Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1913-06-17
"SPEllING BEE" AND EIGHTH
GRADE EXERCISES
THURSDAY.
GREAT INTEREST SHOWN
Address by c. A. Drinkard-com-
mencement Week at the High
SchooI-Prof. Kemp, Of the Uni
versity Of Montana, to Make the
Address.

The spelling bee" at the Lincoln
school Thursday afternoon, open to all
the eighth grade graduates Of the
county, was participated in by seventy
students and proved to be very in
teresting affair. About 700 words
were given out by Miss Imogene Mad
den before Anna Christopherson, Of
Rossfork, was left alone as the cham
pion, with the prize offered by County
Superintendent Alice O'Hara, won.
With only four left in the contest,
Archie Hohamn went out on the word
"embarrass" and Finley Caruthers
and Marjorie Wheaton stumbled on
"jugular," which the little girl from
Rossfork spelled correctly. There
were many spectators at the spelling
bee" and they showed almost as much
interest in it as the contestants.
Following the contest the eighth
grade graduates all went over to the
high school, where they met the in
structOrs and were shown through the
classrOoms and gymnasium.
Graduating Exercises.
The graduating exercises for all
eighth grade students who had fin
ished the course throughout the
county were held Thursday evening
at the Presbyterian church, which
was secured because it has the largest
auditorium in the city. Practically all
of the graduates, whose names were
given in the last issue Of the Demo
crat, were present and the keen in
terest taken in the schools was shown
by the attendance, both the main floor
and the gallery being crowded. The
hall was tastily decorated with
flowers, plants and the class colors,
black and gold, and the program
proved very interesting one. Fol
lowing the invocation by Rev. E. w.
Wright, the graduates gave two songs,
one an original class song. c. A.
Drinkard, of the school board, deliv-
cred the address to the students. 1t
was thoughtful and eloquent effort.
1t was, in the main, strong plea for
higher education, the speaker seeking
to inspire the graduates with the am
bition to press on and to the fullest
extent possible fit themselves for their
life work. To enter the high school
might be difficult matter for some
of them, but it was we'll worth their
while and "where there was a will
there was a way" The difficulties
met in going forward in education
might prove real test Of character
for many of them. The value of the
mental equipment that comes from
education was strongly shown and
with that came the development of
high ideals. These ideals must be
broad enough to embrace the brother
hood of man and the fatherhood of |
God, otherwise they would fail of real
success. The speaker defined educa-
tion as the harmonious development |
of all the powers of man, mental, |
moral and physical, and the real end
OF education was to fit one for right |
living. Education, had dispelled the
pail OF superstition and darkness that |
shrowded the world in the medieval
age. Through it man read the story
written on the rocks mad wonders of
the stars.
In conclusion, Mr.. Drinkard urged
them to utilize their time to the best
advantage in order that they might
be the better prepared for the trials
OF life and for the grand destiny
awaiting them.
Miss Ruth Waite was rapturously
applauded for her vocal solo, and the
diplomas were then bestowed on the
graduates by Miss O'Hara. It was an
inspiring spectacle as the procession
OF boys and girls passed over the plat
form.
The high school girls glee club sang
Ring on Ye Bells" with fine effect,
and following an organ solo by Mr..