The Mankato free press., 1911-06-09

From Saturdays Daily.
The thirty sixth annual commence
ment of the Mankato high school was
held at the opera house last evening,
and will go down in local school
history as one of the most impor
ant, pleasing and successful ever
held. A class of tifty-four received
their diplomas and will now engage
in the larger activities of life.
The opera house was filled, and
the stage and boxes presented pret-
ty appearance. 1t was at $3.50 when
the curtain went up and revealed
the large class and chorus singers
ed seats, the young ladies on the left
and the young men on the right. The
young lady graduates attired in pret-
ty white gowns and carried red roses.
On a background of green foliage
stood out the large figures 1911"
in white, the class colors of green
and white being thus brought out.
A large American flag filled in each
side. In front were palms. and other
green plants and green tree branches.
All four of the boxes were decorated
with green branches, and the lower
ones were occupied by the members
of the school board and their wives
or husband From each upper box
was suspended pennant bearing the
figures 1911" in white against
green background.
The members of the high school
faculty were in some of the boxes,
and Superintendent Sperry and Prin
cipal ]. G. Norby sat near the class
on the stage.
Program an Excellent One.
The program was a most excellent
one, and lasted just two hours. Eight
of the ten honor students of the class
that is, of the ten standing highest in
their class work, appeared on the
program, and the other two honor
students were Misses Lucy Kruse and
Purley Keene. The essays and ora
tions were unusually good, showing
thought in preparation and good de-
livery. There were no lapses Of
memory, and each was sufficiently
long to present a rounded statement
or argument.
The musical part of the program
was under the leadership of Miss
Fanny Pitcher, and won deserved
commendation. Miss Pitcher is do
ing good work, and this was shown
by the efficiency of the chorus work.
The program was opened by an
overture by the excellent high school
orchestra, the selection being the in
termezzo from Cavaleria Rusticana,
by Mascagni. Rev. E. l.. Heermance
gave an invocation, and the high
school chorus sang "Carmena Waltz"
by Wilson. The chorus contained
nearly hundred voices, and showed
careful training and good natural
talent
tissue of the Nations"
Harry Johnson was the first speak
er, and his subject was "The Issue of
the Nations" His argument was in
favor of arbitration as against war
for settling the disputes between ma
tions. He said that man has out
lived many savage practices and
all agree that this fact has evidenced
marked steps in advance in the path
of civilization, and he wondered how
long it would be before the people
recognized that the greatest evil of
all-war--shOuld be abandoned. 1t
was the war preparations of rival ma
tions that breed war. The nations
all want peace, but they fear each
other and therefore momentarily pre-
pared for war. The speaker told how |
arbitration might be put into prac-
tice.
4 Miss Nellie Nitzkowski delighted |
the audience with piano solo, mo
lnff 70 H. CNal=- N1a<, L..