The Mena weekly star., 1919-06-19
GRADUATES GIVEN
PRACTICAL ADVICE.
The 1919 Commencement of Mena High
School Featured by Splendid Adj
dress by Bishop Winchester--A
Class of Young Ladies Only.


High School composed of ten young
ladies, Bishop James f. winchester,
of Little Rock, gave at the annual
commencement exercises Thursday
night, an address that will long be re-
membered for its practical advice and
its reverent honor to the part the fair
sex has taken in the making of civili-
cation.
Bishop Winchester chose for his
subject, Thought" and an audience
of admiring friends, relatives and ac-
quaintances which almost filed the
First Presbyterian auditorium gave
close attention to the speakers clear
and concise statements of how
I thoughts make life.
Tell me what your young people
are thinking and I'll tell you the
events Of the next century," was one
of the quotations the speaker used in
explaining his subject. He explained
further that thoughts make character
and character makes life The gradu-
ates of 1919, he admonished to give
careful attention to their thoughts,
for, as he stated, I'VE are living in the
most critical period in history and the
best thought is needed"
The progression of thought and the
connection between aspiration, the
ideal and the real, Bishop Winchester
illustrated by reference to the lives of
famous women in history, including
Grace Darling, Florence Nightingale
and Frances f. Willard, and also told
of the great work of Mrs. Woodrow
Wilson is doing in helping sustain the
president
Bishop Winchester explained that
thought should be on lofty things, and
he gave some practical advice on the
kind of literature the young graduates
should read, the kind of plays they
should see and the class Of company
they should keep if they were to real
ize their best ideals.
The speaker also made it plain that
ancestry never made character and
that secular education is not all that
is needed. He emphasized the import
ance of Christian training and in
closing exhorted the ten young grad
uateds to live their lives that they
might make real the IDEAL
In opening his address Bishop Win
chester spoke in praise of Mena, its
beauty, and it's people, and he also
complimented the city on having Sc
cured as superintendent of schols
George B. Cook, with whom he has
long been associated and whom he
characterized as an earnest, Chris
tian educator.
Bishop Winchester was introduced
by Mark p. Olney, former member of
the school board, and also presented
Olney explained that he had been
called upon at the last moment to sub
stitute for Hal Norwood, who had been
called out of the city. In presenting
the diplomas Mr.. Olney reviewed past
history of the school and complimented
the class of 1919 an the practical ma
ture of its commencement. AS the ten
young ladies stood he presented to
each the coveted sheepskin diploma of
graduation.
Miss Christa York delivered the
salutatory Grafton and charmed all by
her clear, graceful style of delivery,
and the sensible, practical nature of
the opening address, The valedictorian
was Miss Bernice Patton and the duty
of presenting the theme of the class
future and the farewell to alma mater
was ably handled by the young lady.
Musical features of the evening pro-
gram were two selections by the high
school orchestra, the commencement
song by the high school chorus and a
violin and mandolin duet by j. W.
Gardner, jr., and Hubert Smith.
The Rev. d. j. Sossamon gave the
invocation and benediction
Diplomas were awarded to the fol-
lowing as members of the class of 10.
Mena High School;
Loula Chambers,
Bernice Patton.
Lyndon Park.
Bessye Roberts.
Verena Steele.
Vera Steele.
Irma Thacker.
Ora Tucker.
Gladys Utz.
Christa York.
The pulpit of the church was pretti-
ly decorated with flowers and the class
colors. red and white.