Milford chronicle., 1916-06-16
COMMENCEMENT OF The
MILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ance at the commencement exercise
last week. On Thursday evening tn
grammar school offered the attractio
when "a students were given certif
Gates emitting them to enter the hig
school, Their parents and friend
swooped down upon Armory Hall. fill
ed every seat, packed the aisles an,
Overfowed into the street. The pro
n gram was well arranged and finely
rendered, and was a credit to the
participants and to the teachers who
had it in charge. A feature which
lent interest to the program was the
award of prize for the best decla-
nation. This was given to Verna
wilkins, and the expression of ap-
prOval by the audience showed that
the judges had made no mistake. Fred
Ireland was given honorary mention.
and well deserved it, for his delivery
was earnest, manly, and without af-
fectation, the basis for development in
effective public speaking. Another in
teresting feature of the program was
the address of Mr. Varney, the prin-
cipal, in presenting the class to the
President to receive their certificates.
1t was directed largely to the parents,
and was a plea for still higher educa-
tiOnal ideals. He urged them not
only to stand by their schools and to
use every effort to still further i'm
prove them, but also to see that their
children take full advantage of what
the schools have TO offer, not being
satisfied until a diploma from the high
school has been secured. This was
the third public commencement of the
grammar school, and when the pres
ident Of the board asked the audience
to decide whether the custom of
public commencement should be con-
tinued, the response left no doubt as
to the popularity of the idea.
High School commencement.
On Friday evening the commence
ment of the High School was held. By
eight o'clock every seat was taken
and when the program opened there
were more people packed into the hall
than had ever been assembled there.
1t was with great regret on the part
of the management that many per-
sons we're unable to obtain seats or
even to secure standing room One
feature of the program, pleasing to all !
and which OccasiOned favorable COM |
ment, was the professional of the al |
umni. 1t has been suggested that |
another year efforts be made to Sc
cure large attendance and that they |
assemble in some other building and |
march in a body to the hall.
An interesting part of the program |
was that the theme Delaware" ran
through all the exercises of the even
ng. The essays and Orations had for
heir themes incidents and names con-
lected with the history of the state.
These showed careful preparation,
elaborate research, and were well de-
ivered. But one of the most pleas
ng incidents was not on the printed
program. When the time came for
of the class for their di-
,lOmas, the principal, Mr.. Varney
addressed the audience and the class
n words of counsel and with an ex-
'ressiOn of appreciation and good will /
# the pupils, teachers, the Board and
he people of the town. In response 1
he president of the Board announced
hat before performing the duty of
onferring the diplomas he had an
ther duty to perform, and asked Mr.. /;
'arney to come to the front of the t
tage and take the spot light" The I
'rincipal complied looking somewhat {
ewildered. Addressing him, Mr. {
IynsOn said: I
Mr.. Varney. before proceeding with q
ur formal program, | have a task a
hat gives me pleasure. I have been t
to speak the sentiments OF 7
few of your friends, the teachers @
nd members Of the Board, who know a
nat their feeling represents the SEN Ii
ments of the whole town. You came e
} Milford and took up the work that n
mother able principal laid down over v
yo years ago. Mr.. Hoover had re- L
gned in the middle of a term to take il
mother position. The schools were e
zen in a high state of efficiency. With | n
ut the opportunity to study the situ- D
lion you plunged into the work. We u
ION discovered that your ideals were b
gh, that you were untiring in your Il
forts to inspire the parents as well ei
J the pupils, and that you were not Ct
ltisfied to maintain existing stand il
'ds, but we're striving for still fur c;
er improvement 1t is my deliber- h
e judgment, sir that at this NOM d
It our schools stand at higher level c,
an ever before in their history fc
here is an awakened school spirit II
this town that has reached a high is
level than ever before; there is a RI
gh degree Of efficiency, and there IL
Mt sore spot anywhere. In token 81
these sentiments l am asked by fe
'ur teachers and the Board and a
" other friends to present you with ci
is token, as a remembrance of your al
journ in Milford, hoping that in the W
Us to come it will serve as a re-
nder Of a host of friends and we'll dl
shers that you have left behind" m
Mr.. Hynson then presented him Gu
ry handsome watch and chain. Mr.. W,
rney was evidently greatly surpris- wi
and deeply affected, but managed la
make a graceful, brief speech of ST
ceptance. en-
The scholarship prizes we're award
as follows: M
Col. Townsend gold medal for ro
Russell. IN,
Freshman Scholarship Prize-Ruth
ssell. IN,