The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-28
DOT Now"
That Was Keynote of Superin-
tendent DaVidson's Address.
Also Urges the Necessity Of
Prompt Action.
OUT IN THE WORLD.
Eighty Graduates Leave the
Topeka High School.
Much Glass Spirit OverfiOws at
the Auditorium.
OUT IN THE WORLD.

At the Auditorium last night the so
members of the June class of the To-
peka high school received their diplo-
mas, tied with blue ribbons, and their
class days, so far as the high" is con-
cerned are over.
But there was more to it than mere
ly the giving and the taking of the
sheepskins. The members of the other
high school classes, who hope in turn to
occupy the minstrel circled seats on
the stage of the Auditorium some day
and receive their diplomas, shouted and
yelled and never for a moment let the
school spirit shoulder. The orchestra
played The Deed of The Ten but the
ten could make no Roadway whatever
against the vocal powers of the 700
Once in a while when the bass drum
mer was mad and took vengeance on
the big drum the boom of the sheep
skin heads was heard but not for long.
Then the class marched in from the
ante rooms. The line from the south
was headed by Superintendent White
more, W. NJ. Davidson, the orator for
the occasion, and President F. F. Nal
Iory, of the board of education. The
line from the north ante room was
headed by Principal Miller, of the high
school and Rev. II. A. OFT. Then
Hobble-gobble, razzle-dazZle, sis,
boom, roar. Topeka high school, June
'o4' rolled up from the sea of faces in
front like a mighty wave, crashed
against the walls of the building and
rolled back. The song, by the high
school girls choI us. which followed was
in comparison like a summer breeze
compared to a tornado.
Rev. Mr.. OFT asked the invocation,
Con don Cron sang 'BandOlero," w. NJ.
Davidson, formerly superintendent OF
The Topeka schools, delivered the ad-
dress to the class on Patriotism in the
Public Schools" Carl W. Wood played
Il violin solo, Rev. Mr.. Mallory pre-
scented the diplomas. the isis. boom
roar" rolled back and forth, the audi
ence dispersed and the high school days
for so scholars, the largest class in the
history of the Topeka high school, were
over.
In closing his address to the class Mr..
Davidson said:
Young ladies and young gentlemen
of the graduating GLASS, you represent
in a large sense the pride and hope Of
this community.
You live in a great country and in
a mighty age, marked on every hand
by the most stupendous progress
which the world has ever beheld.
This community in the midst Of
this wonderful progress, with its null
uplicity of expenses, has taxed itself
in order that you as young people
might be educated. 1t has done so.
not solely because it felt an immedi-
ate interest in you or your welfare,
but because it believes in the system
of public education as instituted by
the fathers in this country, and has
had an abiding faith in the principle
that you, as graduates of this public
school system, would return to the
community and to the state ten-fold
that which it has found itself obliged
to expend in your behalf. You owe
it to yourself, to the state, and to
your country to see to it that this in
vestment shall not have been in vain.
I'm addition to the ever present and
I overlapping sentiment of this hour
/ that sentiment which bids you place
God and country first, yourselves
afterward-I have but two minor
thoughts to leave with you. Minor,
did 1 say? No, not minor-but
/ thoughts which should be ever pres
ent with you and made TO constitute
the main spring of action in your
/ lives.
''First-Whatever you purpose to
do in life, do that thing honestly and
we'll. The world is full of half-heart-
ed and half developed human beings
who constitute the failures of life be-
{ cause of their failure to realize the
necessity of doing that which they do
| honestly and we'll. You will succeed
or fail in life just in proportion as you
lay hold upon this principle and make
it part of your daily thought and
| daily action.
Second-Whatever you intend to