Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1904 — The Annual Commencement [ARTICLE]

The Annual Commencement

The graduating exercise of the Rensselaer high school were held Thursday night, at the M. E. church. The function was a much briefer and simpler affair than oom ' mon, because of the fact that the essays of the graduates were not given but in their stead a “class address,” by W. E. Gairison, president of Butler College. This is the prevailing custom in school commencements now days, and takes the place of the good old custom of all the graduates speaking or reading their articles and orations in public, The drill and discipline obtained in preparing to speak and speaking in public, and the extra effort made in preparing their themes for public delivery, must have been otoonsiderI able benefit to the students, which they lose by the new method. But when the number of graduates reaches up into tens, twenties or thirties every year, to have all their articles given makes too long an exercise. The address was an able and instructive effort, and the music by the school chorus was greatly appreciated. The church was finely decorated and the most prominent feature being the class motto. “Ich Bin Ein Ich.” The following is the list of graduates ; Ellen Donnelly, Gail Daugherty, Bessie Hardy, Lizzie V. Hemphill Lizzie Babcock. Franoeska J. Eiglesbach. Robert 0. McGregor, Bob. Allen Sheets, William Kenton Parkison, John R. Parkison. Ira L. Galbraith,