The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-26
COMMENCEMENT IS
LARGELY ATTENDED
Fifty Nine High School Stud
entS Graduate.
TEN FINE ORATIONS GIVEN
Program Very Elaborate and
Successful.
TEN FINE ORATIONS GIVEN

The twenty-fourth annual commence
ment of the Wichita high school was
held last night at the Toler Auditorium
and an elaborate program was given
with success. Fully 500 people attended
the exercises.
There we're no special decorations for
the occasion but the platform was elegant
In every respect. owing to the sea OF
faces which appeared thereon. The grad
uating class, consisting of 50 young men
and women, were picture in themselves.
The majority of the class are young wo-
men and they were neatly and beautifully
attired in white while the young men
were clad in black. Flowers were TO be
seen in exuberance in the hands and laps
of the various members and the stage
was a consummate scene of grandeur.
The members of the faculty, the super
intendent and some of the members Of
the school board were seated on either
side of the stage.
The program was opened with an over
tyrr, .'Waltzes. La Soiree.'' given by the
high school orchestre. The selection was
perfectly rendered and received much de-
served applause. Each member of the
young and talented orchestra is worthy
of the plaudits and encouragements that
should be bestowed upon brilliant music
al genius.
After the Invocation Miss Marguerite
Bliss gave the audience a splendid treat
by playing piano solo. "Papillions, Op
4S, No l. and Ara besque, Op. l, No. :. -
Her execution OF this classical music
was enthrilling and extremely praise
worthy Miss Bliss is a musician true
to the significance OF that term, and the
encouraging applause she was given by
the crowd last night demon>trated that
her selection was exceedingly entertain
ing. The simplicity with which she
gldes up and down the intricate varia-
tions of difficult pieces is the feature
that is most attractive. Miss Bliss is
rightfully a musician.
The next number on the program which
had been announced was to have been
an oration by Miss Sidney Agnes Clapp.
but owing to severe sickness she was un-
able to be in attendance. Her grafton
was to have been on The Woman of
Japan Miss Clapps friends were quite
disappointed that she could not be pres
ent, but the sympathy of thee lass was
extended to her and many expressions of
love were bestowed. Miss Clapp is a
finished speaker and it was to be regret
ted by the audience that she could not be
with them and deliver the Grafton she
had prepared.
Immigration" was the subject of the
next oration and number of the program
which was delivered by Willard Brooks.
His interpreta ton of his subject was pro-
FOUND and expansive. For a young man
his line of thought was beyond criticism
and his manner of delivery and express
sion was irreproachabe. His was. of
course, the more modern and properly
polite version as advanced in the leading
current magazines and the public press
of the country.
Miss Lillian Stubbs was next on the
program. and she gave a typical oration
on 1.-The Puritan and the Cavalier in
Our National Life" The oration was
interesting in historical illusions and
smooth language. 1t was spoken so as
to be understood by every one and the
value and vital interest to every man
and woman.
Greeting to Spring Blue Danube"
Waltz. by Strauss Lichter) was next
sung by the Semi-Chorus of the class of
1904. and the graufication of the people
was expressed in a series of applauses
which were given Immediately upon the
close of the number
How Charming Is Divine Philosophy
was the subject of an Grafton given by
Miss Frances OVerman. which was the
next part Of the program. This was a
masterpiece production and was filled
with fine thought and deep philosophical
conclusions. Miss Overman held the
deepest attention of the audience through
out and made a permanent impression
upon the minds of the listeners.
Arthur w. Fegtly next spoke on The
Yankee Of the Orient" His Grafton was
one interspersed with happy thought and
magnificent theories. His innuendoes
pertaining to the Japanese were appro-
pirate and struck the sympathetic chord
Of patriotism and fraternity which fingers
in the breast of every liberty loving
American. His remarks were pertinent
from the standpoint Of current events
and savored fragrantly Of the truth Of
the situation, which made his exposition
an implicit declaration of justice as it
appears TO America. His was the most
appropriate Grafton of the evening for
the reason that his Japanese alusions
were so frequent and brilliant. The audi
ence could not help from cheering when
the word Japan was uttered
William f. Chapman silence by the