one to be tired--too
much of interest was going on. The
girls made a lovely picture as they
dainty dresses falling In soft folds
about them There were flowers
at their feet and in their hands while
just blossom nestled In the waves of
their pretty hair. None of the class
wore gloves-a very commendable
feature by the way Inc effect is
much prettier without them from the
fact that an opportunity is then given
for greater spontaniety and freer
gesturing. 1t is very difficult to make
graceful gesture with gloves on
Palms and potted plants were bank
ed up In front OF the rostrum. forming
a pretty border for the figures appear
ing above 1t. High over the heads
of the graduates hung the motto In
cerisc and cream. the class colors.
No Footstep Backward" Some of
the members of next years class sat
back of the rostrum. 1t Is a trifie
strange the 1902s should have chosen
black and yellow, the colors of Colora-
do college, for theirs also. But of
course it makes no difference. In
passing, II may be mentioned that the
class of 1902 will be large one. I'm.
less something unforeseen occurs
there will be an even number of boys
and girls-a dozen m all. This Is
an encouraging feature when we re-
member that the complaint comes
from all over the United States that
the boys do not graduate. 1t is one
of the problems confronting educators
of the day.
In our own town the classes of the
past three years have consisted of
girls only. 1t is certainly a state of
atrairs satisfactory In It's tendency
when six boys have completed all but
one year of the High school course.
and there is every prospect that they
will continue in school till the finish
1t seems that possibly the fact that
the class of 1901 numbers the mystic
seven may have had something to do
with the success of the exercises. The
class was downright lucky IN some re
spects The crying baby who usual.
ly begins to accompany the speaker
just as she reaches the most telling
part Of her oration seemed conspicu-
Gus by It's absence. If it was there
1t was so interested by the speaker
it forgot to cry. Or perhaps the mag
ic properties of the number seven
were at work. Whatever the reson
the young ladies certainly had the at
| tention OF the audience. People could
not help but be interested in speeches
as bright and as well delivered as
those of last evening
The subjects selected were such as
an audience would find entertaining
Whoever had charge OF this feature
certainly understood catering to the
public. The grace and ease the girls
manifested and their excellent elocu.
tion deserve high praise.
or course any one taking part In the
program outside OF the graduates re-
celves scant attention. The allah
sorbing interest of the public is cen
tered on the class of the year. How
ever. II should be said that the musi-
cal numbers given by those we have
often heard before were listened 10
with much pleasure again East even
ing.
Mr.. Meek conducted the exercises
Introducing the speakers. In bis