River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-06-13
Thirteenth Annual Commences
ment r. F. High School.


graduation exercises OF the class Of
1901 at the Methodist church last
Thursday evening.
In spite Of the threatening weather
and the counter attraction of the G..
A. r. camp fire, the church was filled |
almost TO its limit by relatives and
friends of the class and school. Fully
six hundred people showed their in
tereSt in the exercises by their pres
ence and close attention to the pro-
gram.
The church wa prettily decorated
with evergreens, ferns and flowers,
while the class motto, "Climb though
the rocks be rugged" done in the
class colors, maroon and gold" show
ed TO advantage as it hung within tie
arch above the platform. In the
choir loft were seated about thirty OF
the young ladies Of the public school
who were to furnish the music OF the
evening. 1t was S:2Op. M. when Prof
Ames led the class out upon the plat
form, where they were met by +. M.
White, of the school board, and Rev.
L, J Snodgrass.
This was the first time for some
years that the class furniS he'd the
program for commencement, and the
innovation" or"return TO first princl
plies" whichever it may be called, was
a decided success. The memb Der of
the class, Misses Judith TAFT and.
Mabel Chinook and Messrs. Oscar
Bergseng, Perry Clark, Rob't Reed and
Ralph Mcintyre, carried their several
parts 10 man or that reflected honor
upon themselve cfedit upon their
teachers and school, and pieasingly
entertained the large number 0 f their
friends who made up the audience.
Miss TAFT gave the history of the
class, and succeeded In weaving the
salient points in the history Of each
individual as well as OF the class as a
whole into characteristic and in.
teresting story, which gained In eifec
tiyeness by her natural, unassum-
ing delivery.
Perry Clark sketched the posi-
BILE future extension Of this coun-
try, showing how commerce must
determine very much the limits Of
our territorial greatness, and touch
ing upon the possible future Of the
South American republics when they
may become united into one great
nation.
Oscar Bergseng gave brief COM
pariSon Of the condition of the negro
at the close OF the civil war and his
condition to-day, ending with plea
for fair treatmnt OF the black man
by his white brother as the only
true remedy OF the so-called race
problem.
Robert Reed had for his subject The
Battle of Gettysburg" giving very
vivid description of the third days
fight in that great and decisive con-
flict, and showing why the battle was
one of the greatest of history, and
was the turning point of the great
rebellion.
In his class prophecy Ralph
Mcintyre departed somewhat from
the beaten path, preparing his work
in dialogue form and being assisted in
the giving of it by Miss Mabel Chin
mock. The scene of the dialogue was
laid in Colorado in 1896, and represent
ed Mr.. Mcintyre as stopping TO call
upon his old class-mate, Mrs. Jones
mabel Chinnock) while on his way to
his home In the state OF Washington
from trip TO the east during which
he had met all the class and
learned of their doings in the 80 years
since graduation. The giving of the
dialogue by Miss Chinook and Mr..
Mcintyre was exceptionally good and
added very much to the effectiveness
OF the prophecy.
Miss Mabel Chinook gave the class
yaledictories. Her paper was very
appropriate and her delivery Of 1t was
excellent
Prof. Ames gave the class a short
talk on the "Self.made MAN. calling
their attention to the fact that while
different individuals may have differ
ent opportunities, yet every man is
what he makes himself to be.
f. M. White presented the class
with their diplomas in a few fitting
remarks congratulating them on
their success as individuals and as
class.
The music for the evening was very
good. The first number was an
instrumental trio by Misses Zenith
White, Louise Mayer, and Ada TAFT.
Miss Kate Snodgrass and Miss Inez
Toby sang duet, as did also Miss
Olive Krogstad and Miss Amy Chap
man, while the last number was a
chorus by % Of the girls Of the public