Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-06-20
FOURTH COMMENCEMENT
WOODBURY. HIGH SCHOOL

The fourth annual commencement exer-
cises Of the Woodbury. Approved High
School were held in Green's Opera House
Il Thursday evening last. DThe stage was
banked with ferns and potted plants and
with the class flower, the orange blossom,
Above the stage hung the class motto.
ssCertum pete fnem"-''Look to a Certain
End.u Above the motto hung an en-
larged reproduction Of the High School pin
and on either side copies of the class pin.
The whole lower floor Of the house was
beautifully decorated with the class colors,
green and gold An audience which filed
all the seats and blocked the aisles both on
the lower floor and in the balcony, had
assembled be eight O'Clock.
Shortly after eight O'Clock the graduates
took their places on the platform dur
ing the march, Little Grant" played by
Dufield's orchestra. After the Invocation
by the Rev. j. o. McIIhenny, the chorus
ssMerry Junep was sung by the class.
Isabel Harmon in her salutatory Grafton
s'Certum pete fnem" said that we should
lalways haye some aim in life and
look towards and strive for that goal and
not wander around, doing = little Of every
-thing.
Bird Dubois in his oration, "Our Coast
Defensess spoke Of the natural defenses OF
our country which surround us on three
sides and then of the protection afforded us
by modern guns, forts and fleets. In con-
clusion be said the best defense Of nation
is found in the hearts Of its people"
After we'll rendered vocal solo by Fa-
honda Lorence, Mary Mehorter spoke OF 'the
Advantages of Technical Education. 8
She said in part that person should be
trained to some trade which will always be
of some use-a trade which perhaps at first
does not seem to yield so much to the work
81, but which in the long run proves itself
to be better than the one which immedia-
tely gives results, but from which nothing
better can be obtained.
Edmund Carpenter then spoke on ''The
Preservation Of our Forests" He urged
that the Government should have under
control all our forest lands so that as fast as
one tree is destroyed another will be plan
ted to take its place. for now three times as
much lumber is used annually as is pro-
duced by nature.
Leona Eldridge in her Grafton The Sum
shine and Shadows of a Noble Lifc'took for
her example the much beloved English
Queen, Victoria. Victoria, she said, always
stroye to better the conditions of her people,
neglecting her own self and caring nothing
for the pomp and show Of nobility. Under
sorrow, she always bore up bravely and
when in happiness shared it with her sub
jects.
In the yaledictory oration Florence Ken
worthy spoke on ''The Quest Of the Golden
Fleece She told the tale of the 'sGolden
Fleece, . how Jason with his band of heroes
passed safely through seen and unseen
dangers, dangers which caused the stoutest
heart TO quail but how, though almost
perishing in the attempts, the fleece was
taken down from the tree under which the
terrible dragon roamed, and borne in safety
back to Greece; how this story typifes our
own lives Of struggles, victories and de-
feats, but finally ends in overwhelming
victory for the faithful ones.
Immediately after this Grafton s'The
Bells Of Lynn" was sung by the class. Mr..
Wendell ID his address to the class, said in
part:
stThis commencement occa sion should
lead you to look backward with thankful
ness. and forward with hope. To you
one period Of life is closing with some-
thing Of triumph, and another is beginning
under bright and favorable auspices. Life
purpose may be diyided into two periods.
The first is like June morning The sun
rises in brightness-dew is on the grass
fragrance Of flowers is on the air-the song
Of the bird is heard everywhere. You were
children at play, Responsibility had not
laid It's weight upon you. Others Thought
planned provided for you. But pres
emily YOU aWoke to the fact that another
period Of life was upon you. You found
Shat life was not always to be beautiful
June morning. Compelled by loving par
ents. guided by wise and thoughtful teach
ers . at school you found shat there were
certain discoveries to be made certain
heights Of attainment to be reached and a
certain healthfui developments both for body
and for the intellect. Now after some days,
months, and years Of struggling and effort
along the various paths Of the valley that
Law between these two periods, you have
reached this goal. You are victors. You
are Justly proud. This occasion is the
beginning Of a new period. period de-
manding effort, struggle strenuous living
This is your mount Of vision. Out yonder
II he blue distance lies the mount Of real
izatiou and between these two mounts lies
She wide deep valley Of service, sacrifice
and responsibility. II is important shat
Won realize this for the way Of crossing this
stretch reveals the method and character Of