Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1924-05-22
Volume 81
Commencement Of
NJ. & NJ. High School

normal. seemed in no manner to les
sen he interest in the high school
commencement exercises OF last
Thursday night. This was evident
nv the large crowd which filled the
opera house to overfiowing. Many
were standing in line waiting for
ADHESION long before the doors op-
enea
rhe stage decorations included
the class pennants of purple and
gold with the words of the class
motto-"Carpe Diem" The sea-
sons flowers and greenery were also
! used in the decorations. When the
curtain arose the class-45 In num-
berthe largest in the history OF
our schools, in caps and gowns, was
seated on the stage. Also the SUI
perintendent, speaker, and others
who were to have some part in the
exercises.
The high school orchestra furnish
ed music. Following their opening
number, Rev. p S. Neldon of the
Methodist Episcopal church made
the invocation. This was followed
bv another selection by the orches-
ira. Superintendent Geo. E. Carr
then in short appropriate speech
presented the class. Mr.. Carr stated
that while $4,000 had been spent
for the class during their period in
school. he felt sure that the class
would pay back to this community,
or to some other community, in ser
vice. many times that sum.
Next came the salutatory address
by Edgar Northrup of the gradual
inc class. While his subject was
not on the program, it was "Amerl-
cas- Warning From the Past" On
this occasion the speaker even went
a few notches above the high place
he had made for himself on various
occasions during his four years in
high school In expressing the ap-
who had made possible their grad
uation-p parents, teachers and cit
zens in general, interested in ed
ucation. he had lead up to his sub
ject He spoke of the causes of the
fall of Egypt, Greece and Rome,
which causes America must guard
OF
some length upon the emigrant ques-
ton, and in forceful, eloquent terms
denounced the large number of for
eigners coming to our shores who
are not fit to become Americans. He
told of the large number in our
cities, who do not speak a word OF
English While they are cheap la
borers, the speaker said the differ
ence saved in such labor, must be
paid back in taxes to support
asylums, and various institutions to
care for these foreigners. He made
it plain that it was of vital i'm
portance to the future OF America
that immigration be restricted. He
closed with the thought that If
America is to continue to hold her
place in the world, it must be
through ducation-through minds
trained to cope with the great prob
lens of the world.
1t fell to the happy lot of Miss
Elizabeth Humphrey to be the vale
dictorian of this large class. a very
great honor indeed Her theme can
be summed up in the words she used
in closing "Give to the world the
best you have, and the best will
come back to you" The class she
said would be judged by the work
they have done-by the manner in
which their time had been spent in
high school The value of time she
stated had been learn, y the class
during their high school years; their
schooling had given them ability
with which to do things worth
while A forceful point she brought
out was that if the members Of the
class fail it will be their own fault.
Miss Humphreys delivery was splen-
did, and she presented her subject
so clear and plain, that her hearers
had no difficulty in grasping it's
meaning
Prof. H. d. Bishop introduced the
speaker of the evening, Chas. w
Cookson, superintendent of the
Franklin county schools. He is a
speaker of force, and having been
connected with schools for a number
of years as an educator and super
intendent, he was enabled to bring
first hand vital information. In the
start he made it plain that he had
but one messag ge-that is, to build
character He mentioned that the
commencement address was not to
the class alone, but to the audience
as well. OF the many things that go
to make up character he said, the
two outstanding features are heredi-
ty and environment. He does not
believe that person is the "archi-
tect of his own misfortune" but
that we have to take such ancestors
good or bad, healthy or diseased.
just as decreed Too often Mr.
Cookson said the mistake is made
hat Waan buildiOo character and o,aI-