Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1903-06-26
THEIR FIRST STEP
Eleven Bright Young People Are
Graduated From Dallas Public
school.

The graduating exercises of the
Dallas public school were held last
Friday night at me City Hall. The
excellent prograA was enjoyed by
large audience If patrons and
friends Of the sclpol, and all were
proud of the bright young people
who took part ia the exercises.
The stage was beautifully decorated
with flowers and evergreens, roses
and Oregon gfape being used in
profusion.
The graduates, eleven in number,
are Alvie Mopton, Nola Coad,
frankie Hayter Leit Finseth, Alta
Savage. Bessie Gaoch, Pearl Burk,
Lulu Dempsey Neven Palmer, Earl
Shelton and Clarence Dodson. The
musical featured Of the program
were an instrumsntal solo by Miss
Ada Osfeld; vocal solos by Miss
Georgia Shriyer and Prof. Dunkle-
berger; vocal quartet by Mrs.
H. H. Chace, MfH, D M. Metzgerf,
Charles Chace atia Prof. Dunkle-
berger, and German quartet. The
last-named quartet, whose members
are Prof Metzgsr, Prof. Dunkle-
berger, G. Riser aud w. R. Pfen-
mig, sang German air in manner
to leave nothing to be desired.
This was their first appearance in
public, but the people of Dallas
will hope to hear them often in the
future.
The young people comprising the
graduating class allacquitted them
selves remarkably we'll, and re-
ceived many compliments at the
close of the entertainment. The
manner in which their recitations
were delivered showed patient and
careful training The absence of
the usual public school graduating
'oration" was positively refreshing.
The address h ha class by Rev.
A. A. Winter was full Of practical,
common-sense. Among other things
he said: "The age needs practical
men and women-t those who will
throw their hearts and souls into
their work. There is no room for
idlers or lreamers. If we would be
successful, we must not only have
ideals that are high, but we must
work to them. Don't try to do
everything, but do something.
Have one dominant idea, and work
to that idea. The successful men,
almost without exception, have
been men who worked to one
dominant idea" The speaker
urged the class to continue their
studies. "Let this be a stepping
stone to higher things" he said.
"Never in the history of the Nation
has the demand for cultured, re-
fined men and women been greater
than it is at the present time"
The diplomas were presented to
the class by Dan P. Stouffer, after
which the prizes for excellence in
studies were awarded by Principal
Reynolds. The free scholarship in
Dallas College was won by Earl
Shelton, and the gold medal given
by the school was awarded to Nola
Coad.
The Dallas public school is in
good hands. Principal w. L Rey-
nolds is a man who insists upon
thorough work, and nothing less
will be accepted. A pupil must
know his book well before he is
allowed to leaveit. No better proof
of the honesty and sincerity of this
teachers work is needed than the
mere fact that he will not allow
any pupil to deliver an grafton or
essay at the commencement exer-
cises unless there is positive proof
that the production is original. No
outside help or plagiarism is toler-
ated for an instant. Realizing the
limitations of the mind of the
ordinary boy or girl of tender
years, and the inability of such
pupil to prepare finished, scholar
" address, no such work is re-
Iuested or expected, and the
graduates from the school are
allowed instead to recite selections
rom well-known poets or prose-
writer's. The pupils of the Dallas :
public school are required to do
honest and thorough work, and the !
patrons are we'll satisfied with the
services of Principal Reynolds and !
MS assistant teachers.