The Somerset reporter., 1908-06-18
Commencement Week
Skowhegan High School and
Bloomfield Academy
The Receptions, Baccalaureate Services,
Junior Exhibition, Senior Exhibition
and the Alumni Banquet make up a
Full Week of Festivities

junior 64n1DltlOn, oenloI E1nlplllOn
and the Alumni Banquet make up a
Full Week of Festivities.
The exercises of our annual school
commencement nquestionably serve
a benefcient purpose in the life OF
this community. 1t is the one time in
the year when pupils, parents and
teachers are drawn together as would
not otherwise be possible and are led
to contemplate the advantages of our
system of education. The interest
thus aroused in educational matters
doubtless does its part to engender
loyalty to the schools which makes
itself manifest in liberal appropria-
tions for their maintenance. The an
ment period reminds the pupils of all
the grades of the end toward which
they are striving and helps TO stimu-
late them to their best effort. The
interest in commencement week
seemed to be more widespread this
year than ever before. The several
auditoriums where the Baccalaureate
exercises, the Junior exhibition and
the exercises of graduation were held
were scarcely large enough to ac-
commodate the crowds that wished ia
attend them and the schools, the
pupils, the graduates and their affairs
have been for the time the all alb
sorbing topics of conversation. The
whole constitutes an elevating and
refining influence the value of which
can hardly be over estimated.
The music for all commencement
events, with the exception of the
senior reception, when previous en-
gagement prevented, was furnished
by Kendall's orchestra, and did its
part as only veteran organization
can to round out effectively the efforts
of teachers, instructors and class
committees This is the thirteenth
successive commencement season
wherein this orchestra has had the
contract for the music. The gradu-
ates of these years who have marched
in to do their parts on commencement
evening and, after receiving their di-
plomas, have marched out again, to
Mr.. Kendall's music, now constitute a
small army, all of whom, doubtless,
are willing to testify to Mr.. Kendall's
skill as musician and director.
THE RECEPTIONS.
Both classes held the annual as -
semblies known as junior and senior
receptions. OF these, the senior re-
ception came first, occurring on Fri
day evening of last week at Milburn
Hall. To it were bidlen the school
mates and friends of the graduating
class and their teachers, parents and
others interested in them and in the
schools. The committee of the class
who had the affair in charge were
Robert b. Wildes, Miss Miretta L.
Bickford and Thomas L. Arbuckle
Refreshments, prepared by members
of the class, were served, and the
High School orchestra furnished
music. The following program was
carried out, after which the younger
portion of the company participated
in the dancing until late hour:
overture, king Rose
IN qEf r.
Vocal Solo, Good Bye Sweet Day
Mr.. Carroll Goodwin
Reading, Wee While Wnkie,e
Miss Hazel IeaVitt
Piano Solo, "Invitation to the Dance"
Miss Mary Emery
Duet, "Morning Song,
Miss Mabel Ross. Miss Fancher Sawyer
Violin Solo, 'Berceuse, MIR. Lindsay Nuttnl
Reading, THE Return of Kebekah Mary,
Miss Miretta l.. Bick fore
Piano Solo, ''Butterny,'
Miss Mildred II. Weston
The Junior hop, also in ,Milburr
Hall, occurred on Monday evening
following the Junior exhibition
This was not intended to have any
reception features but to be carried
out as a social hop only and the
members of the class of 1909, will
their friends, enjoyed heartily this
last opportunity for school dance
before separating for the summer
The music was furnished by KendallS
orchestra.
THE BACcALAuREATE SERVICES
Sunday last was most perfect day
of Names most perfect season anC
this doubtless contributed in a meas
ure to the unusually large attendance
at the Baccalaureate services at the
Congregational Church in the even
ing. All the pews were quickly filled
and the seats placed in the aisle were
filed as fast as provided. Not few
turned back in disappointment aftel
reaching the Church entrance anC
some remained, prefering to stant
rather than miss the exercises
Tasteful decorations had been ar.
ranged about the pulpit and platform
and the class motto, HE conquert
who conquers himself,n in letters Of
red and white hung beneath the arch
The program was carried out il
detail as given in our last issue. just
preceding the Prelude the members
of the class of 1905 marched in, under
the leadership of their class marshal
Elmer Nolin, and were seated in the
pews reserved for them. The sermon
or Baccalaureate address was deliv.
cred by Rev. B. B. Merrill. His sub.
ject was "Hope," and nothing coult
nave been selected to arouse more
fully the interest of the members OF
the graduating class, and of the entire
audience as well, as all present
shared, so far as it was possible fol-
them to do, the feelings and ambi'