Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-21


kkyk bers of the largest class in the
go history OF public instruction in
Omaha have passed from positions of more
or less certain eminence in their small
world to places hopelessy underlined in the
real outer life Of the nation. There remain
yet of the closing scenes Of the school year
all intimately connected with graduation
the competitive drill of the cadet battalion,
the companies Of which contend for honors
In Vinton Street park Monday evening;
Tuesday night tho alumni banquet at the
hillard hotel and Wednesday evening tho
class social
The yearly competitive drill, for which
considerable extra work is done, is con-
test wherein the companies pass before an
inspecting body composed Of army officers
VINO name the best drilled unit and in
dlviduals. The winning company has the
honor during the next year OF carrying the
battalion flag AS the commissioned ofH
GERS of the cadets are all members Of tha
graduating class the contest II of particular
interest to their mates especially the Young
women or the class. The alumni banquet
the Following evening at the Millard will
draw together members of every class
graduated from the schools Of the CITY. but
the newcomers will alone enjoy the calcium
ana VIII be the happy ones at the reception
which comes before the tables are attacked.
Howard Kennedy, 1r, will be toastma ster
ana rev. N. M. Mann the priest Mr. Man.
chester and Miss Lehman are to sing and a
business session follows the spread Tho
class social takes place on the lawn of E.
A. Parmalee at 1924 Corby street.
The exercises have not been as elaborate
as III the two or three preceding years. The
cadets nave been absent on their annual
ehcampment and school has been carried
"a nArTt,v
the teachers being busy with the heavv
duties Of the closing year. The eraduating
exercises Friday evening at the Creighton
theater marked the end of the serious mart
ana the class banquet at the Millard tho
lollowlng night, began the merry-ma king
AS u had all along been the intention to
do away with class day exercises s,,c,, ,s
were observed in 1901 and 1902 there bove
been two enjoyable receptions given IN the
building. The first was n senior class and
teachers reception during December and
tne second n parents reception in March
The building was prettiIy decorated with
Turkish rugs and divan pillows and otbar
household furnishings placed about to give
the school the air OF a place OF permanent
abode.
The great event of former commence
ments has been the class day plays which
haVo been given In the Creighton theater
This was not attempted this year because
OF the expense principally, but also because
or the long preparation necessary and the
considerable work involved. Perhaps tho
best thing done In this way was bv the
class OF 1901, which buided its dramatics
on the cauldron scene in Macbeth" With
special and appropriate scenery and the
conventional witches of the moor was
worked out prophecy for all the class
with tableaux and most pleasing accessories
Last year the school manufactured its own
play without the aid or consent of any
known dramatist. and the affair was very
pleasing. But the play involved a large
amount OF attention and continual work
The really prohibtive feature was the ex-
peuse which had been growing yearly and
made too great burden on the individual
purses OF the scholars. The theater was
last year raised in rent by 100 per cent. so
that the class of this year decided rather
than by less expenditure TO give a play in
ferior TO some which had gone before. to
give mp altogether the attempt
The class of 1892 held its graduating ex-
ercises in Boyd's theater on the afternoon
of June %. the program consisting of mu-
sic by the orchestra and plano duets, reci-
tauons and epoch-making orations by the