Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-13

|C0n1nencen1ent.
One of the important events In the
life of the Canton High School students
is the preparation and final exercises
that pertain to the graduating class
each year. It's an event full of bright
dreams with reference to the glorious
future and each aspiring student feels
the Importance of their first appearance
before critical and an admiring pub
lie for the first time with courage and
hearts beating full of hope.
A magnificent audience filled the
spacious court room last Friday even
i ing to enjoy the graduating exercises Of
the high school class which numbered
eleven. It was an audience that even
an orator, grey in the service, might
have felt it privilege to address. The
court room was attractively decorated
and back Of the speakers stand, high
up on the wall, in large letters, one
could read the class motto: Palma
Non Sine Pulvere." Flowers were
banked sll around the judges desk, and
palms, ferns, roses and oleanders flank
ed the desk making q beautiful base
behind which the youthful speakers
stood.
Promptly at $50 Rev. A. G. Shepherd
advanced to the floor platform and ask
ed the audience to stand while bless.
ing was asked. Mr.. Shepherd prayed
eloquently for all things connected
with the event, and asked divine bless
ing for our schools, the graduates, the
teachers and the board Of education.
The opening number was piano solo
by Miss Averill-a gem by an artist.
Napoleon Lewis was the class mem
Der selected to deliver the salutatory,
and he rose to the occasion eloquently.
He spoke in fine form and warmly well
coined the friends and relatives of the
class.
"a Heroine Of History was the sub
ject discussed BY Eva Conklin, and the
heroine was that famous maid Of histo-
ryJoan Of Arc. Miss Conklin drew q
charming picture Of the "Maid of Or
leans" and briefly narrated the salient
points in her wonderful career. It was
q sweet story, painted in flowing colors
with superb mountings. The striking
events in the life of that wonderful
Maid were retold with charming effect,
and Miss Conklin retired in triumph.
Florence Rudolph spoke on The
Good that Men do Lives After Them"
She reviewed the work of Columbus
and the result Of his discoveries and the
career Of Cromwell, Napoleon and Bis.
mark was referred to, and pointed to
Gladstone as striking example Of the
text, and then referred to Washington
as one Of the greatest examples in line
with the subject under discussion
She turned from statesmen and war
riors to reformers, and held Martin
Luther high in this class, showing that
that sturdy defender Of Classification
by Faith" and the right of private
judgment" was one Of the great men
whose name will pass down along the
ages as being an exam pie Of sublime
moral courage. OF the good which we
have been taught by example she said:
'"The world has profitted more by the
good which has been of obscure origin
than from famous men and women.
The every day civilities, the little
proofs Of brotherly love; an earnest So
licitude for the comfort and happiness
of others, an upright consistent Christ
ian life, cheering or hopeful word,
warm handclasp and d tear perhaps
rendered to one in distress. a humble
though beautiful flower for the sick
neighbor, a bright smile and an air of
God bless ye" to all, the humane
treatment of birds and animals, these
are evidences of good, They are good.
They dc. good, and it is good which
distinguishes man from brute; civiliza.
'tion from barbarism, and good which
will live forever"
Miss Rudolph was accorded mer tied
reward in applause as she stepped
from the platform.
Miss Lila Rogers, one of the sweetest
songsters in Canton, was next on the
program. She sang ''As the Dawn"
and the effect on that big audience was
magical.
"Snccess" was the topic discussed by
Claude Mallory, the youngest of the
class, and Claude showed by his ex-
cellent manner, clear voice and conf
dence that he understood full well what
success meant and showed how the
true ambition of man carries him up
ward and onward with success as the
guiding star of life. The audience ap-
preciated his manly effort.
Contributions to Civilization" was
the subject on which .Lajla Skartvedt
spoke. It is a great subject and one
that gave the young lady ample scope
for study in a literary and historical
sense. She referred to the prominence
OF literature and art in Grecian life
and claimed Aristotle and Plato as still
"the masters of those who know" She
referred to the failure of political civil