Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-06-17
COUNTY NORMAL COMMENCEMENT
Useful Glass of Seven Receive Diplomas
-FirsfGrAduates from Institution

Friday evening closed the first years
work r our new county normal. No
one who attended the commencement
exercises could doubt that the several
lines of work exemplified by the school
have been successfully carried out this
year.
Winifred Graham, president of the
class, announced the opening of the
June" by the school. The invocation
which the president of the class gave a
cordial welcome TO parents and friends.
A defamation, The St. John s
Fund, " by Florence Weber, was par
ticularly we'll rendered. The sweet
voice and manner of the speaker were
just suited to the piece and loud was
the applause she received.
Kate Weber in the class history rep
resented Viroqua as a reservation, the
school room as wigwam; the students
were young braves who had been sent
from different tribes to the reservation
to be instructed in the wiles of warfare
by the sachems, Great Chief Poncas
and White Swan. Seven braves of
special ability were mentioned by their
Indian names ard praised for their
brave deeds.
"A Second Trial was the title of the
defamation rendered in very credit
able manner by Emma Nelson.
'Brahm's Lullaby" was very prettily
rendered by chorus of some ten
voices, after which Pres. John IF. Sims
of Stevens Point Normal was intro
duced.
MIR. Sims gave very strong address
on the subject of Power" He began
with the power shown in nature, using
Niagara as an Illustration, then as
shown in mechanical way speaking of
the great mogul engine; next, of power
as utilized by the brain of man. The
way in which he stuck to his text
and fought the subject throu IN from
start to finish was certainly admirable.
So wildly did he paint his thoughts
that those students TO whom he spoke
can never forget the lessons he en-
deavored to teach.
The class poem by May Allison took
the nature of prophecy and depicted
| the sincere friendship of the class as
shown some years hence. Emma Mel
son, as the contented wife of western
farmer, insists that though Minnie
Hayes, the wife of neighboring
ranchman, and herself are the only
! two members of their class in this
country, the other five teaching or
studying in foreign lands, still 1--WE are
seven. The thought and arrange
ment of this little poem and the pleas
| ing way in which it was delivered won
many words of praise.
| Ida 0pperud, the valedictorian, in
| her farewell to students and teachers,
asked that her class might be consid-
cred as but absent members of the
family.
The seventh graduate, Minnie Hayes,
was excused from taking part in the
program on account of her teaching in
the country during the spring term.
| Another chorus was rendered and af-
ter Prin. A. +. Smith in few well
chosen words presented the diplomas,
the graduates sang How Can Leave
Thee. -
Miss Thomas, the instructor in music
may we'll feel proud of the way in
which the students handled the music
of the evening.
On Thursday evening the Juniors of
| the school entertained the Seniors and
Semi-Seniors at banquet given in the
assembly room. The dinner was very
nicely served by the Ladies Aid So
ciety of the M. f. church. Toasts
were announced by Belva Silbaugh,
president of the Junior class. Elsie
Shouts responded for the school, Win
fired Graham for the Seniors, George
Harris for the Semi-Seniors, and Elvina
Rudrud for the Juniors Miss Thomas
sang a solo, and Miss Wilson, Prin
Smith and Supt. Gardner added words
of commentator and advice. A furth-
er program consisted of songs by a
chorus of students; recitation, Laska,
by Evelyn Watson; A Morning Call, by
Grace Thomas; Knee-deep in June, by
Lawrence Wakefield; Jathrop Lath-
rop's Cow, Florence Brown; and The
Drummer Boy, Joe Hook. The party
consisted of about hundred students,
parents and friends, and the evening
wys voted a very enjoyable one.