Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-15
FAREWELL TO HIGH SCHOOL
Glass Of 1902 Makes It's Bow and Steps
Out Into the World.
LARGEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY
neutrality-suspicious. Theate Crowded
to Hear the Graduating Exercises
Members Of Class Acauit
T~hemseIves Well.

1t was the larges, class ever graduated
from the Omaha High school-150 strong
and 1t filled the stage OF the orpheum
Friday night as though the stage had
been built to It. Three more
persons could not have been crowded on.
Tier upon tier the bright young faces arose
from the footlights and shone forth from
clouds Of blllowy white chiffon with just
a touch of masculine black here and there
by way Of contrast. There were 10 girls
and forty boys. 1t was a feast Of reason,
music, art and color. Every little nook and
corner Of the stage that was not otherwise
occupied was filled with palms or with
roses and carnations, presenting the class
colors, crimson and white.
As to the boxes. they were occupied by
remnants of previous graduating classes or
by Representatives Of classes yet to face
the world. There was the feur de lis In
white and orange of the class OF '97, the
sky blue, yellow and purple Of 'O3. the
blue and white OF 'O1, the pink and mauve
Of the p. G.. s. society and the black and
gold of the p. L. S. The motto Of each or
ganization, tastefully wrought in gaudy
weaves and gilt letters, hung from the sides
of the boxes and a continual crosshre of
class yells, many of them improvised to
1NtN NNN cNNa1ASbf nv III NV haBH " NV
program. Here is a sample:
We hate TO say IT,
But still we be
The wonderful class
Cadets Come First.
After the invocation by Rev. Robert Yost
thirty commissioned cadet officers Of the
class, including all but ten Of the boy
graduates, marched upon the stage, under
N-,w.a ~ -
Kelkenney. There was no room for mill
tary ~maneuvers, so the young officers con-
tented themselves with right dress" and
Salute" Superintendent Pearse, after a
brief address, delivered to them their
diplomas. which bear testimony to their
skill in the drill and manual of arms.
Principal A. H. Warehouse then an
nounced the names and ratings OF the senior
pupils who had received the highest marks
for the last term, as follows: Edna L.
Daman, 96.9; Mary L. Brown, 96.5; Minnie
Hitler, 1854; Blanche Roe, 95.5; Anna M.
Dietrich, 96.5.
The first Grafton was "Our Neighbors,"
by William Phelps, the salutatorian, in
which was presented a word picture Of the
great national powers and their relations
to each other. He decried war, urged ar
bitration as a means of settling interna-
tional differences, congratulated the Anglo
Saxon race, and turned the calcium upon
the altruism Of the future. His ideas
were all eminently safe and his fine stage
presence and strong, clear voice made an
excellent impression.
Takes President for Model.
Miss Ruth Hammond's grafton, 1.-THE
Twentieth Century Knight" presented the
modern hero in striking contrast with the
Don Quixote nobleman of yore. She took
Theodore Roosevelt as her type of latter
day kn!ghthood, and II the president had
been there he would certainly have been
proud of his little champion. Her tones
were beautifully modulated, her enuncia.
ton clear, her gestures few and appropriate
and her sentiments we'll within the mental
grasp of her audience.
True Womsnhood," the theme chosen
by Miss Laura Congdon, was a dignfhed and
able analysis of some of the women who
have figured prominently in the world
history. Queen Victoria seemed to be heI
ideal. She excluded vice from the English
court, said Miss Congdon, 'by the ex-
ample she set in her own life and by heI
sweet womanliness always"
The Omaha High School Violin quartet
comprising four young women of the junior
class, played Scene Champetre," and re-
sponded to a hearty encore.
Miss Lillian Dickinson, n mulatto, spok,
on the subject, 1.-THE Young Negro, a Fac.
tor Of the Future" in which she took
very optimistic view and predicted al
early settlement Of the race problem. "Tht
young negro having grasped the situation
she said, knows and feels that nothing
can curb the bright tendencies that allure
him to his future. He has only to wal
In silence, work while others sleep in thu
night and when the morning of the future
breaks in upon him he will hnd himsel
walking in a coherent atmosphere OF LOVING
friendship, admired and respected by hi
fellow men,"
Miss Mae King, in "Orators and oratory,'
assured her audience that the golden ag
Of oratory is not dead, notwithstandin
the growing power Of the press. She 1
something Of an orator herself, since thu
audience lost not a word of her Grafton.
Watson B. Smith believes that the Ameri
~ ~ RoEtAnN . Nhi