Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-17
WATERVIILE.
GRADUATION.
Seniors of the High School
Receive Their Diplomas.
Very Pleasing Exercises, tuesday
Evening, in the New City Hall.
Liberal Applause for Each Participant
in the Program.

High school much better than he did
the juniors, for the weather for the
graduating exercises, Tuesday evening,
was cool and fair and very favorable
for such an event. The City hall was
crowded when the exercises began and
the program received many compli-
mentS.
A pleasing feature, this year, was the
solo, The May Morning." which was
rendered very prettily by Miss AIDE
laide johnson at the conclusion of her
article. This was q complete surprise
to every one in the class and most
every one III the audience as it had
been kept a secret. Miss Johnson has
a voice of great promise and is plan
ming to take n thorough musical course.
She is now the pupil of Mrs. Frank
Hubbard. AS her subject was music.
the solo was a very appropriate ending
and made a pleasing novelty.
All the parts were finely rendered
and were heartily applauded.
The first speaker of the evening was
Harold N. Mitchell who had the
salutatory, and who took for his sub
ject, Growth and Progress of the
United States" He spoke in part as
follows:
las we stand on the threshold of the
Goth century and glance backward
upon the progress of our country, we
review with pride and satisfaction, not
only its increase in area and popula-
ton, but also i'll material prosperity,
the growth from q mere dependant of
Great Britain to the head of nations.
1T is not necessary to dwell upon
the condition of America at the time
it was first settled by Europeans. The
character and objects of the men who
proposed to establish a home here is
familiar to every person. The growth
of the 10 colonies covering scarcely a
quarter of a million of square miles, to
a country extending over four millions
of square miles, and from three mil
lions of people to more than seventy
millions, are comparisons that deserve
thought and consideration.
The speaker then briefly traced the
growth of territory from the Louisiana
Purchase down to the Philippines,
passing from that to the material
progress. Under this head he treated
briefly the advance made in agricul-
tural implements and agriculture. the
growth of transportation from the old
post roads to the present railroads and
steamboat lines, in electricity and
other inventions. In closing he said:
I'VE justly pride ourselves on our
marvellous material prosperity, and
such a prosperity may exist in order
to establish a foundation upon which
a higher life can be built But unless
we do, in fact, build this higher life
thereon, the material prosperity will
go for very little. We must insist upon
courage and resolution and tenac-
ity and fertility in resource. We must
insist on the virtues of self restraint
self mastery and regard for the rights
of others. Then, in the century now
beginning, we shall make this repub-
lie the greatest and most mighty ma
ton which has been fashioned by the
hand of time"
Ralph II. Hoxie followed and took
"War" for his theme. He briefly de-
scribed some of the most important
battles that have been fought here in
America, taking Bunker Hill of the
Revolution, Lookout Mountain and
Gettysburg of the Civil and San Juan
Hill of the Spanish war. These de-
scriptions, although of necessity very
brief, were finely done. He then spoke
of the progress of the arbitration policy
and of some of the results of these
memorable contests
In closing he said:
"Glorious as have been these years
of struggle there is destined to be
time of greater glory and of national
peace for it is written And he shall
judge among many people and rebulIe
strong nations afar off, and they
shall beat their swords into plough
shares and their spears into pruning
hooks; nation shall not lift up sword
against nation. neither shall they lead
in war any more When this time
comes. and let us hope it is not far
distant, it Will be the nations greatest
glory; and honorable arbitration of
differences will be the best hope of
civilization.
erationS,
Wars cchoing sounds grow fainter and
then cease;
And like a bell, with solemn, sweet vibra
Hear once more the voice of Christ say,
Peace
The Latin honor was awarded to
Miss Carrie d. Noyes, this year, and
she chose a selection from Cicero. This
was delivered in most excellent man
ner in the original. The honor parts
are among the most difficult for sue
cessful rendering bat all were finely
done this year.
Walter NJ. VOse followed, having for
his subject, Thomas b. Reed" This
was a well prepared sketch of Names
famous statesman and of some of his
more important work. There was SO
much to say that it was difficult to
make good selections but Mr.. Vose did
this in an excellent manner, and his
article was a good one. In opening he
said:
THE history of a nation is a record