Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-05-29
Aopr0priate Exercises Held in Cul-
ver's Nall Thursday and Friday
Evenings.
JUDGE BRANTLfYS ADDRESS
Chief Justice of Montana DELIGHTS
and Entertains Large Audience
Banquet This Evening.

Although the alumni banquet, which
may be properly termed a part Of the
closing exercises Of the Fergus County
Free High School, will not be held un
til this evening, all the exercises ar
ranged by the school were completed
last week and the year 1866 has pass
ed into history.
The year was certainly one Of the
most profitable in the history of the
institution The attendance was
large and the progress made was sat
isfactory The class which was grad
uated was the largest, by far, ever
turned out of the institution and rank
ed high in scholarship and deport-
ment.
The first of the series of final exer-
cises was the play For Scotland's
Freedom given by high school stud
ents in Culvers hall Thursday even
ing. The play was written by high
school students and was really meri-
torious from a dramatic and literary
standpoint. A crowd which tested the
capacity Of the opera house witnessed
it's production Thursday evening and
the young people deserved and receiv>
ed an enthusiastic reception.
The gradua ting exercises proper
Were held Friday evening in Culver'a
hall. The hall was beautifully deco
rated for the occasion and standing
room was at "a premium throughout
the evening. On the stage We're the
members of the class, Rev. H. q.
Wakefield, Superintendent Crane, Dav-
ia Hilger chairman of the board of
trustees. r. Won Tobel secretary Of
the board and Chief Justice Theodore
Brantley of Helena. who delivered the
annual address to the class.
After an eloquent invocation by Rev.
Wakefield, Miss Elizabeth Phillips,
one of the graduates, rendered a de-
lightful instrumental solo. Following
the solo was the address by Judge
Brantley. The speaker is one of the
most scholarly and polished orators in
the state and held the closest atten-
ton of the large audience from start
to the close of his address. The ad-
dress itself possessed exceptional mer-
it, revealing independence and origi-
nality of thought and breadth of in
vetigation. 1t is with particular
pleasure that we present to our read
ers a large portion of Judge Brantley's
excellent address.
The high school glee club sang
"Massa's in the Cold. Cold Ground" in
manner which ELECTED great ap-
plause. The glee club is composed of
large number Of young people with
excellent voices.
Professor A. G. Crane presented the
class in a very neat talk. He spoke of
the general high average of the class
and the general progress of the school.
In closing he announced that Irene
Johnson and Ralph Tavenner We're
entitled to the first and second honors
respectively, standing being based on
the grades for four years.
Mr.. Rudolf Won Tobel secretary of
the board of trustees. presented the di-
plomas. He expressed the pride which
the county has in the institution and
of the efforts Of the board to make the
school better and more completely
equipped with all things necessary for
practical instruction.
A quintet composed of Misses
Campbell, Belden, White, Winters
and Remington sang Pleasure
Climbs to Every Mountain" and were
heartily cheered. This was the clos
ing number of the program The
graduates are:
Ruth p. Cook, Etheta w. Dougherty
Henry H. Eldridge, Marguerite Eld-
ridge, Archibald c. Farnum, Charles
w. Grupe, Anna L. Hobensack, Eliza
beth S. Hogeland, Irene NJ. Johnson.
Florence NJ Mcmillan, Elizabeth A.
Phillips Frank L. Plum, Georeia c.
Stuart, Harriet r. Stuart, Ralph w.
Tavenner, Henrietta Won Tobel, Judith
Waite.
Following are excerps from Judge
Brantley's address.
The annual spring closing of our
common schools marks, for most of our
young men and women, the end Of
preparation for the practical affairs
of life. A few who are so fortunate as
to possess. the necessary means or can
acquire them through the aid of
friends. or by their own efforts, go to
the college or university to pursue
their studies further. AS compared
with the number of those who attend
the common schools only-about twen-
ty per cent of our entire population,
the number of these are insignificant.
The great majority must be content
with such elementary knowledge and
training as they may obtain in the dis
trct or city school and Herewith as
sumo their places among the activities
and responsibilities of life The equip
ment thus furnished, though elemen-