Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-06-08
HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATING
EXERCISES

1t was evident to all present at the
Presbyterian church last evening tina,
Superintendent Downs and his corps
of excellent teachers had left nothing
undone to make the graduating exer
cises of the class of 1903 a little more
brilliant than anything which has yet
preceded it. and this is directly in line
with the policy of this excellent High
school, which. under the superintend
ency OF Mr.. Downs. has reached the
first rank of High schools. not only
of Colorado, but of all states. as was
stated by Prof. Libby. of the Boulder
institution not long ago.
The rostrum was beautifully decor
ated with blossoms OF white and red
the class colors: across the arch
above. in white, was the class motto.
"Certum pete finum" in very artist
cally designed letters of white. and
red, from which were suspended roses
OF the same colors; the choir loft was
sorgeously banked with sweetest bios,
soming buds-buds of humanity fresh
with the fragrance of youth and beau
~ co, iSdlS lllt DOyS as
well as the girls, for at this age they
are just as sweet)
The main body of the church was
well filed by ticket holders long be-
fore eight o'clock, and when the north
door was opened at that hour. a mass
of waiting humanity surged in in rath
er an unceremoniOus manner to Sc
cure the remaining seats. and all
available space in the building was oc-
cupied by well-dressed and intelli
gent audience. There has been so
much friction over school matters OF
late, that doubtless. some came to
see for themselves II the Durango
schools were, as Mr.. Dooley says,
going to pot as they had hearn
tell" If such there were they went
away at the close of the exercises
with minds relieved.
One admirable feature of the pro.
gram was that 1t was entirely fur.
nished by members of the school with
one exception: Prof II. X. York, as
accompanist, has up to date been
found Indispensable at entertainments
OF this character, and he was In his
accustomed place at the piano.
The exercises opened with an invo-
cation by the Rev. E. o. Ostenson.
which was both practical and elo-
quent, the strongest expressions there
OF being an appeal to the Infinite in
behalf OF the common school, the
grandest institution In the grandest
country on the globe" and that zig
ha
from those in authority that our
schools progress in their forward
movement without interruption from
these disturbing forces"
The flowers" in the choir loft then
sang The Jolly Students" in stir
ring manner that caused the listener
to wish herself school girl once
again. This number was so sparkling
that the audience was in excellent hu-
for the feast to follow.
Miss Ysrdelia BslemeaE followed
with an Grafton on The Beet Sugar
Industry" of which she gave thor
ough and mastery review from the
discovery of crystalline sugar in beets
in the year 174T down to the present
time, explaining IN detail the pro-
gress of the industry In our country
and its wonderful possibilities in our
own stale.
aIiss Ella King, one of the gradu,
ates who had been chosen to give
recitation instead of an Grafton. then
rendered Bret Harte's THE Second
Review of the Grand Army, in very
artistic manner. Miss King, like all
swset girl graduates. vas tlmid, and
did not perhaps recite with all the
force and fervor that she would have
done with more experience. but it is
this very difiidence that makes the
giri graduate SO sweet; II IL like the
fragrance of flower, and. alas, so
soon lost when the blossom has TO bat
tie with the elements OF real life.
Miss Bessie Lake added brilliancy
10 the program with a charming rem
dition of the song Marguerite" Miss
Visa Lake was her accompanist Lit
tie Miss Bessie has been blessed by
nature with an exQuisitely sweet SO
prano voice Of broad range, and her
tones were equally sweet and pure
from low to high notes, the latter be-
Ing taken with the fiFmpess Of an ex-
perienced vocalist, Miss Lake pos
sesses all the essentials to a success
full singer. and 1t is hoped by her
many friends. who have known her
from childhood. that she will make
the most of her talent and that some
day the greater world may hear her
voice. for the writer believes with the
eminent and lamentad Rev, Myron
Reed that the gifted people Of the
world were made for the special pur-
pose OF entertaining the masses, that
light is for Illuminating purposes and
not to be quenohed or hid upder a
bushel" when there is SO much need
Of light.
Miss Minnie Buhlauer, delivered an
Grafton entitled Volcanic Eruptions,
which was very graphic and given
with much force for one so young
She spoke at length on the three ter
rible volcanic upheavals of Vesuvius
Krakatoa and Mt. Pclee. and illustrat
ed with excellent infection and de
scriptive gesture these rather dramat