River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-06-27
COMMENCEMENT WEEK.
Thirty-Second Anniversary of
the Normal School Gradu-
ates Fifty.


Beautiful June was never more
beautiful and smiled the whole
week through till the last moment
of the closing exercises when
brief shower came as if it were an
expression of grief that the mem
bers of the graduating class were
Seniors no longer.
The regular work was given on
Monday and Tuesday, with an un-
usual number of old students pres
ent. Wednesday was devoted to
examinations. Wednesday night
the Seniors gave their play at the
Opera House. A fuse burning out
delayed the starting but the people
forgot their troubles when the play
began. The drama was "Our
American Cousin" and was being
played in Ford's theatre the night
Lincoln was assassinated. Itreminds
one of Martin Chuzzlewit, by
Charles Dickens, except that the
hero in the Cousin" is an Ameri-
can, Asa Trenchard, instead of be-
ing an Englishman, as Martin"
was. Winifred Haddow was thor.
oughly at home in this character
and pleased the audience. Lord
Dundreary, an English nobleman,
was acted by Clyde Bowman, He
manipulated his cane, adjusted his
monocle and performed his
"snweeze" as if he had been prac-
ticing them ever since he was born.
All of the characters did we'll and
great credit is reflected on Mrs.
Truesdell, who trained them. Two
very pleasing drills were given; the
milkmaids, with pail and stool, and
the flower girls. The expense Of
the play was over eighty dollars
but the receipts paid this and net
ted the Seniors about fifty dollars.
Thursday, at 10 o'clock the model
grades gave their exercises in the
Normal assembly room. These ex-
erciSeS were varied and we'll render
ed. The audience seemed to get
the most delight from the Swedish
dance rendered by the kindergart-
ners.
Thursday evening the Elemen
taries gave their class exercises in
the Normal assembly room. The
principal number given was a roll
licking play entitled, PEARSON
Poor's Donation Party" Some
very pleasing songs were rendered.
Friday morning at 10 o'clock ev-
erybody came to the Methodist
church to see the Seniors and Ele-
mentaries receive their diplomas
and certificates. The Juniors had
the room BEAUTIFULLY decorated with
ferns and the school colors. An inn
itation of the Senior class pin was
cleverly arranged from flowers and
hung above the speakers stand.
The Normal orchestra, the Normal
chorus and the Ladies Quartette
furnished music. The Seniors are
all required to prepare a thesis on
some educational topic. The fol-
lowing Seniors and subjects were
selected by committee of the fac
ulty for this occasion:
Clyde Bowman, Training for the
Trades"
Mabel Ahlstrom, "The Weakest
Link" "The Country School "
Mira Currier, Education for Eff
fciency."
Essie Junkman, Glass Spirit"
Oscar Klang, Happiness as an
End in Education"
Eva White, Music in the Public
Schools.
Bessie Wright, Training the
Imagination.
President Brier spoke briefly on
the subject of "Charity" in the
larger sense, and closed by reading
from the Bible Pauls familiar
words on that subject.
Those given diplomas for salts
factorily completing the four years
course of study were as follows:
Mable Ahlstrom, Martin Anderson,
Faith Bannerman, Samuel Bernet,
Mable Booth, Clyde Bowman, Eliza
beth Clark. Edna Comstock, Mil
dred Cornish, Mary Curran, Mira
Currier, Ruth Daub, Agnes DAWN,
Alice Early, Agnes Egan, Ida Erick-
son, u. j. Finn, William Foley, An
ma Forsyth, Ella Forsyth, Bessie
Fuller, Henrietta Hackett, Winfred
| Haddow, Vivian Hallett, Meta Han
son, Bessie Hill, Henrietta Hines,
William Hodge, Ida Johnson, Olga
Johnson, Verna Jones, Essie Junk
man, Anna Jurgenson, Oscar Klang,
Olive Moss, Simon Norstrum,
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