The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-06-03
The CLASS OF 1909
Glass of Ten, Five Girls and Five
Boys Finish Their Public School
Education last Thursday.


Boys Finish Their Public School
Education last Thursday.
Another successful school year Of the
Leon public schools has closed, the
commencement exercises of the High
School being held at the opera house
last Wednesday and Thursday evenings,
the class day program being given
Wednesday and the commencement
program on Thursday evening, when a
class of ten students, five girls and five
boys were given their diplomas.
The opera house was we'll filed on
both evenings by an appreciative audi
ence and the graduating class had
provided two programs which were
greatly enjoyed by all present. The
class day exercises opened with
Greeting Glee" by the class of 'O9' who
wore the regulation cap and gown, the
first time they were ever used by
class in Leon, and the innovation was
one which met with popular approba-
tlon. The salutatory address was
delivered in pleasing manner by Miss
Elizabeth Boyd, and Miss Helen Deck
read the class history giving an account
of the schooling of the members, Edgar
ketcham being the only graduate who
had been student through all the
grades of the Leon schools. Misses Iva
and Ida Briggaman sang very pretty
duet, "School Festival Song," and
James McMorris delivered the class
poem which showed considerable
literary ability. Miss Wynne Cash
gave pleasing reading in a selection
from "Laddie" which won hearty ap-
plause. The class newspaper was read
by Edgar ketcham and was quite inter-
esting, being filled with newsy school
items, jokes on the members and faculty
and other interesting items. Miss Eliz-
abeth Boyd followed with piano solo,
and she is fine player. Herman Deck
had an grafton "The True American"
and it was handled in a manner highly
creditable to the speaker, while Charles
Housh showed decided originality when
he gave the class prophecy looking into
the future of the members of the class,
and it is published in full elsewhere.
Misses Wynne Cash and Elizabeth Boyd
rendered piano duet and Harry Watsa-
baugh bade farewell to books telling of
the many hours so pleasantly spent
over the books which were now to be
laid away. The valedictory was by Miss
Ida Briggaman and she showed what
careful work in her studies had done
for one of the youngest members of
the class. The class exercises closed
with a parting song by the class.
The commencement exercises were
held on Thursday evening, the stage be-
ing beautifully decorated with the class
colors champagne and pink, while the
motto, "More Beyond" adorned the top
of the proscenium. 1t was one of the
prettiest stage settings ever seen in
the city. The class flower, pink car
nations, were used for decoration and
worn by each member of tho class.
The program opened with a selection
by the school orchestra and the audi
ence was surprised at the orchestra
music which this organization played.
Rev. j. L. Boyd, pastor of the M. E.
church, invoked the blessing of Deity
on the class and assemblage, and then
MIR. Clark Smell, of Simpson Conser-
vatory of Music at Indianola, sang
beautiful baritone solo. Mr.. Smell has
one of the finest baritone voices ever
heard in this city and he was compelled
to respond to very hearty and ap-
preciative encore. The honor of deliv-
ering the class oration had been
accorded Miss Iva Briggaman, and right
we'll did she sustain the honor of the
class on this momentous occasion. Her
subject was "The Life That Speaketh,"
and although one of the youngest mem
bers of the class she won her way to
the hearts of the large audience by her
GRAFTON which showed deep study and
careful training. A trio of High School
girls, Misses Rnth Farquhar, Hazel
Moore and Mabel Dorm sang musical
selection, Brownies Song g" and re-
ceived merited applause.
The address of the evening was by
Prof. r. B. Wylie, professor Of Botany
at the State University at Iowa City,
his subject being Highways and
Hedges Prof. Wylje is not what you
would call polished public speaker.
He is an instructor, not a speaker, yet
his address on this occasion was one
which was most interesting and instruc-
tive, full of good thoughts and of
special interest to the graduates, show
ing them the possibilities which we're
before them. Prof. Wylie is self made
man who occupies high position in the
educational world, and it was a rare
treat to hear him on this occasion.
Mr.. Clark Smell again appeared on the
was he compelled to respond to a vigor-
GUS encore.
The crowning event in the life of the
class of '09 was the receiving of their
diplomas, which were presented to them
by President G. W. Hoffman, of the Leon
School board, in doing which in a few
short remarks he complimented them on
having finished the prescribed course
OF study of the Leon High School, and
expressed the wish that not single
one would consider their education fin
isned, but that each would continue
their studies and take a college course.
In the course of his remarks he made
one statement which we desire to COM
mend, and that was that it was not the
student who went to college amply sup
piled with money who received the
greatest benefit, but that it was the
boy or girl who was not the child of
wealth, but those who had to work their