St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1907-11-29
A PLEASING PROGRAM
High School Pupils Render
Creditable Exercises.

SicOItdUIe ExeTCISeSs
AT the high school building in
North st. Johns Friday of last
week the pupils presented their
first literary program. To say the
very least 1t was a creditable per-
formance even for St. Johns, where
we expect something better than
the common run of events. 1t
would be more than our limited
space would permit were we to
attempt to give each number the
mention it deserved and we will
necessarily have to conhne our
remarks to some Of the best. They
were all good, not a single failure
and not a poor number in the
entire program of the two depart
ments.
The little ones of the lower
grades began their program just as
we arrived at the building and
secured seat. We were grati6ed
to find that seating room was at
premium by reason of the number
Of parents and friends who were in
attendance. We would have been
happy to have been obliged to
stand during the entire entertain
ment If enough Of them had come
TO make II necessary. The stage
was prettily decorated with ferns
and autumn leaves for the occasion.
The entire school arose and sang a
Thanksgiving song, without a
leader or instrument to direct them
and we think their execution was
remarkable, under the circumstan-
ces. We do not believe a similar
number Of adult people in the city
could have done SO well, but II
clearly demonstrated the great
need Of piano or organ for the
school. We trust that some gen
erous hearted friend of the school
who may have an instrument they
do not need will have the grace to
donate the use of one until the
school board finds funds to provide
one for the school. We have no
musical instrument but an old
fiddle, but II one Of the lady teach.
ers can use II we will be glad to
put II AT their service.
Then the program began. The
Jolly Pumpkins, An Autumn
Thought, and An Escaped Turkey
were Just fine. The little fellows
all spoke clearly and distinctly, and
had the recitations we'll committed.
The Little Puritan Maids dressed
in the quaint garb Of 400 years ago
were especially fine. The Little
Cooks Of the first grade class were
splendid and their pumpkin pie
made one lick his lips and almost
imagine he could taste II while
they described the manner of the
making. But we cannot mention
all the numbers. There is one,
however. that deserves more than
a passing notice. II is the song
Little Sunbeam by the two little
Misses Baldwin. The elder of the
two pretty little ones sang alto and
the younger the soprano. We
have heard thousands OF little ones
sing but we can assert positively
we have never heard a child so
young with such sweet. clear, pure.
tlute-like tones aud such volume as
this little tot. Her voice would be
a credit to a maid OF 10 aud we do
not believe we have heard a voice
from one in 81. Johns of that age
that is the equal Of little Miss Bald
win. We do not know her parents,
but il we did we would urge them
to have their little daughter placed
under the care OF the best vocalist
available, il they have not already
done so. and take the best possible
care of her voice; for as sure as
there is anything in early indica-
tions il the little one lives to ma.
turity aud receives the proper care
she will win worldwide fame for
her singing. After the closing
song the principal, Miss Boss, an
nounced a vacation OF one week
which ELECTED the most hearty
applause of the entire program.
The high school program began
just as the little folks were closing
theirs, and we missed the opening
song OF America. except as the
familiar strains were caught
through the opening Of the door to
their room upstairs. We also
missed the first number. but we
reached the room in time to be ad-
mitted by solemn faced old Pur-
itan with his tall hat aud regula-
ton cloak, aud afterwards learned
that his name was Arthur Clark.
This gentleman told all about the
landing of the pilgrims and their
His recitation was
original aud exceedingly we'll done
and if our people could but realize
what our forefathers went through
in those days, they would be
ashamed to growl about our little
of today. Verify, we
are degenerating through the infiu-
snce of the great wealth Of our
nation, The latin class will find a
remedy in the remarks Of one of
Caesars rugged old generals; but {
,uch a plan would cause a bigger {