Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-06-16

The class of 1908, the largest class
that ever graduated from our high
school, was greeted on last Thurs
day and Friday evenings by the
largest audiences ever assembled in
the auditorium of the high school
to listen to graduating exer.
cises. And these magnificent audiences
were well repaid, for the exercises were
exceptional in several respects. There
was variety enough to keep them from
being monotonous; there was uniform
excellence both in the matter presented
and the delivery, every voice being
clearly heard; there was evident the
greatest care in making every detail
add to the perfection of the various
selections and to the pleasure of the
audiences. The music was furnished
entirely by the teachers and pupils in
solo, duet, quartet, girls chorus and
boys orchestra. In the midst of an
atmosphere of music, the perfume of
flowers, of bright colors and lights, and
the cheering faces of friends and rela-
tives this class of twenty-nine members
received their diplomas and took their
farewell.
The program deserves extended no.
tice and it is with pleasure that the
PnoT presents synopsis of it just as
presented
THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 11TH.
After a charming chorus, Merry
june" by ten of the high school girls,
Gladys johnson, Mayo Morisette, Lily
Fuenfstueck, Nellie Nutter, Margie
McCrossen, Aida Young, Lulu Stuhl-
fauth, Clara Roach, Flora Braeger and
Bessie Vaughn, the audience was led
in prayer by Prof j. M. Coyner.
The Salutatorian of the class, Edward
Mumm, had chosen for his theme,
French Ideals in Colonization, and
in we'll chosen words and with a feryid
delivery he traced the vain attempts of
the French to colonize our country. 1t
is story that is but little understood
and the essay showed careful research,
wide reading and constructive thought.
The ideals of French colonization are
divided in four groups each with a dis
tinct purpose and each with leader.
The establishment of a refuge for OPP
pressed Protestants under Rebaut was
frustrated by the heartless Spaniard,
Menendez. The opening of the water
route to China and japan by the ex-
plorer Champlain, failed because no
such route existed These lesaers were
followed by Marquette, devoted to the
conversion of the Indians His work
was nobly carried on, but the task was
too severe for one generation to accom-
plish. LaSalle who stood for the build
ing up of vast French empire had to
battle with Indians, with perils of an
unknown land, and the greatest con-
testing element was his own band who
cut short his work by death. The ideals
of the French were altruistic, while the
English on the other hand planned well
their expedition and carefully weighed
their labors and results. This, with
the liberty. seeking spirit of the Eng
lish, lead them to success while the
French failed
1t is always interesting to the patrons
and friends of the high school to have
some feature of its work explained, and
especially when it is done by some
pupil who, in her own words, is an exam
pie of what is presented. Nellie Nutter
had chosen topic that evidently she
clearly understood and loved, iu telling
of the work in English literature in the
high school, for her essay showed liter
airy taste and ability. She said in part :
This study is de..ghtful as well as
beneficial, for from it lis obtained taste
for the worlds best literature, knowl-
edge of its development, an apprecia-
ton of beauty both in character and
lovely gems of truth. As we can
not appreciate good music without
study and practice, neither can We
good literature without Knowing
certain rules. To study English litera-
ture is to study development of char
acter andthe history of the English race.
One of the pleasures derived from
this study is an increased love for ma
ture. The poets, with their deeper in
sight, teach us to find tongues in trees,
books in the running brooks, sermons
in stones, and good in everything We
also gain an increased ability for char
acter reading.
What rich Inheritance we have in
literature. wonder if we ever consid-
cred all there is even in small, well
chosen library There is a company of
the wisest and wlttiest, picked out of all
the countries in thousand years, who
have put together IL best order the rs-
suits of their learning and wisdom.
Thus we owe to books those benefits
which come from higher intellectual
activity, aud so do we depend upon
literature to serve as great spiritual
izing force As Horace Scudder 50
aptly saws: ''It is te literature in our
schools that We look for the substantial