The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-04
q R A D i A I E s
OF II | 6 II
SCHOOL
FIFTY-FOUR GIVEN DIPLOMAS AT
COMM ENJOYMENT EXERCISES
Juniors kidnaP Merlin Stone, Who Gf.
fects An Escape In Time to
Deliver Grafton.

The seventeenth annual commence.
ment exercises of the Ogden High
school were held at the Grand Opera
house, last night. and while some OF
the audience who attended the com.
mencement for years past, declared
that this years exercises were some
what tame, there were enough fea-
lures to hold the appreciatlve and un-
divided interest OF all, There
was the usual commencement
address; the student orator with
audiences attention; the presenta-
tion of diplomas; the ''rah rah" boys,
as boisterous as ever. and last but
not least a real woll-planned college
Kidnapping, with the victim escaping
the plotters at the last moment. in
time 10 take his part in the program
of the commencement.
The exercises were opened by an
overture. "Reverle," by the High
school orchestra. composed of girls
and boys of that institution, followed
Immediately by an invocation by the
Rev G. w. McCreery.
The next number on the program
was an oration. Physical Education"
TO be delivered by Mr. Merlin j. Stone,
graduate In the classical course. Mr..
Stone was to make a plea to the
alumni and the people of Ogden for
an up-todate school gymnasium but
Principal Cross announced that "Mr,
Stone was unable to be present" say
ing that his address would be printed
it, t1a
prise was expressed by several mem-
bers Of the audience at this announce
ment, for 1t was known that Mr. Stone
was in the very best of health, and
prepared to make his debut as an or
ator on this occasion.
The mystery Of his failure to ap-
pear was explained a half hour later
when the young man arrived, slightly
tousled and nervous but still deter
mined to fill his part of the program.
He explained that he had been kid
mapped by party OF juniors: carried
to point on Twenty-seventh street.
bound securely and held long enough
as the plottcrs supposed. to prevent
him from delivering mis- oration.
He took the center Of the stage. and
after prolonged "Rah, rah, rah,
Stone, Stone, Stone" from the guilty
juniors. who had gathered at the rear
of the playhouse. he, proceeded with
his address. He urged the necessity
OF a first class gym" at the High
school. and declared that If the people
OF the city would only recognize the
need of such an addition, the board
OF education would make II their bust
ness To secure a portion of the state
appropriations made for sucn pur-
poses. The orator spoke in q clear
pleasing manner. no nervousness, as
a result OF his trying experience, be-
Ing perceptible. His argument was not
quite forcefully enough but-probably
due to his rough handling while in the
hands of the Juniors.
The graduating classes then arose
and, accompanied by the school or
joined in a pleasing chorus,
The Voice Of the Western Wind"
The commencement address was de-
livered by Rev. Elmer ]. Goshen, OF
Salt Lake City. Mr.. Goshen advised
the young people to remember the
Biblical adage that "A man reaps but
what he sows;" urged them to be hon.
est, ambitious, and sincere during
their future life, whether 1t be spent
In a university or in the business
world. He spoke against the growing
prejudice of the younger people to the |
shops, and the dislike manifested to |
the work which Is done by the hands. |
The speaker declared that II was bet |
ter for n man to earn a salary OF $50 |
Or $40 per week in the shops at some |
honest trade, than to spend his time |
behind ribbon counter at half that |
wage simply because he had the priv |
Ilege OF dressing as a gentleman-if |
he could on such a pay.
Rev. Goshen startled the audience |
somewhat by referring TO the undesir
able class Of people which was emf. |
grating to the United States from |
Southern Europe and the Asiatic Old |
World. He declared this influx of |
'the scum Of Europe's and Asia's out.
laws was menace to the American |
home and the American wage-earner, |
and closed with few oongratulatory |
remarks to the young graduates.
Supt. John M. Mills then presented |
the diplomas to the successful stud. |
ents. but not before he declared to |
the audience that each anS every one |
Of the "sheep-skins" had been earned
by the pupils as result of their faith
full attendance to their studies during
their four years stay in the school. |
Frank Frost, Merlin j. Stone. Ste
phen A. Keogh and Tsutomi Yamada,
the first Japanese to graduate from tho |
local high school, were greeted in a
vociferous mpner by the juniors who
took advantage of the opportunity to |
exercise their lungs in their sharp |
''rah rahs." Miss Mary w. Abbott was |
the only young lady to be so honored.