The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1907-05-31
GLASS or SEVEN GRADUATE
EXERCISES HELD AT THE GRAND
OPERA HOUSE FRIDAY.
Literary and Musical Program Carried
Through While Large Audience
Applauded OFatiOns OF Graduates

Not for many years, if ever in the
history of Sherman county, has the
yearly graduation exercises OF the
high school been held with such
splendid success as attended the claSS
Of 1907 at the Grand opera house
Friday evening. The event had been
looked forward TO with interest by
many people Of the city and county,
house was considerably filled, and the
galleries, too, contained consider
able sprinkling Of spectators to the
annual commencement
The hall was brilliant with electric
lights, the stage was decorated with
ported plants. Depending from above
the rOstrum was the motto Of the
class IN gold letters on blue back
ground, Unless God be with US, our
labor is IN vain" The railing around
the balcony was tastefully wrapped
with blue and gold ribbon, and the
cOIors of the class were everywhere
in evidence
The harmony of the scene was en-
gaging, and when the GOOdland Cor
net Band mingled the notes OF
Martha and f'The Soldiers Chorus"
with the sentiment Of so Iaudfble Oc-
casiOn, it was an inspiration and cal
culated to elevate the cause Of edu-
cation among the boys and girls Of
our county.
The Invocation was delivered By
Rev. J. Ed Stevens, while Rev. r. A
Staley pronounced the words Of bene-
diction. The OradOns Of the seven
graduates we're interpreted with
pleasing musical numbers by the
GOodland Male quartette, vocal solo
by Prof Mitchell, and piano duette
by Misses Clyde Cotton and Clara
Thorsen.
The saIutatory and grafton was Civ
en- by ri Goodrich. He welcomed the
large assembIage in a fitting manner,
saying, I'VE welcome you here to-
p night to show you in our modest way
what progress we have made in our
studies, so far as can be expressed by
orations upon subjects Of interest He
later launched out into his Grafton
entitled, The Treason Of Benedict
Arnold" He reCited the glorious
record Of Americas famous hero and
general, and cOntrasted his mighty
height with his mighty fall into shame
and regret. He declared the crime
was colossal because of the personal
grandeur and eminence Of the offend
er. The speaker aSSignd the cause OF
treason to a lack of moral recdtude
and goodness in youth, when young
Arnold displayed a cruel, and unfeel-
ing nature His ignOminiOus reward
seemed to be the inevitable cOnSe-
Quence Of a life that is not consecrat-
ed to UnwaYering, holy purposes.
Miss Clara Thorsen followed Mr..
Goodrich with an grafton, "Open
Sesame" The question asked was,
For what is man seeking ?" For
wealth, for knowledge, for pleasure,
for wisdom? These human attrac-
tons in life were elaborated with wis
dom appearing as the grandest OF all
of mans achievements. Before she
reached the climax she quoted, 1.-The
fear OF God is the beginning Of wis
DOM 1t was a nice elevation in
ascending to the mountain OF wis
dom, which was said to be the "Open
Sesame" Knowing our own powers
and utilizing them for good cOnsd-
tutes the goal
yale OF an Aim in Life" was the
subject Of Grace DuelPs grafton. She
clearly showed that without a def
mite purpose, effort is in vain; that
every person must build his own for
tune, and by accurate and systematic
work endeavOr TO reach the top.
In an grafton, "Our Age" Polly
Piper expressed fine thoughts about
the character Of our times. She said
our age was scientific, practical, ar
tistic, etc, and developed the rea-
sons why. America % she said, "cau
boast widely of her men who have
contributed so much Of their intelli-
gence in making our nation what il
is"
It was left for Clyde Cotton to play
upon the heart strings Of her audi
ence with 1.-The Mission Of Music for
her subject It was a beautiful col
lection Of thoughts, she uttered, and
her use Of sentence quotations from
men and literature exhibited consfd-
rable research. She showed the uses
Of music to be many, and that the
rich and the Door were alike pensions
and age are soothed and healed by
music. In her conclusion she said:
The bride goes to her wedding. the
workman to his shop. the kind old