Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1902-06-05
ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT
The Class Of 1902 Graduate With Honor
at PRESBYTERIAN Church.

| Il uG tWtllbu dIluudl COiuilCuCtuIruU
of Brookings High School, took place
at the Presbyterian church last Thurs
day evening and. as predicted by the
| REGISTER, the building was crowded
by interested friends OF the class and
school.
Fourteen young people have com
pleted the course Of study prescribed
by the board Of education and pass
out into the world TO take up life's
battles in earnest. A year OF hard
work lies behind, but years OF still
harder work is before them The
raise in the standard OF excellence re-
Quired Of High School graduates, the
past year, has compelled each student
to 'dig" with unceasiDg activity and
diligence. And all honor is due TO
those who 80 successfully performed
their part and succeeded in passing
the rigid examinations imposed,
Although not so large class as was
graduated in 1901, it was none the
less interesting and the program, in
many respects, was superior to any
that has yet been presented. Some
OF the subjects selected, as will be seen
by the program, are somewhat ancient
and, at first sight, somewhat disap-
pointing; but the manner in which
they were handled showed originality
of thought. Many new points of inter
est were produced in an entertaining
way that could not fail OF attracting
attention and favorable comment
from those who are prone to criticise.
Each member of the class acquitted
themselves with great credit In the
delivery of their carefully prepared
papers, and there was variety enough,
and brevity that was at once at
tractive and pleasing.
There seems to have been a dearth
of musical talent in the class this year
as this feature OF the program was
supplied by others than members of
the class. This fact detracted moth
ing from the excellence Of the pro-
gram, however, as some of the best
talent of the city had been drawn up
on by Mrs. @. +. West, who had this
feature Of the program in charge. A
male quartette consisting of Messrs.
Laird, ROddle, Parsons and Davis sup
| piled the second number and Messrs.
j. p. Mann and f. G.. Davis each sang
a solo.
Selma Johnson, who holds the best
class record in her standings for the
year, had been selected to deliver the
"Salutation" and her greeting was
warmly received by the audience. The
young lady was afterward presented
with chaplet, by the class giftator-
ian, in honor Of her acquired position
and excellent mental attainments.
Frank Kennard pictured the life of
Mckinley as a soldier Beginning
with his boyhood days and first en-
listment, he carried his listeners on
and up through his modest, though
brilliant career, until at last he be-
came the commdnder-in-chie OF the
army any navy Of the United States.
His utterances were clear and distinct
and could be heard In all parts Of the
house.
Ethel Anderson gave an interesting
and entertaining account of "Our
New Fellow Citizens" the Filipinos.
The young lady had evidently been a
thorough student of her subject and
her paper contained many points of
interest that usually escape the casual
reader. Her delivery was slow and dis
tinct and commanded the attention |
OF her listeners from beginning to end. |
Adams butcher delivered his ora.
tion on the man of destiny, Napoleon |
Bonapart, with an effect that sur
prised even his best friends. His sub |
ject matter was unique to say the |
least and was handled in a style pe-
culiarly his own.
The class history, by babel Knut-
son, disclosed the fact that there were
only two original members of the class
Of 1902 who started in the primary
grade. Miss Knutson, the class his
toriaD, was one of them and Adams
butcher the other. 1t was therefore |
quite fitting that one OF these should |
be selected TO chronicle the incidents |
of school days. The paper was enter
tanning; many fortuitous circum-
stances being brought to light that
had been long buried.
Ellery Chilcott brought out Joan OF |
Arc. The history of this notable |
character is always interesting and in |
this instance could have been made |
more Sc had the delivery been more
distinct. The subject matter was
good and Mr.. Chilcott has good |
stage presence.
t. B. Kelley read an interesting
paper on wireless Telegraphy,r go
ing into the details OF its discovery by |
Marconi and reciting the endless num-
Der OF obstacles encountered by the |