Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1899 — The Annual Commencement. [ARTICLE]

The Annual Commencement.

Hiffh School Tarns Out Twelve More Promising Graduates. The seventeenth annual commencement, of the Rensselaer High School was held Thursday at the M. E. church. The class colors and motto, were elaborately displayed, the Pennant, won by the Athletes of the school, proudly aloft, above them all* while green foliage and bright flowers formed the back ground for the white draperies of the sweet lassies and sturdy forms of the lads who composed the class of twelve; and a most brilliant and fashionably dressed audience, crowded the spacious rooms. In many respects the entertainment was more interesting than is usual on such ocassions, many new features being introduced. The music was enjoyed thoroughly, instrumental as well as vocal, the duets, especially, struck the popular fancy. The orations, “Cromwell and his age,” by Wayne Parker, “The Value of Good Books” by Ellen Gwin, “Arma Virumque-Cano,” by Helen Travis, “The Call to Americans” by Merle Gwin and “Simon Says, Thumbs Up,” by Maud Healey, treated of subjects that came home to all, and particularly interested all, and were handled and delivered in a way that held the attention and deserved the sympathy of every listener. The recitation of the tragical and powerfully written story, by O. Reilly, of Boston, of’the “Duki|e Snake” was so well rendered by Julia Leopold, as to cause a profound stillness in the vast crowd and bring tears to many eyes. “How He Saved St Mich* aels”, by Marie Kohler and “Nydia, The Blind Girl of Pompeii,” by Leathe Wright were equally well delivered and appreciated. The debate, “Resolved, That the Public School Life, is not Physically injurious to the average pupil,” by Edward Mills and Lena Washburn, affirmative and Jesse Fox and Elsie Watson, negative was a novel feature. The question is a vital one to every parent, and was well chosen, and eaoh side presented its arguments in such shape, that it was a difficult matter for hearers to tell which held the stronger side. Miss Lena Washburn clinched her argument, with the illustration that, as t the combined weight of her two opponents was three hundred pounds, the audience had a living proof in sight, that School life is not physically injurious,” After presentation of diplomas, and prayer by Rev. N. H. Shepherd, the audience dispersed at an early hour, feeling that the class of ’99 had done itself great honor.