Rock Island Argus., 1901-06-01
DIPLOMAS GIVEN 43
Largest Graduating Class in His
tory of Rock Island
High School.
COMMENCEMENT AT THE THEATRE
Young People Acquit Themselves
creditably in Program of Ad-
dresses and Music.

acquit themselves with greater credit
than did the class of 'O1 at its COM
mencement at Harper's theatre last
evening. 1t is the largest class the
local high school has ever graduated,
containing As members, and the fact
that the last year of school haF been
finished so successfully 10 the face of
such difficulties as have presented
themselves reflects the greatest credit
| upon all who have to do with the
| management of the schools affairs
and the citizens generally who have
so generously contributed to its re-
covery from last winters disastrous
fire.
The house last evening was packed
to the doors, as il always is on the
| same occasion. The cool weather rem
dered the building delightfully."- COM
fCrtable, which cannot always be sald
OF commencement evenings and the
program throughout was followed
| with close atte ntion.
The curtain rose at $50. showing
| the class seated in the form of
horseshoe with triple row at the
back. On the curtain at the rear was
a huge American flag, tsstefully
draped, and over the class hung the
| motto worked in the class colors,
| orange and blue, "SpectemurA Agen-
| do" Oet us be seen by our deeds).
The boxes on either side of the stage
were draped with flags and GLASS
colors.
| SaIutatoFy by Miss witt.
After an invocation by Rev. ID. L..
McNary, of the United Presbyterian
church, Miss Amanda Marie Witt de-
livered the salutatory address, follow
ing with an essay on the life of Peter
the Great. Bidding the audience
welcome in a few well formed sem
| tences, she touched on the lessons of
life the class rad gained during the
school experience and led up to her
| subject with a reference to the few
who have learned those lessons ex-
| ceedingly well. The strength of
Peter the Great was emphasized in a
comparison of the lasting good he
accomplished with the ruin wrought
by that other celebrated sovereign,
Charles Nj of Sweden.
The next number was a character
sketch from Dickens Tale of Two
Cities" by Miss Bessie A. Mcdonald
Sydney Canton" was her subject
and her portrayal of the manner in
which he redeemed worthless life in
his death to bring happiness to the
| woman he loved. was truly graphic
A reading. "If Love Were All, :"
from the Prisoner of Zsnda." by
Hugh Reticker. followed. The speaker
delivered his part with marked COM
posture, and displaying considerable
dramatic power in the portion con-
tanning the tragic love scene
The next was a musical nun Der.
cornet solo, Hoch's ''Fantasie Concsr-
santa" delightfully."- rendered by Miss
Almira Holt, with her mother, Mrs.
O. s. Holt. at the piano.
Modern Tendencies of Capital and
Labor" was the subject of Stephen
William Collins, who followed. The
rise and development of labor and
capital organizations during the past
$50 years was traced and the causes
which have produced them explained
1t was argued that labor has
taken the initiative in forming COM
binations and that capital has fol-
lowed the example for self protection.
The speaker held that the trust is a
legitimate institution from every
view point and predicted that it will
be instrumental in efTecting a final
and equitable agreement between cap
ital and labor.
sFThe Sweet Girl Graduate."
The monologue, 1.-The Sweet Girl
Graduate, q" by Miss Anna Irene Lar
kin, was next. The vanities of girl
on the eve of commencement and her
petulance and playful waywsrdness in
a little love scene were depicted in q
manner that was in the highest sense
artistic and brought forth long con-
tinued applause.
An essay on THE Relation of the
United States to Cuba" by Harry IL.
Lambe which followed, was well de-
livered. 1t was pointed out that there
has been strong sentiment among
statesmen in the past favoriDg the
annexation of the island and the poll
cy of the present administration to-
ward the nations wards was upheld.
Miss Amy Elizabeth Thompson next
sang in beautiful voice Hawley's
melancholy "Ah, 'Tis But n Dream"
and Trotere's rollicking "The jolly
Sailor" S. Mae Coulton accompany
ing on the piano. Lloyd Chester
Lamphere had for his theme The In
dustlial Progress of the United
States" and he handled it well. He
laid particular stress upon the de-
velopments of the past few years,
quoting statistics to prove his state
Inents, aud predicting untold triumPhs
in the years to come.
The valedictory wss delivered by
Miss Mabelle Payne. who had for her
subject ..Ramayana, Hindoo Epic.
The manner OF growth of national
epic and brief sketch of this charac-
teristic myth of the Hindoo gods was
given. Then in impressive manner
she spoke the solemn words of fare
well to her class, including grateful