The Mankato free press., 1911-06-09

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course and sixty-six in the elemen-
tary. Members of the class gradu-
ate at five different times during the
year.
Talk BY j. L. Washburn.
Mr. Washburn gave a talk in
his usual interesting and original
style He said that in the latter
seventies, when he was studying
law in Mankato, he knew large
number of young men and women
attending the normal school, and he
would climb the hill and attend the
commencement exercises. 1t would
generally be hot day, and he
would listen to half a dozen young
ladies read essays, and to as many
young men plod through orations, the
subjects being all the way from
"Pandora's Box" to 1.-The Rocks on
which Republics Split" The presi-
dent, then called principal, of the
school, would then arise and pass
encomiums on the class and on the
faculty which had created such good
results with the class Then some
ancient and honored member OF
the normal board would speak for
half an hour in measured cadence,
and give the class enough advice to
last the world for generations. He
hoped that this class had been ex-
pecting him to give a whole lot OF
advice, because sometimes he liked
to disappOint people. Life is get
ting full of too many certainties, and
people learn to expect too many
things, and for that reason the
speaker said that he liked to disap,
point the people occasionally.
Unexpected Will Happen.
Il suspect that when you get TO
teaching school you will find that
pen," said the speaker. IF yoa
will do two things you will succeed
in spite of what may occur If
you will hold on to your courage and
your good cheer you will succeed,
but if not, you will have haro
time and probably will not succeed.
If / was to tell you much more yol
would and ought to forget it. One
young man informs me that he has
been in this school for fourteen
years, but l suspect that few of you
young ladies will want to adfnit
that you have been here that long
You have worked hard and no dou!t
played some.
You have been recommended to
the state normal board for sradua-
ton, and upon this recommendation
the board has granted you your
diplomas. They have certain legal
value with which you are familiar,
and they will also serve to remind
you of the friendships that you
formed in the school. l hope that
they will be an inspiration to you
The class advanced in sections and
received the coveted sheepskins at
the hands of Mr.. Washburn. About
this time the storm began to de-
scend, flashes of lightning were seen
through the windows, and crashes
of thunder interrupted the further
speaking.
After giving the last of the ,liplo-'
mas, Mr.. Washburn addressed tho
class, saying, ION behalf of the
normal board" but a crash of thun>
der cut off the rest of the sentence
from the audience.
Address to the Audience.
Turning to the audience, Mr.. Wash
burn said that they could not go
home in the rain, so he would ad
dress them for moment He said
that the normal schools of Mime
sofa in the last few years had come
nearer to attaining to that which is
their own in the hearts of the peo-
pie of the state than ever before. He
never could understand why anything
was lacking in the hearts of the peo-
pie of the state as regard the nor
mails. They are the peoples schools,
and in them the peoples sons and
daughters are taught to teach the
children of the people, and next to
the common schools they should be
dear to the hearts of the people.
They should receive strong support,
and the speaker suggested to the
people that they see to it that their
representatives in the legislature
take care Of the normal schools
That those who compose the normal
board are not asking for the things
that the schools ought not to have
is shown by the fact that this year,