The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-06-20
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

of the Belfast High School were held in the
Belfast Opera House Friday evening, June
14th. The house was filled to its full capac-
ty, and the members of the large class &C.
quilted themselves in manner that held
the close attention of all, although the even-
| ing was uncomfortably warm. The decora-
tions of the stage were very pretty, and re-
fiected credit on the junior class for the taste
in designing, and the skill displayed in ar
ranging them. The class colors are green and
gold, and the class flower the feur-de-lis.
The groundwork of the decorations was
loOped white, dotted with ferns Potted
plants, palms, ETC., stood at each side of the
| stage, and rail of green and white extend
| ed across the front. Over the center en-
trance were the figures 1901, in gold, and at
the top the class motto, " Nul bien sans
peine," also in gold. The rail Of the left
balcony in front of the seats of the junior
| class was trimmed with yellow drapery
festooned with white, with the class en-
blem, crescent enclosing triangle, in
scribed '' 'o2, B. H. S. in the centre.
The members of the class, eighteen in
| number, the teachers, Mr. Howard and
Misses Field and Townsend; Chairman
Bickford of the School Committee, Super
intendent Dunton and Rev. Geo. S. Mills
were upon the stage.
| The Belfast Band of % pieces was in
| attendance and rendered number of selec-
| tions in their accustomed fine manner. Two
| members of the graduating class, who are
also members of the band, took part in the
| opening selection.
The exercises opened with the overture
"Fest,' from Leutner, by the band, follow
ed by prayer by Rev. Geo. S. Mills, and a
| second selection by the band, "Traumerei'
| by Schumann.
The salutatory was by Miss Florence
Elizabeth Dunt0n, who referred to the so
years history of the school and the advance
which marks the opening of the new CEN
! tury; looking back to the past and forward
to the future, but speaking for the present.
| The school life of this class had been profit
able mentally and enjoyable socially. She
| expressed for herself and the class graft
| tude to the school committee for their inter-
est in the pupils and thanks to the teachers
for their labors. She addressed the juniors
as successors of the present class, and ex-
| pressed the best wishes for their success,
and closed by extending a cordial welcome
| to all.
| Charles Arthur Harmon and James Almon
| McMahan played clarinet duett, SOP. IS,
No. - by E. Brepsant, difficult piece,
which they executed with skill and pre-
cision.
Miss Amy Ellura Stoddard, the class his
torian, spoke highly of the training the class
received in the Upper Grammar School.
When they entered the High School, in Sep
tember, 1897, the class numbered 33 men,
bers. Miss Stoddard traced the changes
| that have taken place in the class and the
principal events in its history from their
entrance into the school to the graduation.
The junior year ride to Searsmont, the pre-
sentation of the play ''HiS Lordship' and the
tree planting on Arbor Day were mentioned
as interesting events. She also referred to
the musical talent of the class, nearly every
member being good musician, either vocal
or on some special instrument
Karl McDonald's essay on ''Amateur Ath-
letics'' was an interesting review of the
progress of athletic exercises and sports
He described the old-time game of ball, its
| appliances and methods, and compared them
with the corresponding features of modern
base ball. A yarn ball, a broad bat, and
any field were all that were required for an
old-time game, and players went into a
game with no preliminary practice Now
| %1,o Eo1I ,,nt Lo
balls, bats and all other appliances must be
according to certain regulations, and play
ers must keep in constant practice and pur-
sue regular diet to be successful. He closed
by summing up the respective benefits OF
the two systems.
Percival Willard Keene read the class
poem, which dealt with class and school
matters, and was well written and in every
way creditabe effort.
The discussion of the question, "Resolv.
ed, That co-education in colleges is desir
able" showed that the class possesses a
good amount of talent. Miss Frederick
May Cook opened for the affirmative. She
first defined co-education in its broadest
sense as the educating of boys and girls iI
the same institution under exactly similar
conditions. Two-thirds of the American
colleges to-day, she said, are co-educational
If education is desirable, co-education i.
doubly SO. The good effects of co-educatior
are seen in all colleges. Not only are there
no objections to co-education, but it has
many advantages on moral and menta
grounds. A woman's faculties are enlarged
and there is no danger arising from the co
educational system.
Miss Alice Perry Poor opened for tn,
negative, by asking il one would prefer t,
trust young daughter in co-educationa
college rather than one exclusively for younl
ladies. All agree that education for womel
is desirable, but it can be better attained il
separate than in eo-educatiOnal colleges
Co-educatiOn causes lowering of the grad
of colleges, as a result of the physical in
ability of the girls to stand the work i'm
posed by a college course. Miss Poor quote,
from number of prominent educators il
support of this point.
Harry Leroy French continued the argu
ment for the negative. He argued that tn
idea of co-education is based on the 19tl
| century idea of the equality of the sexes