The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-27
GRADUATING ExERcicE.-.
Opera House Scene of Highly Inter-
= esting Occasion.

4 WIN HOWeIS, muSlC, oUuS olu 1u-
dress the graduating exercises OF the
high school took place at the opera
house last night AS usual on an Oc-
casion of that kind, the capacity OF
the house was tested to its utmost.
Every seat was occupied and many
persons stood in the back aisles, all in
tent upon noting what was in progress
on the stage. The latter was resplend-
end with color and animation and pre-
sented beautiful appearance. A
row of blossoming plants backed the
footlights and formed handsome
foreground for the row OF graduates
who were seated in a semi-circle,
fanked on one side by Professor
Brother, superintendent OF the city
schools, and on the other 'by Doctor
w. G. Bagley, the speaker
After an overture by the orches-
ira, Professor Brother made few
remarks by way of introducing the
class and then reviewed its work, at
ter which he took formal leave it it's
members and then introduced Doc
| tor Bagley The introduction was fol.
lowed by enthusiastic applause, as
the distinguished educator is not a
stranger to- the people of Billings,
having appeared here once before on
like occasion.
Doctor Bagley announced that his
subject would be "Pessimism VS.. OPP
! timism' He said he knew that pes
simism was an unusual subject to talk
about on an occasion of that kind, but
he thought it was, we'll to |be a little
pessimistic when speaking to lot
/ OF young people, because of the am
bition of youth. The best way to spur
it on to its best efforts was to de-
clare that a thing could not be done.
After his Introductory remarks the
speaker entered in earnest upon his
theme and quoted freely from ancient
and modern writer's and philosophers
made famous by their gloomy views
of man and everything pertaining to
life and the world. They, he said
had gone to extremes but moder.
ate amount of pessimism was a good
thing, as it prevented people from los
ing sight OF the many difficulties and
disappointments tnat are bound to be
met by those who have dedicated
their lives to, the accompVi ishment O.
great and noole objects. Life wa:
not a bed OF roses. Many obstacle!
must be overcome, no matter how
bright the view of life that might bt
entertained and no matter how enthu
siastic the worker in the cause OF :
, great work or reform. Optimism wa
good in its place and the optimism
!. that was the most beneficial was o
the kind that compelled continuit,
and perseverance and did not ceas
it's efforts because the goal sough
appeared to be at hand Or was salts
fled with the progress that had bee:
made.
At the conclusion OF his address Dl
t Bagley presented the diplomas an
!. expressed pleasure at seeing so man
It young men members OF the class
d which, he said, contained more male
: than any other graduating class in tn
|. state
S Miss Martha Nhompkins now san
It solo and was compelled to respon
:, to an encore, after which the auienc
II was dismissed.
The young ladies and gentleme
s. who have finished their hi1h-schot
|, course are Miss Winnie Burton, Mis-
d Helen Goddard, Miss Ida Lord, Ha
q old Rixon, Roy Matheson, Ellswort
e Reilly, Harold Tomlinson and Ralp
a Morris