Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-11
SCHOOL FORDEAF GRADUATES
Songs, oratiOns and Essays Are Given Il
Sign Language.
SIX MEMBERS OF THIS YEARS ctAs
Diplomas Presented by superintendent
Rothert Of Iowa school, who
Compliments the Pupils on
Their

The chapel Of the Nebraska school for
the Deaf. Forty-hfth street and Boulevard.
was taxed TO its utmost yesterday after
noon, to accommodate the parents and
friends OF the pupils who assembled 20
witness the annual commencement exer-
cises Of the institution. On every hand
there was evidence Of the skill Of the
classes in the decoration Of the chapel.
while the bright faces Of the young people
attested the interest they felt In the
annual exhibition Of their handiwork and
other progress.
The exercises opened at 1880 o'clock
with the invocation by Rev. J. NJ. Ross
followed by a sign song, Lead Kindly
Light" given in the sign language by six
young women and sung by one Of the
teachers. Throughout the program the
members were interpreted by some Of the
teachers, though their expressive presen-
tstion rendered their meaning quite evil
dent. An essay, MY Walk to School," by
Miss Maude sweifel, was the next num-
Der given in the sign language and an ora
ton, William Mckinley" by Mr.. Dean
Smock. illustrated the progress made In
teaching the deaf to talk.
The proficiency of the younger children
IN lip reading was shown In oral recitations
by two Of the classes, a Reclamation by
Miss Hattie Ren and an essay by Miss
Hester whitman, following. An art test by
one Of the art classes was another bright
feature Of the program. six Of the pupils
exhibiting their skill at oh-hand drawing
with crayons. A one-act farce, presented
in pantomime by the members OF one class
was another creditable feature.
Names of the
In an essay, The American Woman"
Miss Mary smarth, the valedictorian, pre-
scented the high ideals Of the young women
Of the graduating class and spoke theil
farewell to the school. the graduates being
Misses Hester whitman of Nebraska City
Maude Marshall Of Lincoln, Maude zweife
Of Omaha, Clara Truhler of Coleridge, MARI
smarth Of Milligan and Dean Smock Of Lin
coin.
1t had been expected that Governor Saw
age would present the diplomas, but in hi
unavoidable absence H. W. Rothert. su
perintendent of the Iowa School for the
Deaf at Council Bluffs, made the address.
He spoke most highly Of the afternoon't
! program, congratulating the teachers ant
officers OF the institution upon their work
/ which he said was generally recognized fo
its excellence. His address was brief
! being interpreted by superintendent r. E
Stewart, and after the presentation Of tn
diplomas the exercises closed with the sig
song, Home OF the Soul" by the girls 0
the graduating class.
z Previous to the afternoon exercises tn
t members Of the board Of trustees. ClintoI
H. Orcutt Of Omaha, Charles Nowres o
e Papillion and c. G. Elwanger Of Nebraska
. City, held a meeting, the only thing asid
from the routine business being their de
+; cision that all pupils boarding at the in
stitution should be governed by the sam
: rule regarding visiting their homes whethe
8 they lived in the vicinity or not. this actio
! being taken to protect the institution
. against contagion.
After the program another meeting wa
s held for the appointment Of teachers 70
the coming year, and while the number
s to be increased no announcements are to b
made for some time.