The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-06-03
PROF. NARQUESS'
FAREWELL 70 kansas
CITY An OVATION
A WONDERFUL ADDRESS

On Friday evening, May 26, in the
spacious auditorium of the Kansas
City, Kas., High school, the most
touching tribute of appreciation and
esteem was paid Prof. John NJ. Mari
guess, the retiring principal of Sum-
ner High school, by the citizens of
our proud metropolis.
Packed to it's utmost to witness the
commencement exercises of the larg-
est graduating class in the career of
Sumner, and the last under Prof. Mar
guess skillful management, the occa-
sion was truly adapted to and fitting
ly seleced for the demonstration of
confidence and of high estimation of
this brilliant scholar and educator,
who in the eight years of living in our
midst endeared himself to the entire
community and proved himself wor-
thy of the highest honors in the gift
of the citizenship; who during this
same period as principal of Sumner
High school, brought it out of the un-
promising and unsavory connections
of its origin to position of respecta-
bility and of fame in the educational
system of our city and community,
and through whose supervision and
government it has won a name and a
place of honor among the institutions
of learning in our state and in the ma
tion.
More than 1000 of the citizens
mothers seriously interested in the
welfare of their sons and daughters;
fathers jealous of the sanctity of their
children's rights, opportunities and
honor-patrons animated with pride
in the races endeavor and achieve
ments were present to hear the fare
well address of their priced educator
and honored member of the race and
to bid him God speed and continued
success in his future work.
Past Grand Master of Masons of
Kansas, c. II. Milton Collins, in an
eloquent and forceful address in be-
half of the citizens of Kansas City,
Kas., presented Mr.. Marques a large
and beautifully engraved loving cup,
! with the names OF the contributors 10
its purchase. But elegant and valu-
able a sthis gift was, it was only
small token of the regard in which
Mr.. Marques is held here; it was only
a gentle reminder to him that his
| years of service in our community
will ever be cherished as years Of uses
/ iulness; it was only an assurance to
him that his goodness to Kansas City,
Kas., are indelibly inscribed on the
memory of an appreciative public.
The occasion will ever be remem-
Jered for it gave renewed evidence
of the unbounded confidence of the
entire citizenship of Kansas City, Has,
in this man of the race, who With
grace and dignity represented it these
last eight years in the social and civic
life of the community; who with zeal
and capability championed its cause
in the councils of the high; who with
fidelity and devotion served its inter
ests towards the appraisement or the
Ideals of true manhood and woman
hood, and of an elevated citizenship
with it's accorded rights and privi-
leges.
1t was an evidence of regret at the
loss of the services of this efficient
and honorable man to our educational
system and civic life. yet an assur-
ance that we do not begrudge his ad-
vancement and rise in life, but wish
him even greater success-for every
such record among our race is inspi-
ration to its individual MEMBERS
1t was an augur that his fertile
brain and larger soul will be equal
to the increased responsibilities of
his new field at Langston, and that
like credit will be done our brother
of Oklahoma by his measuring up to
his greater possibilities and higher
honors, as he reflected while laboring
on the free soil of Kansas.
The unexpectedness of this outburst
obviously affected Mr.. Marques, who
in mastery speech of acceptance,
returned the compliments paid him,
and expressed his gratefulness for the
friendships he has formed here, and
the hearty cooperation received in
his efforts of betterment and uplift.
]. G. N. SOANES.