The Class Of Ninety-five

The festival of the high school commencement began at high school hall hia afternoon with the class day exercises. The hall was completely fllled with friends and relatives of the seniora. Fitting mul tasty decorations were arranged in happy eonsonance with the happiness of the occasion. The music was a bright feature of the exercises. Every part of the program was worthy of the class. The literary exercises all bore evidence of careful, conscieutious work and were all appréciated by the audience. Folltrwing the opening selection by the Chequamegons, Clarence G. Clarke, the class orator, spoke. His theme was the Germán motto of the class, "Treu im Kleinen," faithful in small things. His oration was a good one and what most clasa orations are not, appropriate to the occasion. He spoke with good voice. Following is a synopsis of Lis effort : My Classmates :r-Slowly but surely the yeara have rolled by, aïid our anticipations oL the future have faded with memories of the past. To-day we linger for a moment among these memories. To-morrowwe face the etern realities of life. Our little barks have sailed, or rather drifted down the tranquil riverof scliool life, througli its many shallowsof doubt and despair, till anchored at last, we look forward upon the vast sea of human life and activity. For years we have toiled together bouud by ties of sweetest liarmony for this common end. Soon we break those ties and part, some of us never to meet again. But before that parting occuis, bef ore we enter on that sea, let us take as a safeguard agamst stornis, as a forerunner oí success in life, our class motto: "Treu i ni kleinen," Faitbful in Small Things. Two 3fears ago we chose that motto, and on our obedience to it hangs, not only our present success, but our future greatness. No irían has ever made a success in life without following those words. II íiuiy Ite that he never heard tlieni, but lie must rnust nave nveu them. Come back with me to ancient Greece and let us stand on an elevation overlooking the plain of Marathon. Turn backward the cycle of time two thousand years. On" the .elevation with us are assembled eleven Grecian generala. Below them lies the Persian arniy outnumbering them ly thousands, but thcy are gatliered here to decide whether or not the GreekB shall Bght. Five are 'opposed to meeting tbis great host and would rather wait till reinforcenieuts arrive. Five, mcluding Miltiades, the commanding general, are in favor of attacking at once. One man alone has not voted. This man is Callimachus, the Polemnrch. Little he thinks that upon hia vote rests tlie fate of futuve nations, but he is faithful to lns convictions and casts his vote for the 1. aillo. By that decisión the dostinies of the world were changed. Had the Greeks not fought, they coiild never have conquered, but they did Bglit and thcy did conquer. Had the Persians ovérwhekned them Greece would have becomë a Persian rmtion and the despotism and paganism of the Oriënt would still have brooded over the fairest countiies of Europe. It was a sniall thiug, that vote of Caílimachus, but it shook the world. But some raay say, of what practical significance is this io us. We may niever cast a vote that tips the balance of a nation's destiny. True, but Lowell has Í5U1U " Once to cvery man and natioo ( omes the moment to decide In the stiife of truth with íalsehood, Forthe good or ovil side.'1 Were not the greatest men of the timos faithful to the little thiugs? ÍIow didthe blind poet Millón write liis masterpiéce? How did Beethoven compose those symphoniea which will carry lis name to iinmortality ? How did Edison achiève his wonders in the elëctrical? Do you think tliey let the small things go by and were faithful only to the great? -:: Ilut ií nothing can le accomplished without being faithful to the sniall things, what can be done iL ve follow our motto? Everything! I repeat, everjthing - success, honor, fame glory and prosperity. True, we cannot all become Milions or Beethovens, Edisons, Napoleons or Garflelds, but " I.ives of great men all remind us We can makeoiir lives sublime And, departing leavebehind us FootDrints on thesands of time." "All Aboard" was the subject oL the class essay by Miss Florence K. Wetmore, which followed Mr. Clark's oration. After portraying the varied emotionsof- the passengers that hear the signal for the starting of a train, she said that the course of earthly existence is not unlike a great railroad s}stem, over which are thundering the mighty forces, passions and iufluences of life, the great loconiotives that propel the treasure-ladeu trains of opportunity, inclination and necessity, bearing on their rushing way the toilersand triflers of the ïvorld. She referred to the great variety of trains of business, fashion, religión, politics and literature, and dwelt specially on those of fashion, literature and patriotism. She referred to the iieed of carefulness, lest one take a wrong train, and expressed the hope that her classmates, whatever might Le their particular expcrience of luxury or discomfort, would all arrive at the tination of the full completion of a usetul lifc. Following the class history by Oluf G. Peterspn eame the clasa poem,by Lilian A. Keátiug. she read it very nicely, as followa : Ninety-Five.the spell is broken. And the hotir Iuih corae at last, When the ever widening Future Mínales with the Deathless Pitst! Four short years oflife are over, And the signal comes to part, But the chain can ne'er be broken, ' That nnites us heart to heart. Let ns turn, fellow-clns-inates. E'er lor ever we depart, To the wal Is that now resin us, And with loving, loyal heart I'raise and pay a lasting tribute For the merry, peaceful days, To this high school we are leaving, In regret for newer ways. To the past we leave its letters, stand among tlieir uroken end, But the links are forged eternal, That unite the hearts of f rienda. Now the past ishistory ended, May the years that swiftly run Blossom with the smiles of fortune, 'Neith Time' ever changing sun. When oíd age our locks has whitened, And our early friends are gone, Wlien youth's golden beams have vanisbed, WitU the glory of life's dawn, And the shadow land of story Fades no longer to revive, Years shall add but greater glory To thy Record, Ninety-Five. Af ter the class poem by Miss Keating, the Chequamegons played a selection and then Miss Lisia Van burg read the class prophecy. It was greatly appreciated, the class laughing at and applauding the numerous, bright personal hits. It vas in part as follows : Thefate of the class of '95 Is in my hands, I am told; If this were true. I am very sure That none of the bards of old Sang of achievementsand bonors 30 great For the Celtio princes irave, As I would covet for everyone From this moment to the grave. No one would lack health, or wealth, or friends, The best this woriü can aiioru; The pathway ol' life should all be smooth , lts hours should all be stored Willi usefulness, happiness, joy and peaee, Wlth blessings so rich and sweet, That the briars and thorns would all be removed, From the tread of your busy feet. You should live a thousand years, if you ed, With those thnt you love best, With never a wrlnkle or gray hair, Or shadow of uuvest. Knowledge and wisd mi woald so combine In your Uves to bless the age, That the fame of the c-lass of '95 Should be told on historj's page. But I made a purchase the other day, Of something sust range ana new , So scientific and wonderful, That I must teil it to you. A travelling agent came to the door . And seutsacti a peal through llie air, That I went in haste to answer the bell Expecting a message boy there. A little oíd man wlth a tall bell hat, Aud a cnrlous squeaky tone, Bcgaii in a parrot like way to teil Of iuventions f Edison. I was out of patience until I heard, "A prophetic phonograph, T-efluest chance you'll ever have ïo kuow tlie future, by half." The prophetess bought the prophetic phonograph and it told the fature of the class in a happy marnier. lts story of the future was so burdened witb. good things, that it grew tired and stopped. No wonder tlie phonograph was tired, And proveí! itself unequal, To a task whlcta staggers human tongues; Though I regret the sequel.j But I'ni glad I bought the little maobine So wonderful and nev, And its words of prophecy for oor class, 1 think will all come true. Most of your fortunes are noble and good, Jast wliat I would ohoose tnem to be; And' ['m sure tliat He ivho holds ia His ha: ■ Of the great unknown, the key, Will unlock the door of saccess to us, li our work we bravely do, And out lives will le pure and beautiful Whlle the riylu path we ptirsue. The class history was giyeu by Oluf G. Pttaria. In a happy marnier he recouuted the various acliievemeuts of '95 to the delight of the class. His production was well written and well delivered and the historian sat down amid great appiause. Following the class prophecy, the clasa president, C. Frederick Gauss, gave bis address. It was in part a follows : Friexds axd ClabsmateS : I knowof nothing in this world more solenm and impressive thau farewells. The features and habits of companions may be forgottenand the faces of friends may grow dim in the meuiory with the lajjse of years, but the last words of those who are near and dear to us we can never iorget. There is much to inspire and encourage us. We have been provided with the foundations of au cducation, which is tlie richest gift God bestows upon man. We live in the greatest age of the grandest natiou the world has yet seen. Thisis-aprecious privelege; for as the greatest evil which cai befall the most wretched is to be without a country, so it is the greatest blessing to be a citizen of that grandest country, America. Friends are watching us and liopefully expecting that we will doour best, and in a few short yeara the eye of this ceutury will close forever upon the most wonderíul age in the history of man. The moment draws near wlien we must part. These halls that have so benignantly smüed upon our progresa and so ofte'n echoed to our footsteps, must soon be silent. In a few short months they will be thronged with new iaci's. eager'to taste the first fruits of knowledge ; but we shall no longer he lieve. These years of companionsliip lunst noiv be broken, and Time, who seviis all earthly tiea, will silenlly spfead lus sbadowy mantle over the clíWs 01 9o. Bnt yet it shall live! It must ever live in the memory of us all. And if, oneday, our fondly cherished hopes fail, and the future seenis to be cheating us irom afar, inspiration will ariae from the memory of all these warm and happy friendships, stroug enougli to earry us through. the darkest days that may ïoiiow. Our first task is done. Our early school career is almost ended. It may woll be likened to a cup. Once it was fllled with the nectar of knowledge; it has now been drained and brokenj today it reinains for us to dash it to pieces by" taking our farewells. Alter the class poem, the class song was sung by the class to the tuue of "Márching through Georgia." aThe worda were written by Helen M. St. John and were as follows : Clasamates, uow our course is flnisliecl, Our task was hard and long; Let our voices novv be blended In triumphant song. Sing the song with spirit, let it Ring out loud and streng, Praising the elass of Ninety-five. CHORUS. Hurrah! Hurrah! Of Ninety-flve we ging. Horran ! Hurrah ! Now let her praises ring; Let jortn ana ttoutn auu jiasi uuu y est AU homage to ber bring, For Ninety-five is victorious. Bravely have we fought the flght. As standing side by side O'er Difficulty and Despair, With Wisdom's star to guide, Faithful is the smallest, in our motto we [abide. Hurrah ! For our olass is victorious. We look beyond and see afar A land all shining bright; The Future lies before us, And in joyful, happy light, Andas we gaze our doubts and fearg All vallista f rom our sight; Ninety-five wil 1 ever be vietorious.