Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1888 — The Class of ’88. [ARTICLE]

The Class of ’88.

An Event In Ihe Ediifatlpnal - Uiatoi-y of Rebmclaer Fifteen bright, interesting and persevering young people graduated from the Rensselaer High School, last week. It is tlie largest class that ever graduated from the school and larger than any is likely to be, for some years, at least. The exercises were held 1 last Thursday evening, in the Opera House,- in the presence of an audience which filled auditorium and galleries, nnd eveu hallways! aucl entrance, until even standing: room WB6 not to be had and many went away, unable to find entrance. The stage was handsomely decorated, with plants and Jowers. Across the front, in large gilt letters wnß'< the class motto, “Not Finished, but Begun." Back of this hung, interlaced together, two huge golden figures, “88.” The exercises were of the character customary at commencements, consisting of the themes of the graduates, a class address and the presentation of diplomas; all agreeably interspersed with excellent music. The essays and orations of the graduates were of a high order of merit, evincing a ready and full command of correct and expressive ladguage, well informed minds and cultivated powers of thought. They ivere nearly all committed to memory and were delivered without reference to the manuscript, and in an easy and" graceful manner. Robert Vapatta, though one of the youngest of the class, stood second highest in rank and was honored with the position of salutatorian. The subject of his oration was, “The Use and Abuse of a Dollar.” Miss Blanche Loughridge came next, her subject was a little word with a big meaning, “Vim.” “The Increasing Purpose” was the subject of Miss Maud Spitler’s theme, and “Sour Grapes” that of Miss Addie Chilcote, Miss Stella Parkison gave a Class Poem, in which each of her class mates was pleasantly mentioned in graceful rhymes. Albert Fendig’s oration was entitled, “A Glympse of the Ages,” Miss Inez Hutson’s subject was “Labor a condition of succeess,” and Miss Edie Wilson’s “The Conquest of Luxury.” The “Class Prophesy” was by Miss Frankie Irwin, and ' the future of her class-mates was predicted in roseate hues. Being personal and local in its character we briefly abstract its main points: Miss Blanche is to be kept at home, the light of her parents’ household, presumably in a state of spinsterhood, and is to receive all the elegant accomplishments from private tutors. Miss Anna is to be a progressive and earnest teacher. George (most brilliant career of all) is to become a noted newspaper editor. Miss Inez is to find steady and lucrative employment as a short hand and type writer. Miss Addie will teach for a time and then enter

into the state of matrimony, and wear the wifely crown with becoming dignity. Miss Mamie will find her life mission to be a missionery among the heathen. Miss Mattie will become a cultivated musician and the happy wife of a wealthy and musical husband. Albert is to devote himself to a study of the heavenly bodies, and by his discoveries add lasting lustre to his name. Miss Maud is to become a renewed traveler in distant lands. Miss Stella will turn her mind to poetry but will soar so high that tlie present age will fail to comprehend and appreciate her works. Robert’s great gifts for oratory will find ample scope for exercise in the calling of an auctioneer. Miss Birdie will devote herself to the acquisition of knowledge, for a time, and then become a renewed star in the histrionic firmanent. Miss Edie is to be true to the idea of duty as the needle to the pole and will soon join hands and hearts with a young man, similar to herself in intellect aud disposition. Schuyler will attain great wealth as the manager of a traveling theatrical entertainment, after .which he will choose a beautiful helpmate and devote his time to writing thrilling plays for the stage. Following the “Prophesy” was the oration “The Will, the Man,” by George Moss; then the essays* “Night Brings Forth Stars,” ’by Miss Mamie Spitler; “Custom a Tyrant” by Miss Birdie Hammond, and “Use Brightens the Key,” by! Miss Anna Erwin. The Class History was bySchuy-; let Irwin. Like the prophesy it has a personal and local inter=j est and for that reason can be ab- j stracted without seeming to make i invidious distinctionsL OT ==== school in 1884 and consisted of 54 members, the next year it numbered 86, aud the following year eaw

a decrease to 23, and of these only ]6 were entitled to enter the senior year, and one of these, Miss Nellie Kelley temporarily abandoned her studies on account of ill-health. .From the dee, criptive sketches of the members of the class, we extract the following data: Mattie Moore, the highest in the class, born Dec. 23,1868, at pleasant Grove. Blanche Loughridge, the youngest of the class, born Oct., 28, ’7l, in Rensselaer. Maud Spitler, born Dec., *27, ’69, in Rensselaer. Birdie Hammond, born J uly 19, ’7O, Rensselaer. Inez Hutson, born July 28, ’69, in Springfield Ohio; expects to, become a school teacher. Edie Wilson, born June 4, ’69, in Hanging Grove tp., will become a teacher, Mamie Spitler, born Nov. 30, ’7O, in Rensselaer, intended book-keeper. Frankie Irwin, born Jan. 14, ’69, near Remington, thinks of teaching. Anna Erwin, born May 18, ’7O, in Jordan township. Adda Chilcote, the light weight of the class, 96 pounds, born Dec. 10, ’7O, in Rensselaer; will teach. Stella Parkison, born Dec. 18, ’7B, in Barkley tp., evinces proclivities towards literature. Robert M. Vanatta, born Jan.,ls, ’7l, in Rensselaer. Will probably study law. Albert Fendig, born, Oct. 27, ’7O, in Rensselaer; will be a merchant. George Moss, bo?n July 27, ’69, in Rensselaer, will probably be a lawyer. Schuyler C. Invig, the heavy weight, 165 pounds, and oldest of the class, born,Feb. 4, ’67, near Remington, also inclined towards the legal pro?, fes^ion. Miss Mattie Moore gave the valedictory and her the subject of which was, “Sin in High Places.” After a well considered Class Address by Prof. Reubelt and a felicitous presentation of diplomas by E. L. Clark, Esq., the exercises closed by a Class Song, composed by Miss Maud Spitler. Tlie offerings of boquets to the graduates were profuse, considering the great scarcity of flowers; a number also received desirable presents.'