Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-05-18

Well, considerable,

well, coneideraDle.
1t began when the Seneca graduating
class, to the number Of fifteen, keeping
step to music by the Swastiks Orchestra,
marched into New Hall Friday evening,
escorted by the junior class Of the same
school, and marshaled by George G.
Fernald. Principal Albert w. Walker
and his assistants, Mrs. A. D. Park and
Miss Isabelle Bryant, and the superin.
tendent, DR.. D. NJ. Stewart, occupied
seats on the stage. The juniors, made
up principally Of the non-participating
members of the Seneca Club, filed into
front seats on the floor, and the
graduates climbed the stairs to the stage
and took their places there.
The sweet girl graduates were mostly
in white. with proper adornments OF
bright colors. The boys wore large red
ties, but displayed good variety in the
choice of other garments, and in fact,
on the part OF neither sex was there any
slavish adherence to the styles of any
one particular season. The general
effect was sufficiently outre, without
going to the point of absurdity.
Decorations we're appropriate without
being overdone, and the significant class
motto, "Never do to-day what you can
put off till tomorrow" occupied a
prominent position above the speakers
platform.
And then the mirth-provokingf features
went on, from the ten-y ard salutatory-
not so long as it looked-by Virgie
Lydia Wilson, through the bright
prophecy of Florence Mabel Haskell,
the schoolboy essay on dogs by the
schoolboy-lookingF Frank Albion Taylor,
the profound polysyllabic dissertation on
the Solar System by George Archibald
Briggs, and all the other good parts, to
the valedictory by Margaret Eta Taylor.
The several features of the ordinary
graduation were we'll initiated and bur-
lesqued; most of the parts were rapid
fire of Jokes; and local hits were fire.
quent and pat.
Applause by the audience was liberal,
and each speaker received magnificent
bouquet, such delicate little affairs as a
paper chrysanthemum surrounded with
Indian poke, a banana stalk bearing
three real bananas and tied with green
ribbon, and a grape basket filled with
onion tops, being good samples of the
assortment.
Without disparagement of any of the
excellent parts, it may fairly be said that
the best was left for the last, when the
diplomas were presented by the super
intendent, DR.. d. NJ. Stewart. This
stunt was one of the things which, like
many advertised articles, must be seen
to be appreciated. The matter was
good but the manner was perfect. The
audience forgot that the programme had
spun out beyond the allotted two hours,
and sat convulsed.
Finally, the fun being over, the class
wound up the programme with q genuine
bit in singing the ode-a fine little thing
in form, and sung to original music
which brought out its full significance:
As backward we have turned the wheels Of time.
And set long silent bells of youth chime,
We've called old school-days back from out the
past
The dear old days, that were too bright to last.
With happy hearts, and faces bright,
We're young again-just for tonight.
These memories 40 sweet of by gone years
Are q He'd with joy and pain-with smiles and
tears.
And when our little hour of play Is DER,
Wen bear our burdens bravely, as before
Then with glad hearts, and faces bright,
Let's all be young-just for tonight.
Tast any of tho hovs and uirls sbonld