The Delta independent., 1907-04-26
ARBOR DAY APPROPRIATELY OBSERVED
Disagreeable Weather Interfered With
Outdoor Exercises, But Trees We're
Planted at Both School Houses.

SSss~~s
The public schools of Delta had made
: elaborate preparations to observe Arbor
Day last Friday, but the wind and rain
made it so unpleasant outside that it
was impossible to carry out the program
as arranged. II was intended that the
entire student body should witness the
planting of the trees, but it was practi-
cable to allow only as many as could
find accommodations on the sidewalks
out at one time.
Twenty-Five trees were planted by
the pupils, thirteen at the Central
building and twelve at the North Delta
building.
The exercises outside. consisted of
naming the tree, the giving Of an ap-
proprlate quotation, ana planting the
tree. The quotations were mostly CIV
en- in concert. All the rooms gave quo
tations except rooms IL and II, which
had original productions.
The graduating class delivered itself
thus: AN aged man was planting an
apple tree. A young man said to him,
Father, why do you plant that tree?
You will not live to eat the fruit. My
son., replied the older man, Others
planted trees and have partaken of
the fruit; now | plant for my success
sors.' Moriturl salutamus, the class of
1907 plants this tree that future classes
may enjoy Its shade.
The sentiment given by grade II was:
I'VE, the class of 1905, do dedicate
this tree to Ben Lindsey, the Judge of
the Juvenile Court at Denver, Colorado.
And as this most excellent judge has
SO wisely protected and encouraged the
boys who have been brought before him
for trial. even so may the sheltering
branches of this tree he spread abroad
to gladden. the birds of the heavens and
to shelter them from the scorching sun
and the beating rains. And as its
branches reach upward into the clear
sunlight above, may it inspire the boys
and girls who play beneath them, to
climb to tnat higher plane of life, to
noble manhood and womanhood. AS
this tree sends its roots below into the
firm soil, just SO may their characters
be firmly rooted and grounded upon the
Solid Rock. May they stand firm and
steadfast. unshaken by life's stormy
scenes Alma Williams.
Each room planted a tree and named
it. The names given to the trees plant
ed at the Central building were: Grade
|, Eugene Field; grade 2, Phoebe Cary;
grade 3, }. G. Whittier; grade 4, James
Russell Lowell; grade 5, room 8. James
Whitcomb Riley; grade 5, room 5,
Henry W. Longfellow; grade 6. j Sterl-
ing Morton; grade I, John Alden; grade
8, Helen Hunt Jackson; grade 9, Gov.
II. A. Buchtel; grade 10, Representa-
tive Vincent; grade II. Judge B. h.
Lindsey; grade IL, Miss Metsker. Miss
Metsker will be remembered as the for
mer principal of the high school.
After the exercises outside the pupils
returned to the school house and carried
out the programs as originally planned.
At the North Delta schools the trees
we're planted in the morning, but owing
to the inclement weather the ceremony
of naming the trees was deferred until
Tuesday of this week. Each room
planted and named three trees, the
names given being: Room /. Robert
Louis Stevenson, Henry W. Longfellow,
Eugene Field; room 2, Geo. Washing
ton, Washington Irving, Benjamin
Franklin; room 3, John Greenleaf Whit
tier, William Cullen Bryant. James
Russell LOWELL room 4, Lincoln, Roose-
welt. Longfellow.
There were splendid exhibits of school
work in each of the rooms, at both
buildings, the principal and perhaps
most interesting part of which was the
large number of drawings of fruits,
flowers and plants. Some of these
were beautifully colored and all were
very pretty. 1t was regretted that a
larger number of citizens were not pres
ent to see these exhibits.
A pleasing episode of the day in
North Delta was the presentation of
picture of Frances Willard to room g.
1t was given by the ladies of the W. c.
T. U., the presentation being made by
Superintendent G. l.. Harding.