The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-06-02
LARGE CLASS GRADUATE
Eighteen Members of the Class of
'O4 Graduate with Honor from
the Leon High School.


'04 Graduate with Honor from
the Leon High School.
The Commencement exercises of the
class of 'O4 Of the Leon High School
were held at the opera house last We'd
nesday evening, when eighteen men,
bers, twelve young ladies and six young
gentlemen received their diplomas tes-
tifying that they had finished the pre-
scribed course of study in the Leon
High School. and that their education,
so far as could be obtained in the public
schools, was finished.
The stage was beautifully decorated
with flowers, palms and the class colors
gold and white hung in festoons and
draperies about the stage, while in the
center hung large bell on which
appeared the figures '04. The front of
the stage was banked with flowers
while on the background of green
appeared the class m )tto "Volens ct
| Potens."
The evening was a most disagreeable
one, rain falling in torrents, yet good
ly number Of people were in attendance.
The program opened with selection by
the Leon orchestra, which by the way
is furnishing some splendid music, and
the members should be encouraged in
their effort to maintain first-class
orchestra in this city.
The invocation was by Rev. w. A.
Montgomery, pastor of the Leon Presby-
terlan church who invoked divine bless
ing on all who were present Then a
charming class song was sung by the
graduates.
The speaker of the evening, DIR. F. G.
Eastman l.. l.. professor of Latin at the
State Normal College at Cedar Falls.
was introduced by Prof. j. Nj. Pierce,
who announced that DR.. Eastman had
been requested to give practical talk
on educational matters instead of one of
his regular lectures, and he had chosen
for his subject Education and Success"
DIR. Eastman is one of the best posted
educators and best public speakers who
has ever appeared before a Leon
audience, and his address showed that
it was the work of a master mind on
/ this subject. He is very interesting
and pleasing speaker and his entire talk
of an hour and half was replete with
beautiful thoughts and advanced ideas.
We doubt if a better speaker could have
been found.in the state than DR.. East
man and his advanced thoughts on the
subject OF education were fully appre-
ciated by both the graduates and the
audience. Many of his theories were
entirely different from anything ever
before heard in this section, yet we
believe they meet with the entire
approval of those who heard him.
Mrs. Q. E Gardner, Icons well known
Vocalist and musician rendered delight
Ilfnl soprano solo, and while the audience
tried hard to honor her with an encore,
Mrs. Gardner would sing but once. q
President v. r. McGinnis, on behalf
of the Leon school board then presented
the diplomas to the graduates with a
neat little speech during which he ex-
pressed the thanks of the board to the
public for the interest they had taken
in school matters and their generous
support of the board and paid a glowing
tribute to Prof. J. NJ. Pierce and his
able corps of assistants in our public
schools who were just closing one of
the most successful school years in the
history of the schools. Mr.. McGinnis'
speech was little gem, and the
audience only regretted that time would
not permit him to make more extend
ed talk.
A male quartet composed of Messrs.
Vogt, Rowell, Warner and Edwards was
the last number on the program, and the
audience was dismissed with the bene-
diction by Elder H. H. Hubbell, pastor
of the Leon Christian church.
i 1t is proper in connection with the
graduating exercises to say word in
regard to the excellent record made by
the class Of '04 in their school work,
and Prof. Pierce and his assistant, Miss
Hattie Drake, are entitled to great
credit for the excellent showing made
by the class this year. We think the
class has done more and better work
than any class for several years and
marks a turning point for the better in
our school. 1t is decidedly better to
graduate a smaller class who are cap
able of graduating with full knowledge
of the course of study than to simply 20
through the form of graduating the
class whether they are ready to grad
uate or not.
II The members of the class of '04 are as
follows:
Cordelia Whitney Wallace.
/ William Thomas Artt.
Ruth Stewart Sanger.
Ethel May sprague.
n Fred H. Penniwell.
Eula b. Walght.
Stella Gardner.
James A. Dunn.
Ruey Hazlet.
Helen Dawson Gardner.
Clair Corwin Long.
Aletha Ellen Burnett.
? Anna Louise Owen.
1 Charles w. Shumway.
Linnie B. Gardner.
Marian F. Woodland.
James B. Owen.
Mamie A. Sprague.
Leon Celebrates this Year,
II hos haan thrna uaans e;nao Iann