Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1907-06-14
COMMENCEMENT DAY.
Immense crowd Attended Exer-
cises The Program.

day morning when the 'o7 class
received diplomas and concluded
four years of faithful and success
full labor. The decorations in
the building were fir boughs and
the large class of graduates oc-
cupied position on the platform,
together with the faculty and
other speakers. The chorus of
singers had to occupy front seats
in the audience. =
The opening number was a
selection, chorus from II Trova-
tore, by the college band, splen-
oidly rendered and much enjoy
ed. The invocation was by
Rev. c. T. Hurd of the United
Evangelical church followed
by vocal solo by John Claire
Monteith, the Portland baritone.
who gracefully responded to
stormy encore.
Miss Belle Bonuey, the saluta-
torian, then gave brief but
pointed grafton on "The Prime
Wisdom of Life.' This prime
wisdom, the speaker said, con-
sisted not so much in know
ledge OF things far remote from
view as in a thorough under
standing OF the immediate sur
roundings and the common
things of life. Not that women
should not be broad of intellect,
possessed of the best education
obtainable and familiar with the
arts and sciences, for these, too,
should be added; but first and of
prime Importance is knowledge
of the necessary things of every
day life-cookery, sanitary con-
ditions in and about the home,
proper ventilation, and lastly the
care of children. Miss Bonney
won the audience by a plain,
forceful and entertaining discus
sion of pertinent question, clos
ing her oration with an attrac-
tive word picture of the ideal
home where love, peace and hap
piness reigns and where the COL
lege bred woman as we'll as her
less educated sister, finds the
truest and best position in the
world, and exercises ''the prime
wisdom in life'' by being a sue
cessful home maker and the
happy mother of family. This
Grafton was delivered with splen-
did effect and Miss Bonnev was
greeted with prolonged applause
as she concluded.
/ The next was a song "soldiers'
chorus" from Faust by a mixed
chorus which included many OF
the leading vocalists of the city.
Darwin Greene Thayer was
valedictorian of the 'o7 class.
His subject was, "American
| Agricultural Education" A
might be inferred, the orator
dwelt with the subject of the es-
tablishment aud advancement OF
the agricultural colleges through
out the land and the benefits to
be derived from having educated
farmers who understand the soil
and conditions generally and are
capable of dealing intelligently
with the subject of masing the
farm pay. |Americans are no.
good farmers" declared Mr..
! Thayer, ''for they work the sol
to death for immediate gain,
with no care as to its future
:, fertility and proft,'' which seems
indeed pretty true statement,
according to present condition:
as witnessed year by year. Mr.
i Thayer spoke clearly and with
ease, and made very favorable
! impression on his hearers, whe
; received his closing remarks with
"a demonstration of keen appre-
citation.
/ Miss Edna Sheehy, vocal in
structor at OAC, was heard tt
advantage in fine solo, ''Reci.
Itative and Scena, - from De
Freischutz. Weber, aud wa:
heartily encored. Hon. John NJ
IGearin following with an addres:
to the class. In the beginuins
l Mr.. Geariu assured the audieuc,
that he felt unequal to the tasl
Irequired of him, viz: that of Civ
ling advise to the graduates q