The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-20
VIC. NORMAL HEAD
HIGHLY HON0RED
Pres. Netherlands Quarter
Century of Service is Com
memorated.


Valley City, N, D., June 20.-An
event that will long be remembered
in Valley City Normal school circles
was that of Tuesday, when alumni
gathered in Valley City from all parts
OF the country to commemorate the
twenty-five years of service of George
A. Mcfarland as president of that
well known educational institution.
Tuesday was a red letter day in the
annals of the Normal school here, and
a fitting close to the elaborate exer-
cises was the beautiful scenic feature
known as The Pageant of Growth
The idea of this pageant originated
with the one by whom it was arrang-
ed, Miss Martha Z, Dewey, who is in
charge of the work in reading and ex-
preston at the Normal, and under
whose, personal direction it was
staged. r-- .-1
The pageant was presented under
the auspices of the Alumni associa-
ton, and it also Z was in especial
honor of President Netherlands long
service there. The pages of Normal
school history were by this attractive
means turned back for twenty-five
years, and the effect of the Greek
costumes, in an artistic blending of
colors, was a notable one. All depart
ments of the school We're represented
in the pageant, which fully deserved
the praise given it as one of the
cleYerest and most deliberately staged
pageants ever shown in North Da-
kota. It was put on in the natural
open air amphitheatre known as
Campus Hill, and the spectators num-
bered hundreds. '1 f'
The days exercises opened at els
Tuesday morning in the Normal audi
torium with a concert by the Normal
band. At $3.50 an overture was given
by the State Normal school orchestra,
with the alumni march to the audi
forum, followed by short concert
by the Normalonians.
Many Give Addresses.
An address was, then given by John
schools at Haflowtown, Mont. His
subject was "At the Normal School in
the Olden Days Old time chapel
hymns We're sung, led by Miss Fannie
Amidon. The subject OF an address
given by Helen Best Pearson, class
of IL, Of st. Paul, was. "The Debt of
the Alumni" Building the Temple"
was the subject of the address given
by Alexander Aaes, class of rs. This
was followed by an address by Miss
Cora M Rawlins, whose subject was
President Mcfarland, the Educator"
There was a response by President
Mcfarland, who was given a great
ovation. The entire assembly gave
the chautauqua salute, followed by
twenty five rahs for Prexy, then the
Normal school yell ending with the
loyalty song. TEl.5
- Elaborate Gifts Presented. .
The presentation address in behalf
of the alumni was. given by Fred v.
Hutchinson, of Fargo. The Alumni
association presented President Nc
Farland with a. complete silver SER
vice.. This was followed by a pres
entation address in behalf of the stu
dent body, by Eldon Hanson. The
gift of the student body was the
portrait of President Mcfarland,
painted by the noted artist, Nicholas
r. Brewer. OF st. Paul The gift was
accepted by Hon. Frank White, on
behalf of the board of regents, for the
school. srf RI r--s..- ..s s.
met at the Ladies' hall for the annual
for 500. At 5 o'clock the students,
alumni and visiting friends gathered
ON the campus and marched to the
picnic grounds on the campus hill,
led by the band.
The alumni themselves drew Presi-
dent and Mrs. Mcfarland in a dec
grated carriage A picnic supper was
served to many hundreds on Campus
hin at o'clock, and this was followed
by the pageant.
The days program ended with the
alumni ball, which was a very happy
svent. held at the armory, beginning |
1t 9 o'clock.
This evening the Elsie Herndon |
Kearns Players will present "The |
Winters Tale" (Shakespeare) at S:15 |
o'clock at the auditorium.