The Little River news. (Ashdown, Little River County, Ark.) 1897-current, 1917-05-30
nine GRADUATE
FROM ASHD0WN
Rev. JnO. ID. Freeman Delivered Grad.
uating AdGress-ProGram
Friday Night Was
Go0G.

The graduating exercises were at
tended Friday evening by an immense
crowd. While Miss Cora Smith play
ed an appropriate march the gradu-
ates, attended by little flower gir.s
who streWed rose petals, came slowly
down the center aisles of the auditor
ium and cook their places upon the
stage. Rev w. 7. Sullivan opened the
evenings program with an invocation.
Miss Gladys Russell whose years OF
musical training have made her pay
! ing much appreciated rendered a Sc
lection upon the piaEo.
Curry Freeman in his splendid ora
tion discussed THE rPoblems of the
Day
Ruth Fawcett gave the history of the
class of 1917, which is we'll worth
preserving by is members
Edith Collins read the class prophe-
cy in which she foretold a very Inter
esting future for each member.
Willis Holmes subject was The Rise
of Russian Democracy and was list
ened to with much interest by the en-
tire audience.
iRena Haizlip surprised her many
friends at the clear sweetness of her
solo.
Lille Chewing read beautiful
class poem, and Jack Phillips our tai
ented yioiinist gave one OF his best
numbers.
Glover Sanderson, class valedctor-
ian, read a we'll prepared paper on
The Value OF an IDEAL
Troy Holmes, on account of re-
cent illness. took no part in the pro
gram.
Owing to the fact that Mr.. Work
man, of Arkadelphia, could not be
present to give '@he graduating address
John D. Freeman took his place
The stage was tastefully decorated
in the class colors Of yellow and
black
The following little girls acted as
! flower girls: Virginia Sims Letha
Embry, Lena Russell, Martha Gather
inc Oliver, Bernice Perkins, Martha
Collins Francis Hill, Lee Phillips and
Judy Briant
Graduation Address.
prepared for Emergencies" was the
subject Of the address delivered % the
gaduating class by Rev. Jno. D. Free
man Of this city, on the occasion OF
graduating night Friday evening" The
address was scholarly, timely rich
with thought, and in line with the spir-
it Of the day, when America faces It's
greatest crisis and finds it's greatest
need for young men and women who
are prepared for emergencies.
Said Mr.. Freeman in part:
The call of the world today is foi
young manhood and womanhood con.
secrated to ideals that are high and
lofty ideals whose elevation is so
great that it will require all the effort
o. king souls to attain ahem. Pre-
paration" is the watchw0rd of the
world and because it is. you will par
don me for making it the theme of my
address this evening
There is the greatest dearth CT man.
! hood today that che world has ever
faced. and when we view the situation
at close range, we come to the conclu-
sion that there is an equally deartn
of womanhOod threatened. The sounds
of war have deprived Europe OF her
best sons.
THE world is being robbed of much
of it's best blood, it's grea est strength,
its purest mon and women and it is
we'll for us to see things as they arc.
"Is it any wonder then, when We
look upon these tonight who have fit
ted themselves thus far for service,
that We find our hearts thrilled with
a peculiar sense of gratitude to them
and to the parents who gave them
birth? Is it strange that we come 10
place such a high value upon these
youths who have striven to reach this
plane in their preparation for service?
LET us look for a moment at the
need that has arisen for a more care
full physical preparation on your part.
There is today as never before de-
mand for our young people to be
stronger of body. One third of the
men of the nation are unfit for mill
tary service under the rigid eXamina>
, tions now given. More than one third
of the women are nervous, incapaci-
tated creatures who are absolutely
helpless the moment they are deprived