The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-23
MISS BESSIE LOUISE STONE
 DELIVERS THE VALEDICTORY

Following the selection of the High school chorus Miss Bessie Louise Stone, who had the honor of being valedictorian delivered her address as follows:
 The Board of Education:- "On behalf of the class who gradu- ate tonight, extend heartiest thanks for your interest and help in making our years of school life a success. Without your efforts, we realize that this could not have been attained. made in facilities for our education To be sure, new and larger High School has become an obvious LeceS- s1ty, yet on reflection we may we'll use of all the opportunities offered to us in the old school. For all you have done we are most grateful and hope that our future success may bear out our appreciation.
 "Our Superintendent:-
 'Tis education forms the common mind;
 Just as the twig is bent, the trees in As the twig develops slowly into the full-grown beauty of the tree, we are advancing in manhood and wo- manhood; and like the little twig, at work bending us. Foremost among these we recognize your invisible but potent hand. ever ready to search out the imperfections in the develop ment of our education and to remedy them for our best interests; guiding all the details of our school affairs and smoothing the way for us. For this we thank you most sincerely and trust that our lives may show that your endeavors have been crowned with success.
 Our Principal:-
 ITO you who have been not only our principal controlling the work ings of large school, but also our teacher, the beloved and respected of all pupils. we owe great debt of love and gratitude. Chiding us gently when occasion required, sympathizing when efforts failed, encouraging us ever to overcome obstacles, and cheering us on by appreciative words when we were trying to do our best, | you have always made your influence felt. By your own deeds, you have placed before us an example of con- unual patience and kindly feeling in the midst of numberless perplexities and responsibilities, while we appear ed wholly unappreciative of your eff | forts in our behalf. We at length | and to understand our inability to re- pay you in full. AS we say our fare well with feelings of sorrow at leaving | a true and helpful friend, we thank | may in time to come prove worthy of | your teachings.
 "Our TeacherS:-
 TO you also are we greatly indebt-
  these four years. In our daily inter- you have raised before us new ideals and higher standards, and have striven patiently with us when we seemed indifferent to our own success Lessons learned from books have formed but a minor part of our edu- cation, for under. your guidance, the truer. better elements of our cnarac- ters have been awakened. Through your sympathy. justice. and consider ation, we shall become stronger men and women. With deepest gratitude ] we part from you, feeling assured that if it is. true, that fin this world it is not what we take up but what we give up that makes us rich you in- deed have the richest of rewards
 Schoolmates:-
 ''In bidding you farewell tonight ! we are entrusting to you all that we have held dear in our High School fife. We realize that our short-com- ngs have been many and our failings by no means few. Forewarned of these and led to profit by them, may you achieve greater successes than we have been able to reach and may 1t be your happy lot to win greater glory for our beloved school.
 Dear Classmates
 "We are parting tonight perhaps never to meet again a class. During exerted influence lpon one another. and have made constant progress in our social, men, al. and moral development. We may lot now realize the growth in char lcter which has been ours through hese years spent together, but the of our happy comrade- d memory through all the years=tol ]