The Mena weekly star., 1908-05-21
The Opera House Was Packed by Hun dreds to Enjoy the Commence
 ment Exercises.
Young Women's 0rations Held Close Attention and Reflected Credit Up
 on Themselves aud Instructors.
MUSIC PLEASED AUDIENCE
Hal L. Norwood and John H. Hinemon Each Made an Eloquent Address in
 Behalf of Education.

The educational element of Mena life held the boards last Friday night at the opera house, and held them wellindeed.
 In preparing program in honor of the event of the first graduation of class from the Mena high school, Prof. Adams and his assistants cer- tainly put forth great effort and that most effectively. It can truly be said that it would have been a credit to any city, no matter how old or experienced in preparing such events.
 And the people of Mena showed their interest and enthusiasm in unmistakable fashion. Early the en- trance to the opera house swarmed with men, women and children, and so fast they came that they choked the doorway and made the work of the ticket taker and the ushers diff ficult. 1t was few minutes after o'clock before all were seated and the program was begun by an invo- cation by the Rev. c. K. Marshall, Sr.
 In the center of the stage were seated the four graduates, Miss Winifred DeLongy, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. F. E. DeLongy; Miss Theda Legate, daughter of Mir. and Mrs. w. H. Legate; Miss Ola Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. w. B. Jones, and Miss Callie Jones, daugh- ter of Mir. and Mrs. T. R. Jones. On the right was Dr. Marshall, Hal l.. Norwood and John H. Hinemon, on the left were seated Prof. Adams, Judge J. D. Shaver and Prof. Burns. In the rear of the stage were seated members of the school board and citizens.
 Miss Winifred DeLongy, saluta- torian of the class, in an effective manner and in good voice gave her oration. showing deep study and thought, holding the closest atten- tion.
 Theda Legate's oration on "Pur- pose vs. Drifting" was logical argument in favor of early deter mining upon purpose in life and following it steadfastly to logical termination.
 The oration by Miss Ola Jones on The Heights by Great Men Reached and Kept Were Not Attained by Sudden Flight" was full of thought and was given in a manner to do credit to much older head
 The valedictory by Miss Callie Jones on From Rib to Ribbon, |" was full of sense and nonsense, the general purpose of which was to show the advancement of woman and the importance of the place held by the gentler sex in the worlds affairs.
 These orations were followed by an address by Hal l.. Norwood, which was full of good things and was made in MT. Norwood's usual eloquent. happy style. One of the great lessons he undertook to teach was the value of courtesy and kind ness, giving examples in his own life where little deeds of kindness had years later brought big returns.
 The Hon. John H. Hinemon, .he man to whom Arkansas owes much for the promotion of it's educational interests, and who came to Mena from his home in Philadelphia at the request of Prof. Adams to be present on this occasion, followed Mr. Nor wood. Prof. Hinemon addressed the graduates, the parents and the young by turn and with great earn estness urged upon all the necessity of thorough education to meet the competition in life, the intensity of which is increasing with each period of the worlds existence. His re- marks were brief and to the point, and certainly covered a wide range for so short talk.
 Judge James D. Shaver, president of the school board, with a few graceful remarks to the audience and graduates, presented the di- plomas, following which. the hour being late, the audience was dis missed with benediction by Dr. Marshall.
 The program was interspersed by members of the Citizens Band or chestra of De Queen and by the Y. M. c. A. quartet of the University of Arkansas. The progri m was greatly heightened by the encores called for by the audience and re- sponed to by the quartet. The songs were of varied character, and most of them made hits with the hearers.
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