Connecticut western news., 1917-06-21
HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
Thirteen Members of Class ot 1917
 Receive Diplomas.

The town hall was filled to the doors Tuesday night with the friends of the class of 1917, Canaan High School.
 The members of the class were Bessie Agnes Colligan, Sarah Emeiln Curtiss, James Michael Goggin, Timothy Graham J. Goggin, Gertrude Dorothy Higgins, Richard Harrison Hart, Gould Leroy Hart, Olga Maria F. Johnson, Vernon Levi Leffingwell, ', Charlotte Russell Lucas Mary Margaret Mansfield, Bessie Winifred Root, Preston Edward Ward.
 The hall was tastefully decorated with flags and bunting. with streamers of purple and white, the class colors. The class motto "Semper Paratus" occupied prominent position at the front.
 Following the innovation by Rev. 0. N. Fitch of West Cornwall. came the Greeting by James Michael Goggin, who said in part;
 Kind Friends
 Tn the name of the faculty and the members of my class extend to you a very cordial welcome.
 We have reached very important crisis in our lives to us one of the most important. From the present standpoint it might we'll be termed the climax.
 This is our commencement. Each June isLa ommencemeDt-no for schools alone but for nature as we'll. Now springtime graduates into sum. mer; these days partake of the past. The four years spent together are in evidence of each individual character of the class. Our hearts are filled with high expectations for the future. It is a time to count our gains and losses. I do not wonder that people find life dull who never think or work.
 The great question: for us to solve today as we go out into the world is,- Are we prepared to face the duties re- quired of us? Have we begun to live or have we been dreaming away our time under the excuse of seeking an educa- tion.
 We go ont with the feeling that the great test of ability is yet to come, and that the honor of upholding our school rests with us. We must prove by our work that the class of 1917 is credit to the school.
 Litchfield County can look with pride upon the achievements of her sons and daughters. They have taken a foremost rank in the worlds fame. The works of Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe speak for them. sevles, Nathan Hale gained for his name resting place among the great names by his words; regret that have but one life to give for my Coun. try''. Ethan Allan. the hero of Ticon- doroga. General Sedgwick, of Civ; War fame, and even the name of John Brown, hose soul is still marching on, are an inspiration to us.
 There are no greater duties awaiting us today than the demands of our national life, our country needs us, to whom but to us, the young men can she look. Our education is not in. tended to fit us for leisure but for manly labor. We are under a law of duty which allows no stopping place short of our utmost capabilities. we must aspire to noble acts and heroic deeds The thought of service is growing stronger each day. The world needs our help, life itself is a battle, the con- test is always waging.
 Edward Everett Hale said, "Remem- Der that back of all these men you . have to do with, back of the Govern itself. Your country and that you be- long to her as much as you belong to your own mother. In 1861 more than two million brave men responded to the call and engaged in holy cause.
 What defenders has our country today? We have a remnant of this mag nifcent army, or we might we'll say armies, as the remnants of the army of Grant ani Lee are one. One in faith, hope, purpose, and patriotism, in jus- tice strong and in devotion to the flag. Although more than half a century has passed away they have left a n example already inscribed in the worlds memory. -
 Since the war of the Revolution the men have followed that flag in battle because they loved it and believed in what it represents. The red. flaming right, the white, unsullied purity, and the blue the eternal hope in behalf of the sons of men.
 For several years the United States has been at peace with all nations, but once again her flag is unfurled, not to celebrate an anniversary in our his. tory or holiday on our calendar, but to rally our citizens to 8 conflict with an austere nation.
 Blessed is that Country whose young men are loyal.
 Kind friends: close by uttering one Saxon word, Welcome; with the hope that soon there will be no North, no South, no Eastr no West but United World.''
 The cantata, Wreck of the Hes-