Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-20
/. WATERVILLE.
ssa..
commencement.
Graduation of Glass Of 1901 of
the High School.
The Speakers Given the Closest At
tention Of a Large Audience.
co5urn Classical Opens Weeks Exercises
r With Fine Piano Recital.

ter weather LOT commencement tnan
thus far this year. The class of 1861
ceased to be members of the High
school, last evening, and are now en-
rolled in the alumni. The pleasant.
cool evening attracted every one and
about as many as possible crowded in
TO the church to hear the exercises.
The decorations We're similar to those
of the juniors but more elaborate.
From the time the class was ushered
from the vestry to its seats by Frank
H. Philbrick to the close of the vale
dctory by Miss Lowe. the closest at
tention of the immense audience was
held by the speakers. Everything
passed off smoothly and it was GER
tainly one of the most enjoyable of the
graduations yet held by the school.
Everything had been so carefully and
thoroughly drilled that there was no
chance for failure. The frequent and
generous applause received by the par
ticipants attested the pleasure of the
audience.
Waterville is very proud of her High
school and is always delighted as an
other success like that of last evening
is added to the long list. Principal
Nelson is to be congratulated on the
close of another so successful year
Of school work and the graduation of
another large class of excellent stu
dents.
The first speaker was Harold 5.
Hoxie. who had the salutatory. He
chose for his subject the famous negro.
Booker T. Washington. He began by
briefly sketching the early life of his
subject. showing how his great thirst
for an education overcome all obSta-
eles. Ry the hardest work he forced
his way through from the lower to the
higher grades. becoming himself a
teacher after his graduation in other
schools in the South and at length in
the one where he had completed his
course. This was Il great achievement
as everything had been accomplished
by hard work. After completing ms
education his one object was the good
of mis- race 1t was for this that he
educated himself and to which he de-
voted his whole life. From Hampton
he went to found his great Normal
and Industrial Institute. The speaker
then sketched the remarkable growth
of this institution from the time that
il was housed in an old church anu
plantation buildings to the present
time when it is splendidly equipped
and when it is doing most excellent
work for the negroes. But Washington
was not only famous as teacher but
also as an orator. He had many OF the
qualifications for a leading politician
but he never allowed this to lead him
from his life work. He was man born
of despised race. who rose from poN-
erty, conquered prejudice, and there
fore merits being called truly great
man. This article was finely prepared
and rendered. 1t was short and clear
cut.
Miss Lulu e Roderick chose for her
subject: Poems of the Sea" She be-
gan by showing how the sea affects
the minds of all but that to poets alone
is it given to put their feelings into
words She then quoted bits from va
rious poems that have had the sea for
their subject. Whittier. LongfelioW
Byron. Barry Cornwall. and Tennyson
were in the list These quotations
showed a familiarity with the best
poetry and good taste. TennEson Ia
NOUS Break, Break, and crossing
the Bar" We're quoted from to show
the opposite effect the sea had at dit
ferent times on this author. me
speaker then went on to show how the
sea sympathized with every MOOD Of
man and how it's grandeur. mystery
and beauty had inspired some OF the
best work in English literature. me
aptness and beauty of the quotations
made this article especially interesting
and enjoyable
Miss Ida p Keen had the Latin hon
or and chose a selection from Cicero,
delivering it in Latin. These parts are
especially difficult for High school
graduates in Waterville, as they are
usually faced by many competent
critics and must reach high standard
to receive praise. Not only was the
pronunciation of all these honor parts
good. last evening. but also the inflec-
tions and gestures which are SO much
more difficult when speaking in a
strange tongue.
Arthur Fletcher chose timely SUD
ject, taking Japan as Nation The
prominence of this nation just at pres
ent made this article of special inter
est. The speaker stated in his intro
duction that the progress of this ma
ton had been as rapid and remarkable.
as that of our own. He then went on
10 describe the condition of the coun-
try previous to 1854. when it was open
ed to the world This condition of the
Hermit Nation was then compared
with that of the present, the result OF
a remarkably rapid growth AS the
Hermit" Japan had no strong CEN
trial government. no thoroughly organ
lied army and no navy. with no posi-
ton among the nations of the world
She was constantly in an uproar from
the almost countless civil wars. In a
comparatively short period all this mas
been changed. The little nation now
has a strong central government,
well equipped army and fine navy.
She has been learning rapidly from
her neighbors and has now taken po-
sition among the world powers where
she can even afford to defy the Rus
sian bear. Her future is now bright In
all lines of activity.
Miss Adelaide f. Briery took for her
int in q