The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-06-22
BELFAST HIGH SCHOOL.
The Graduation Exercises in the Opera
House,

The Graduation Exercises in the Opera
House.
What were universally held to be among
the prettiest graduation exercises in years
were given in the Belfast Opera House
friday evening, June 18th, by the class of
1905, b. II. S. Simplicity was the keynote
OF the decorations, which were very effec-
tive. The wings and back of the stage were
draped with white and clusters of yellow
lllles-the class fower-on a background
| of green were artistically scattered over the
entire space. The doorway was draped in
yellow and over it was the 1905 emblem in
the shape of the class pin. The motto,
Labor and Honor" in green letters stood
out clearly from its background of white on
the drop at the front of the stage. Foliage
plants and cut flowers filled in the spaces at
the sides of the stage, while the floor was
covered with white fur rugs. Directly in
front Of the stage the Junior seats were
decorated with bunting and banners in the
class colors. The Sophomore seats under
the gallery at the right of the stage were
bright with the white and red of 1907, some
class banners making a particularly fine
showing, as did the numerals enclosed in a
triangular frame. The Freshmen were not
to be outdone, however, and their space at
painstaking preparation. The Opera House
as usual was packed with people, who felt
amply rewarded for any discomfort they
may have suffered. The classes marched
to their respective places quite promptly,
and at signal from E. S. Pitcher, the music
teacher for the school, they took their
places on the graduated platform arranged
for the occasion and gave the ''Yoeman's
Wedding Song" by Poniatowski with very
good effect. Rev, E. S. PhilbroOk offered a
prayer and Elizabeth Chamberlain gave a
vocal SOLO, 'Dream Stars by Molloy, in her
usual sweet voice and with pleasing man
ner. The second honor part, the salutatory,
was then gracefully given as follows by
Miss Elizabeth Quimby:
THE sALUTAToRY.
At last, after four years swiftly and
pleasantly spent in that High school, now
grown so dear to us, the time of our gradu-
alton is at hand, that time, at first impa-
tiently anticipated, but now that it is so
present a reality, too sadly realized.
1t is with great pleasure that we welcome
here tonight so many parents and friends
for whom the High school has an interest.
During the winter, our basketball team
has brought our school before the public
eye, and we highly appreciate the generous
support given our team by the people of
Belfast and the pride manifested in its
u II
for this disposition toward the school ath-
letics, we heartily wish that stronger
feeling for the school itself might prevail,
an interest for the many improvements SO
sadly needed there. The hope of new
school building, though it has been but a
vague dream to us, we will leave to classes
to come as a sacred gift to be fondly cher
ished, and, we trust, eventually realized.
To our teachers, our superintendent. the
school committee, and all others who have
helped to make our school life easier and
pleasanter, we can only say we thank you.
The parts you have played in our life here
can leave only happy memories.
Schoolmates,-our school life together has
been in every way enjoyable and profitable.
We have tried to incur none of the dis
agreeable feelings which are SO apt to exist
between classes, and you surely have done
your part in making our relations more
harmonious and peaceable. Tonight we
envy you the few years more of school
before you, and sincerely hope that they
will mean as much to you as ours have to
us.
Juniors, to you it is customary to leave a
few special words of advice, and, unworthy
though we are, we would hardly feel like
deprving you of our four years of accumu-
lated wisdom and counsel But our day is
over after tonight you will be the Seniors
| it will be your turn to learn the responsi-
/ bility attendant on that dignity, and if, as
you will often be told, you find that the
! whole school looks to you for guidance in
study and department, don't let the privil-
ege make you self-important. Wear your
honors modestly Another year yours will
be the traditional Senior privileges, whose
| joys l will not here enumerate. Don't take
advantage of them. A word to the wise
should be sufficient.
! For the last time then, as the Senior class,
we extend to you all a cordial welcome,
with joy for the present and hope for the
future when we shall have "Gone out from
our Alma Mater safe, safe, in the wide,
wide world.''
Miss Stella Black then gave the history in
manner noticeable for it's ease and clear.