People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1896 — Jasper County’s Big School Day. [ARTICLE]

Jasper County’s Big School Day.

The first out door school commencement, of the County, proved a greater success than the promoters anticipated. More than one thousand persons met in the beautiful grove near Valma, June 10, to witness the exercises as per programme previously published. The townships participating were Barkley, Marion, Gillam, Hanging Grove, Newton, Jordan and Union, ' The forenoon exercises consisted of music and an address by Dr. J. A. Woodburn, of the Chair of American History, of the State University. The sub ject of his address was “Education in Civic Life. It was pronounced by all as a masterly effort. The picnic was one of the most attractive features of the day. There was abundance and to spare. If any person left the grounds hungry it was their own fault. The afternoon was devoted to the graduates and pupils. The following is the names of the graduates with the subject of papers presented: Oren E. Frazee “This Nation of Ours.” Henry E. Black “Words and Deeds of American Heroes.” Anna E. Hyatt “Home.” Mary Richardson “Brief Sketch of the Life of Louisa May Alcott.” Cora Simons “Progress of Education.” William Long “Character.” Ora Belle Mitchell. Arthur Prevo, “What is success.” Oliver S. Tharp, “Books.” Harry O. Biggs ‘ ‘The Power of Money. ” Leah Knox, “Thought.” Robert T. Crockett, “A Country Boy’s Opportunity.” Trudie Babcock, “The Schoolmaster’s Guest.” Lora Bruce, “Labor

has her Rewards.” Augusta Sayler, “Imagination.” Melvin J. Thornton, “Life of Washington.” Arthur Stewart, “The Acadians.” Randle Overton, “Alaska.’ Omar L. Osborne, “Honesty.” . Clara Lutz, “Spiritual Laws.” Earl Beacham, ‘ ‘Dignity of Labor.” Nellie Bussel, “Power of Eloquence.” Elmer Stephenson. “Biography of Francis Hart. ” Marion Richardson. Charles Warren, “Biography of Benjamin Franklin.” Oliver B. Richmond, “Doing one’s Best.” Grace Burns, “The Ladder of Life.” Frances McCollough. These exercises were interspersed with Instrumental and vocal music. There were three recitations by pupils. Nellie Nichols recited “Mrs. Ruggles” Dinner Party—Mattie Parkison recited. "Our Hired Girl and the Raggedy Man. Irena Lutz, recited. “The Pilot’s Story.”