The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-11
|COLOREO ALUMNAE
| SPEED GRADUATES
High School Association Has Dinner
and Program in Masonic
Hall on Twelfth
Street.
HONOR 1918 MEMBERS
Five Who Receive Diplomas Soon,
Perorm-President and Aionzo
Draine Are the
Speakers.
HONOR 1918 MEMBERS
[Contrihuted1

1
The Keokuk High School CoIored
lAlumnae association held its ninth an
nual banquet last night in the Ma
sonic hall at Twelfth and johnson
streets. The hall was profusely dec
GRATED with American flags, flowers
and the colors of the graduating class
of 1918. The alumnae orchestra fur
nished the music and special selec-
tons rendered were heartily ap-
pfauded.
The graduates of the class of 1918
were the guests of honor and they oc-
| cupied special seats. This is the
largest class of colored graduates ever
in high school, there being five in
number.
Those who received their certif-
Gates of graduation are Imogene Will
son, French E. Bland, Alice Buckner,
Irene Bryant and Anna Pyles. Owing
to illness, Miss Bryant could not be
present
Mrs. Ashley roastmistress.
Mrs. Rita Ashby was toastmistress
and her Introductory efforts were
splendid. The program opened with
the dedication of the alumnae service
flag in honor of Lieutenant VIM. Nc
Kinley Brooks and Lieutenant Ralph
B. Teabeau. Miss Elizabeth Gross
placed the star on the flag for Lieu
tenant Teabeau and outlined his work
since entering tn eservice. Mrs Ella
Draine Taylor spoke for Lieltenant
Brooks and placed star on the flag
in honor Of his service to his coun-
try. Both efforts were splendid
tributes to the young men.
Presidents Address.
At the conclusion of the flag serv-
ice. the annual address of the presi-
dent, R s. johnson, was given. Mr..
johnson expressed his appreciation OF
the large number of graduates and
gave them a hearty welcome to mem
osrship in the association. He said:
The first great quesi that con-
fronts a graduate is What shall / dor
have always felt that VIE rather ex-
pect too much OF our boys and girls
with their limited opportunities and
Ofttimes we discourage them but my
answer to this important question is,
DO anything. any honest work, rather
than remain in dependent, enfeebling
and demoralizing idleness. Manufac-
turers and business men have long
since conceded that educated men are
more profitable to hire at increased
wages than uneducated." He spoke
Of the splendid work OF the Keokuk
high school and the reconstruction
that would follow the conclusion of
the war.
The old custom of placing the ne
gro as separate unit on the last line
OF American citizens ought to be
buried and stay buried
He spoke Of the colored peoples low
atty to the flag and their fight for
world democracy. Referring to the
service flag, he paid fine tribute to
Brooks and Teabeau.
Graduates Perform.
Miss Anna Pyles read a paper on
The Woman and the Wars of the
Ages in which she reviewed the
achievements OF the women from the
early ages to the present time.
Miss Imogene Wilson gave an orig
inal poem, "a Prophecy to Ethiopia"
Miss Alice Buckner recited 1.-THE
Sailor Boy Who Saved the Flag" Miss
Buckner also took occasion to deplore
the small humber Of young people to
finish the high school course.
French Bland played a piano num-
Der.
The closing address was made by
Alonzo DTaine on THE Price of
Clear Title"
Mrs. A A. Bland read the communi-
cations from the distant members.
The only one that arrived in time for
The banquet was that of Miss Ruth e.
Bland of Chicago.