Welcome to Barton County, Missouri
THE CLOSE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
Commencement Evercises at the Opera House-A Large Audience Well Entertained-Presentation of Diplomas.
The graduating exercises of our High School are anxiously expected by fully one thousand people in Lamar every year, and the year 1890 was not an exception. On last Friday night, May 23d the opera house was filled to its utmost capacity and excellent order prevailed throughout the entire program. The rain did not deter any from coming, who took an interest in the proceedings. The class of 1890 were showered with flowers, and many were the congratulations offered. The music by the orchestra, with August Seyffert handling the bass vial, and Elmer Cox at the piano, aided by Messrs Seyffert, Argenbright and Hays, was very fine. The Lamar Male Quartette now famous throughout the southwest, also favored the audience with a few choice selections, that were greatly admired. A. J. Wray member of the school board, presented the diplomas and his address to the class was excellent and was the subject of favorable comment by all who heard him. The vacation, by the Rev. C. C. Young filled the occasion nicely, it was eloquent. This was followed by the Male Quartette, Nita Jua Nita capturing the entire audience. W . C. Dixon delivered the salutatory address. His remarks were suitable to the occasion, and his delivery good. He welcomed the audience in a style they suited them, as was shown by their encore.
"The March of Time" by Lillie Gillmore. Miss Lillie after a few remarks, general in their character, began with the history of Asia and coming down with the history of Greece and Rome, remarked that westward the course of Empire takes its way. She compared today with its railroads, telegraphs, telephones, electric lights, steamships with the early history of the country wagons, tallow dips, etc, and noted the vast Difference. She gave `'Time" itself a few moments thought, white time is a builder, yet he is a destroyer, all things go down before him. She did well.
J. F. Wilson was next on the program The subject of his essay was 'Pluck." Life is a battle, many are pressing to the front, many fall by the way. Pluck embraces difficulties and conquers, and grows stronger with each victory. If one wishes to travel outside the beaten paths of life, pluck must be added to all the other good qualities necessary to have. Cowardice is not admired by any. Pluck was shown in the late war by many on both sides, but they are not the only heroes, it takes pluck to do right, to avoid evil, to shun bad company, to obey the parental injunction, The young man impressed his friends. He made a good hit.
Amy L. Smiri "Love of Fame." We do nothing without a motive. Many are the motives that actuate men to do and dare almost anything. Love of money, love of fame, an inate desire to accomplish something in the world. The world today is full of men trying to acquire wealth. There are many who are worshiping in the temple of fame. The poet, the scientest; the statesman, the military chieftain. They often achieve it only to learn that it not what they wish for, A good name is at all times greatly to be desired. It is the immediate jewel of the soul.
W. H. Cleveland. This young man has a Voice as clear as a bell, and his delivery was excellent. He is a great reader, and a good thinker. He selected for his address "Daniel Webster," and he delighted the audience. It was not a bare statement of his birth, and its date, and the time of his death, but it was an excellent, interesting account of that great statesman and orator, showing thought and study. He was cheered lustily at the conclusion of his address.
"The motive of Learning," by Miss.Clara Nichols, was forcibly presented by her. Knowledge is power. The great object of education is to think. Thought makes a vast difference between the philosopher and the fool.
It was thought, that compelled Columbus to seek the western hemisphere. It is thought that fills the world with thinking and doing, in fact thought moves the world. The laws of nature are thoughts of God. We live in age when we can obtain the thoughts of all who have gone before, an age of books. Seek knowledge, for it is better than gold.
"The Human Bee Hive." This was the subject of Kate Chiswell. She handled it in such a manner as to attract close attention. The bee hive is like a great city, and to view it from above it would seem that all was confusion. But not so All governed by laws. The bee hive is filled with leaders, workers and drones, so with the human bee hive, there were leaders, workers and idlers. She spoke of the three classes, and called those idlers, who begin where their fathers quit, and quit where their fathers began. The bees are restless and swarm, men are also restless and move with a tide. The tongue was compared to the sting of the bee. Her friends were pleased with her effort.
"Happiness" by Miss Grace Sensney. What is happiness, a phantom, promising ever and cotinually broken, but withal, it implies action, it is found in part while we are traveling in different paths to attain the same end, provided the end, and aim is worthy. All of our aims, our fear, our toils are found in the search for happiness. We seek it during our natural lives. True happiness in doing good to others, the more we live for others, the more we live for ourselves. Is it not better to be contented and satisfied, rather than toil to be happy next year or the year after. The past is gone, the future, we have no lease on, so now is the time to be happy, enjoy the present.
"Bitter sweet," by Miss Deane Barney. This young lady gave us a splendid address, she handled her subject well, and she was cheered. Within a year, what have we not experienced. We have trusted in each other, we have loved. we have parted from dear ones, joy and sorrow are blended together. The dark cloud has its silvery lining. We all have our measure of sorrow, however, dark is made light, bitter is often made sweet. Many take a double dose of sorrow. Even war, cruel war, has its blessings. Evil is servant of good, evil is permitted by providence. Reverses make men stronger, our hearts grow larger by suffering, and our lives are better by the contest.
"Reformia Journalism " By W. C. Dixon. Mr. Dixon was unfortunate in the selection of his subject, but from his standpoint he did well. He touched on corrupt journalism, but failed to add that it is due to the journals of today that corruption has been exposed by a free press, whenever found. He charged that sectionalism and party ties had rooted out patsiotism differing with them from a political standpoint. The papers of to-day invaded the private family and laid bare the skeleton in the closet. He attacked the Sunday paper, and claimed for it so much exellence, that the ministers in the city were left without large congratulations. He would not restrict the press, but he would reform it. Instead of giving accounts of the Kentucky derby and the Sullivan-Killrain fight, he would urge the good charitable actions of the excellent christian woman throughout the world. We do not wish to critisise the young man, for he acquitted himself with credit. He will accomplish something, but we assure him, that if be should ever edit a newspaper, and fail to cater to the wants of a reading public, fail to give what they demand, he will not have sufficient money with which to meet his printers demands, in a few weeks after his entry into the journalistic field.
"The Dark Continent," by Miss Lulu V. Brown, especially interesting to the audience. The young lady has doubtless devoted much time to reading the late works of explorers of Africa. It is full of wonders, and brave men have been yearly letting in light on the dark continent, and to-day, the land that was regarded as a desert, is known as being full of riches. Its population is immense, and in a few years the commercial relations of civilized countries with the dark continent will be of vast extent. In her essay, she spoke of Livingstone, and Stanley the son of America, and others whose explorations have attracted universal attention.
"Cobwebs," by Miss Eva A. Rush, was particularly attractive. Beginning with the Old woman who went so high to sweep the cobwebs from the sky, with a long handled broom. She made a few remarks about her wardrobe, a sky scraper for a bonnet, and her whereabouts since, have never been discovered, then she drew from this some excellent lessons. The world is full of men and women who aim high at cobwebs and don't see the cobwebs around their daily life. Cobwebs are numerous, we find them everywhere. What is a cobweb, a mass of silken texture, firm and strong, woven by spiders but alas not by spiders alone. "Will you walk into my parlor," oh no not at first, then relenting little by little until finely caught. Oh for the frailties and vanities of human life. Men are also weaving webs, webs of disgrace, dishonor and deceit, deadly cobwebs. The saloon and the gaming tables are cobwebs, they are glitering gateways to ruin. Dont aim so high with your broom when you are sweeping cobwebs. Don't talk about tariff and restriction of Chinese immigration and female suffrage, and other national questions, until we have swept away the cobwebs nearer home.
"Our boats are launched: Where are the Shores?" Miss Weddell's essay was beautiful and well written. The class were about to launch their boats on the sea of life. Where were the shores? The pilot should be true and trustworthy. There should be no bad timber in the boat, nor faulty workmanship. They should be freighted with hope as well as fear, and the end of the journey would be glorious. The safe haven or harbor would be reached. The sea of life was uncertain, but all must traverse it. To night we leave the port of the public school, and hoped that the journey would be prosperous and favorable.
The Valedictory, by Kate Chiswell, followed. It was earnest. enthusiastic, touching and complete. She seemed to feel the fullest meaning of each sentence. It was listened to with marked attention. In the valedictory she remembered the people of Lamer, the school board, the teachers, and finally her class mates. It was well done.
This was followed by the presentation of diplomas by Mr. Wray, accompanied by an excellent address to the class. It was near midnight when the exercises closed. The occasion was an enjoyable one
-The Alumni of the Lamar high school met in VanPelt's hall on Friday night and spent the evening very pleasantly. The class of '90 were welcomed by the old members, and for an hour before the banquet was announced, the young men and ladies were having lively chats. At 9:30 the house was called to order, and the banquet was announced. The tables were well filled as there are now 75 members of the Alumni Association. Strawberries, ice cream, lemonade, cake, bananas, oranges, etc, were served. After the spread the question of the continuation of the Association was discussed and it was voted to continue it. The membership fee was fixed at $1.00 for the year, and those who pay that amount will be invited to attend; those failing to pay the $I.00 while they are members, yet if they do help to bear the burdens, ought not to share in the benefits. A few of the Association up to this time have had all the expense and all the work to do. We feel assured that this will not be the case in the future. Jas B. Lillard was elected president, Miss Carrie Tamblyn secretary, and Miss Eva Rush treasurer of the Association for the coming year. A few literary exercises in interspersed with music would add largely to the entertainment of the Association. We hope to see it kept up and have hopes of seeing the society with money in the treasury and the fees reduced, so that all, even the poorest, could meet it without any inconvenience.
Submitted by Randy Penner on June 9, 2002.
