The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1921-08-19
A Letter From
Huldah Bryan

Aug l9-Sep l6
| am enclosing a Commencement
program of the school in which
teach. In several ways it was by
far the most interesting commen-
cement had ever attended. 1t
was held in the Armenian church.
Instead of rug decorations as used
for Margaret's wedding we used
willow branches and yellow roess.
The class motto Not Finished
only Begun was on both sides of
the church in Syrian and Persian
and on a large card covered with
tissue paper the figures 1921"
You notice that the program is
printed in three languages eng
lish. PEI sian and Armcnian), and
it'should have been in Syrian, too,
but they did not have the type at
the printing Office. This program
had to be given on two different
days as the Persian women would
not have been able 10 be present.
On Thursday afternoon June, 10th
it was given for the Persian wom-
en- and this morning Uune l7th)
for mixed audience. On Thurs
day it was quit like commence
nent AT home. First the school
marched in. taking seats on the
side in front in groups accord
lng f. nationalitics represented.
Margaret. instead OF Mr.. Allen,
made the opening prayer at the
close of which the school chanted
the Lords Prayer in Persian. Then
Psalm 100 was recited first by one
group in Syrain. then 10y the Per-
sian group and last Of all hx the
Armenian group in their language.
The whole program went off very
licely. On Friday it was a little
different. Before the church door
were opened, the Persian girls
took their places and a screen was
placed between them and the aud
fence. 1t didn't look badly as it
was pretty well hidden by he viii
lows. We marched in just as be-
fore, except OF this time there's
were only three graduates in front
of Us on the platform as Nosrat
uhe Persian girl GRADUATED was
behind the screen. All the Pera-
ian girls performed in just the
same way except at this time they
were invisible to the audience.
For the class song, the Syrian
girls, instead of standing in the
center of the platform, went over
to the sides so that Nosrat was
near them though hidden from
the audience. Nosrat stood stood
up in Der place for the presentat-
ion of diplomas and Mrs. Funk
handed it to her behind the screen.
Oh. and just one more thing; |
helped sing Doxology in Persian.
We had a picture taken and will
send you one when they are prin-
ted. but none of the Persian girls
were allowed TO appear in the pic
turc. Poor kiddies they watched
1t from the verandah completely
covered with their black "Chudd-
ars' tveils). think some of them
must have envied their little Ar
menian and Syrian friends. At
the close of the exercises Nosrat's
father brought two of the other
fathers and one other friend up
that they might congratulate his
! daughter. OF course they didn't
sec her for she had beautiful
white silk "chuddar" (veiD which
covered her completely. Still, peo-
pie were quite surprised that he
did even that. He was also heard
to say that he wished his daugh-
ter had been out with the rest ex-
cept that it would have been aga
inst his religion. Nocrat in her
| essay compared the women of Per
sia with the women Of other cou-
! ntries and gave plea for more
freedom. Her father and mother
are both very nice and very care
ful Of Nosrat. Most Persian girls
are married at her age, but her
father has not succeeded in find
ing any one he thinks quite nice
enough for her. She cried after it
was all over and said she didn't
want tosleave school, and one Of
the teachers said she would he
very glad to have her come back
as teacher, for we need another
Persian teacher very badly. Nos