Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-06-22

Arthur Enger Vera Boice
Clarence Bidne Georgia Adams
Oscar Brorby Jennie Shea
John Jewell Hazel McClaskey
Eugene Rosenthal Clara Haugen
George Trzcinski Grace Baker
Ray Harmon Gladys Jewell
Philip Hexom Emma Christen
Ethel Landers Bessie Helnberg
Stella Dalvey Anna Solem
Francis Reeves Tina Bidne.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The annual commencement exer-
cises of the Glass of 1904. Decorah
high school. opened at the Grand
opera house on last Wednesday even
ing by the presentation of the class
play 1.-THE Rivals" before an audi
ence that packed the house from pit
TO dome, and the Interpretation OF
this difficult play was received from
beginning to end with enthusiasm by
the immense audience. While the
play is long one, it was listened to
throughout with rapt attention. 1t
is very seldom indeed that roles
which usually require such special
qualification and peculiar fitness are
attempted by amateurs. and still more
rarely that they are carried with such
surprising ease and precision, for
without any attempt to particularize,
it may be said that the different parts
from first to last were taken SO excel
lently that they received the univers-
al appreciation of the audience. The
presentation showed plainly the care
which had been given its preparation
and the excellent training of the class
by Miss Macha Vance, who had them
in charge.
THURSDAY EVENING.
Another large audience gathered at
the Grand on Thursday evening 70
witness the graduation exercises OF
the class. The program opened with
invocation by Rev. E G. Hunt, after
which the class history was presented
in Dialogue by Misses Emma Chris
tian, Vera Boice and Stella Dalvey,
and the class prophecy in Dialogue by
Misses Ethel Lsnders and Gladys
Jewell. Both were delightful por.
trayals of vivid imagination, woven
into stories of pleasing merit, and
were given hearty reception by the
audience. After an excellently rem
dered violin solo by Miss Vera Boice.
PIof. W. G. Wilcox of the University |
of Iowa, delivered the commencement
address. 1t was a scholarly presenta-
tion of his subject, "What Does Edu-
cation Mean" and was fi!leo with sem
sible ideas clearly and ably offered. |
The program closed with the presen-
tation of the diplomas by Supt E. l..
Coffeen, who in a few feeling re-
marks told of his connection with |
the school; how he had in a similar
manner received his diploma from
the same high school twenty years
ago, and how he had returned TO take
up the superintendency four years
ago, just as this class entered its
freshman year; and how that together
with them he was now closing his
work with the school. The remarks
were kindly received by the class,
who have throughout their course re-
spected and esteemed Supt. Coffeen
as teacher and friend, o-laborer
for the best there is In school work.
and a man whose daily life is an ex-
ample that they might we'll initiate.
FRIDAY EVENING.
The festivities of the week closed on
Friday evening with the reception by
the Juniors to the graduating class.
board of education, teachers and alum
nj at the high school. which proved
to be one of the most enjoyable occa-
sions of the commencement season.
Some Big Shipments.