The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-07-04
Commencement at Villa Maria.

Frontenac, Mimi. Commencement
day at beautiful Villa Maria was
marked by exercises of a most pleas
ing character. The stage was taste
fully decorated to represent wood
land scene where gypsies disported
in true Sylvan style. The quaint, bril-
liant costumes and gay music with
clashing tambourines of the cantata,
"The Gypsies' Carnival" produced a
charming effect. Miss James, Bath
gate, N. D., filled the role of queen
with marked success. A Yankee ped
dler, personated by Miss Mackmiller,
Iron River, Wis, was extremely droll
and apparently very easily converted
into a by no means sprightly gypsy,
as he retained his Gimp amid all the
gay rondos and dances. The songs
We're very well rendered throughout,
but the role Of fortune teller by Glad
Us O'Brien, St. Paul, was particularly
effective. The Jam Potts." sung and
acted by the little misses, including
two year old Dorothy Koch, daintily
dressed to represent what the song
called forth, deserved applause. The
hymn. 'Aly Faith Looks Up To Thee"
with Delsarte poses, was most grace
fully and appropriately rendered.
"Grandma's Minuet," by two sweet
little girls, Irene Leisander, st. Paul,
and Katharine Hayden, Duluth,
called up many a pleasing reminis-
cence, and the hearty applause showed
plainly it was fully appreciated. OF
the piano solos, Merkels Cascade"
executed by Miss Mattimore, st. Paul,
evidenced careful training, and all
though some nervousness was appar.
ent it detracted but little from it's ct!
fectiveness. Miss Maude, '03, Nicker-
son, rendered Goddard's "Valse Senti-
mentale" with pleasing effect A pref.
ty march and other mandolin num@
bers by Miss Hortense Smith, Chip.
pewa Falls, Wis, and Miss Rose
Miegel, st. Paul, We're much appreci.
ated; but Wrede's "Waldmuhle," ex-
ecuted with exquisite taste and teche
mic by little May Hoelsher, Duluth,
won the laurels of the day. The
vociferous and insistent applause that
followed was responded to with
Dole's "Capreccio." wlich-an unusual
thing at piano recital-kept the hall
in rapt attention. This twelve-year.
old musicians ease and self-possession
provoked many smile of admiration.
A class of eighteen young ladies, gown.
ed in dainty white, rendered a most
beautiful song Of farewell to their
graduating companion. Each one pre-
sented flower which when bound to.
gether formed a magnificent bouquet,
expressing in floral language the Low.
ing wishes of all. The graduate, Miss
Ze:la Maude read most pathetic
valedictory essay entitled, ''The Part.
ing of the Ways" The emotion she
felt ON bidding adeu to her loved
Alma Mater caused several fearful
breaks in the continuity of her beauti.
fully worded essay, but seemed only
to make it more acceptable. Rev. w.
Raleigh, the genial chaplain of the in.
stltution. conferred the gold medal
and made some pathetic as we'll as hu.
morous remarks which were thorough.
~ relislled by the select audience. He
dwelt especially on the significance of
the closing exercises as a pleasant 500
cH'l reunion. Thus ended the com.
mencement of 1908. After inspecting
the very fine exhibit displayed i'm the
corridor, the visitors spent the rest of
the day in strolling amid the beautiful
scenery of this garden SPOT of tho
great West