Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-19
RECEIVE DEGREES
Twenty-one Persons Graduate
From Southern Iowa Normal.
EVENT IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES
Young People Finish Course in Insti-
tuition of Learning in Bloomfield
Large Number of People Attend Ex-
ercises--other Davis County News.

Bloomfield, Aug 16. = (Courier's
special Service. )-Twenty.one per-
sons received degrees from the facul-
" OF the Southern Iowa Normal insti-
tute at the graduating exercises held
at the Methodist Episcopal church
Thursday night. This church is the
only building in the city adapted to the
accommodation of the entire commu-
nifty which gathered to hear the ora
tor OF the evening, Rev. Matt s..
Hughes of Kansas City, whom Bloom
neld people had the pleasure of hear
ing on several occasions during the
years in which his father, Rev. T. B.
Hughes, of Abba, occupied the M. e.
pulpit in this city. Promptly at the
appointed hour the graduates preceded
by Prof. Downey, entered and passed
to the choir loft, which they occupied
during the evening. The invocation
by the pastor, Rev. ]. w. Potter, was
followed by piano duet by the nor
mails Instructor in music, Miss Mary
Mckeehan, and Miss Ollie Wishard, a
former graduate of the institution, af-
ter which Prof. Downey introduced the
speaker of the hour, Rev. Matt S.
Hughes, whose address on the subject
OF THE Fine Art of High Living" was
one of the finest productions that
Bloomfield people have ever had the
pleasure of hearing. The address
treated largely of those things which
are vital and fundamental to human
existence. After depicting the evolu-
ton of the past ages and the first ap-
pearance of man, the speaker passed
to educational lines and thence to the
high arts and the latest achievements
in the scientific world, all of which he
stated minister to the supreme art,
the art of all arts, the high art of liv-
ing to which the statement was added
that the progress of the nation is not
measured by the advance in art or
science, but by the moral development
of men. In portraying the difference
between the vital and formal things of
life the speaker named a kindly dispo-
sition as a great vital thing of life,
clubbing the young men and women
lacking the quality as "venerred furni-
ture" or plated ware The climax of
the grand address was reached in the
statement that the finished product of
the high art of living is a man. The
artist is better than the art and a liv-
ing man the greatest thing in Gods
Vi CdIloH. lic ouCSSSSlul dlJlSI Sluu-
es the old masters. but in the art of
living we have but one master, the
perfect pattern, Jesus Christ At the
close of the address Prof Downey pre-
scented the diplomas to the graduates,
after which a vocal solo, rendered by
Miss McKeehan was followed by the
benediction by Rev. d. A. Wyckizer,
pastor of the Christian church. The
o,. NIL I'D 1~-o i
of palms, ferns and blooming flowers.
Music was furnished by the Philhar-
monte orchestra which continues to
be an ever increasing source of pleas
ure to the people. The entertainment
was given to an immense audience by
whom it was highly appreciated.
Some History.
Thirty-two years ago the Southeast
ern Iowa Normal Institute was found
ed in this city by Rev. Axeline, at that
time pastor of the Presbyterian
church. Since that time the success of
the institution has fluctuated as from
time to time it passed from the control
of one to the more successful manage
ment of another. Last year Prof A. A.
Williams, having spent or years
within it's walls, rendered his resigna-
ton in order to accept a more lucrative
position at Valparaiso. The board of
regents selected as his successor Prof.
A. T. Downey then connected with
the college at Memphis. Mo. Mr..
Downey having spent his boyhood in
this city where he, in later years,
demonstrated his scholastic ability by
serving a term as assistant PRINCIPAL