The Somerset reporter., 1905-06-15
COMMENCEMENT.
: sKoWHEGAN HIGH SCHOOL aud
BLOOMFIELD ACADEMY


people of Skowhegan Doubtless this
is 30 in other New England communities
and it is only one of the ways in which
an increasing interest in all educational
matters manifests itself Until within a
few years the commencement exercises
of the Skowhegan High School COM
prised the Junior and Senior evenings
only now with the Senior reception and
Junior hop, the baccalaureate sermon
and other events directly related to
comn encement, full week ia occupied.
1t is but natural that the students,
having had the hour OF graduation in
mind for the four years of their course,
should regard the time of Commence.
ment as outrsnking in importance any
public event of the year, and their
families and friends share, to large ex-
tent, this feeling with them. Relatives
return home to see their brothers and
sisters receive honors at the completion
of their course, and all things taken to-
gether the Commencement of recent
years is Skowhegan's gala week
THE RECEPTION.
The reception given by the members
of the senior class to the pupils of the
Skowhegan high school and the public
occurred last Friday evening at Milburn
hall. A large amount of work is neces-
sary in preparing for this event and the
details were participated in by the en-.
| tire class under the direction of Winni-
bel Cover, Harold Tuck and BENJAMIN
Eaton, committee of arrangements.
The school colors, orange and black.
were given prominence in the decora-
tOns Draperies, furniture and rugs
were brought by the scholars from their
homes and arranged about the hall, and
the whole was made very effective by
ferns, palms and other potted plants
very courteously furnished to the class
for this occasion by F. G. Danforth
from his green house.
AS the guests entered the hall they
were received by Miss Winnibel Cover
and Mr.. Guy French, of the class of
1905, assisted by Miss Eunice Bodwell,
assistant at the Showhegan high school ;
! Mrs d. II. Perkins, the wife of the
principal, also by D. W. Colby, superin-
| tendent of the Skowhegan schools. The
| young ladies of the senior class had
charge OF the refreshments, and sherbert
and fancy waters were served to each
guest The following very delightful
program was given, after which several
hours were passed in dancing to the
music OF kendall's orchestra:
| Vocal solo, Miss Maude Merrill
Piano solo, Miss Dora Traftnn
Duet, Miss Sadie Pennel, Miss Mabel Ross
| Reading, Miss Maude Jewett
SOLO Miss Florence Wyman
BAGeALAUREATE SERMON.
The baccalaureata sermon was deliver.
ed by the Rev. I. b. Merrill at the
Congregational church, Sunday evening,
the exercises commencing at seven
O'Clock. The class of 1905, twenty eight
| in number, entered the church together
and took the seats assigned to them,
under the leadership of their class
marshall, Guy Estes. The church was
well filled, in spite of the fact that the
weather was unfavorable, many of the
alumni of the school being present to
| gether with the parents and friends of
| the members Of the graduating class
and others who are sure to find interest
In 80 impressive an occasion. The
scripture lesson was read by the Rev
+. A. Leitch and prayer was offered by
| the Rev. II. F. Huse The theme of Mr..
Merrilrs address was Ideals" the
| central thought being that, as in all
| orders of nature we find each individual
striving to become the best of it's type,
80 the human ideal should be nothing
less than the highest type of manhood
| and wumaDhood. In closing he spoke
for himself and for all friends of that
class in assuring them that the interest
and sympathy which had been shown
during their career in the Skowhegan
| public schools would follow them in the
| future in whatever they should under.
| take. Special music was furnished by
the regular church choir and in addition
| there was violin solo by Professor j.
A. Kendall. and vocal solo by Mrs. j.
w, Steward.
| JUNIOR EXHIBITION.
Nearly every seat was taken at the
| Methodist church, now Skowhegan's
largest audience room, on Monday even
ing, TO listen to the program prepared by
the Juniors of the Skowhegan high
school, as their part OF the commence
ment exercises. To many the scene
| served to recall oommencemeus of
many years ago, as from the early years
of the school to about the year 1884,
the commencement exercises practical.
ly without exception, were held in this
edfice.
The decorations were the work of
the class almost unassisted. They were
tastefully executed, evidently upon we'll
considered plans, embracing the stage
and its surroundings to such an extent
that the speakers looked upon the audi
ence from a mass of green and flowers.
Draperies of lavendar and white, the
colors of the class of 1906 were used.
The arrangement of the program was
entirely the work of Miss Eunice Bod
well, assistant of the Skowhegan high
school, and the training of the class for
its execution deyo we'd upon her. It
was based upon the lives and writings
of three authors who now are receiving
large measure of attention, and there
must have been the thought of profit 10
the students. in memorizing selections
well chosen to illustrate the literary
style of each author, and of advantage
to the public in hearing them delivered.
From first to last there was no Interrupt
tion of any kind; each participant ap-
peared at the proper time and every
part was given without prompting or