Seventy Sheepskins

High School Hall was comfortably fllled, Fridav morr-ing, by those who had come to witness the commencement exercises of '91. On the platform sat several members of the high school faculty, a number of ministers, the board of education and the speakers of the day. After a musical selection by the Chequamegon orchestra, prayer was offered by Rev. K. H. Rust, of the Methodist church. The eleven orations and essays which were given covered a variety of subjects in pleasing and convincing style. The first of these was by Miss Jessie O. Barber, of Kent, Ohio, who discussed "a current question," namely religious liberty. Liberty, she urged, is not alone absence of physical restraint. It applies also to the power of thought - in short concerns man's personality itself. Religious liberty was, for the first time in the history of the world, guaranteed in the constitution of the United States. By liberty is meant not only the right to be religious but also the right not to be. Forces are at work now which are likely to injure or destroy this right. The enforcement of Sunday laws seems a noble purpose, but to the Jew, Qabbatarian or infidel it seems like tyranny. Many think the constitution ought to be changed with the name of Christ at the head. What sacrilege to make Christ the head of a nation where so much crime and oppression are found! The speaker thought that all such questions as the opening of the Columbian exposition on Sunday, the Bible in the public schools, the exemption of church property, appointment of chaptains in the army, and others, ought to be carefully considered. In conclusión, she protested against all religious legislation. Let it be said that in this century the first attempt to deprive American citizens of God-given rights utterly failed. "THE FUTURE OF AMERICA," was treated by Charles H. Duncan, of this city. At first glance, said he, everything looks bright for this country. There is no example in history of a republic like ours. All others originated from royal concessions; ours was born of the people. Grave evils menace its future, such as the slight interest of the people in politics, foreign immigration, the saloon, the oppression of the laboring classes and corruption in public places. The government is of the people and for the people but administered largely by the almighty dollar. The speaker took a rather pessimistic view of present conditions. Some time in the twentieth century, he thought, this republic must round the dangerous promontory which no nation before it has rounded with safety. But we are to remember that no nation before had Buch a ship. This government is what the people make it; it is for them to determine whwther it shall stand or feil. Mr. Duncan's delivery was forcible but too monotonous. The thought of the paper was good but showed too clearly the influence of a certain gloomy literature which is quite too popular iu this day. "my album pictürks" was the title of a pretty essay by Miss Jessie E. Midgeley, oï this city. In imagination she opens the family album and the photographs of her father, mother, brothers, sisters and other relatiyes suggest to her a number of mental pictures which she describes in easy and graphic English. TLe picture of the old country home and its surroundings was particularly good. The paper is entitled to much praise for its originality. "OUR TREATMENT OF THE FOREIQNER," by Harry L. Griswold, of WhitehaH.Ill., was a plea for the restriction of immigration. In the past, said he, this government welcomed all Europeans who chose to come. Why? Chiefly becaus immigration was necessary to the development of the country. This necessity no longer exista. Another pojicy should now be adopted. The foreigner no longer comes to develop the country but to scrape up what money he can, join the anarchistu, run a saloon or get office. Statistics show that only ten per cent. of immigrants go into agriculture. Many go into manufacturing and it is from them that strikes origínate. They work for little or nothing and thus decrease wages, and they constitute a turbulent element in the large cities. Desirable immigration is decreasing, while the undesirable is constantly growing larger. If this nation is to preserve itself it must no longer tolérate these inroads. A certain hesitancy on the part of the speaker marred his delivery. The thought was good but many of the statements too extreme. "americanisms," by Emily J. Purfield, of Ann Arbor, dwelt with the idiosyncrasies of speech which are heard in the different parts of the country. These might be expected from the fact that this land was settled by divers nationalities. Such colloquialisms as the "I guess," "skedaddle," "is it possible?" of the Yankees; the "reckon," "toted," "of no account," of the south, which show negro influence; the forcible "tenderfoot," "pull up stakes," bee line," "blizzard" of the westerners; besides many words in general use, which originated among the Indiana, were explained by the essayist in a graphic and interesting manner. In conclusión, she uttered a protest against the growing ose of slang by speakers and newspapers. I "THE STRÜOOLES OP LIBERTY," although a commonplace subject, was well treated by James S. Handy, of this city. He traced the history of this country from 1620 to the present time, referring, as migbt have been expected, to the revolution and the rebellion. After all these Btruggles, said he, we cali ourselves free. But are we ? Listen to the cry of the negro, who in certain states is compelled to vote contrary to hisconvictions. The solid south has not learned that the black man is to be educated not by shot guns but by schools. Another complaint comes from the laboring men, who are ground down by the iron heel of monopoly. Mentally, physically and politically they are slaves. In many places they are driven to the polls like sheep. Is this consistent with our boasted freedom? A brilliant past gives hope that the grand old American flag may float some day over a nation free and united in every sense of the word. "the people we meet." These Miss Lurene Seymour, of St. Louis, Mo., characterized in pleasing fashion. At the outset she remarked that biography was the most pleasing part of history. General truth is monotonous but stories about individuáis afford pleasing variety. The people we meet furnish good material for study. The sight of a new face, or an original thought, gives pleasure and leads to meditation. The man who despises punsters, the man who invariably asks, "Have you read the latest novel?" the poet, the mathematician, the metaphysician, the absent-minded man, the frivolous person, the serious person, were all discussedby tbe essayist with happy illustrations. "beginninqs," an oration by J. Sterling St. John, evinced a philosophic turn of mind on the part of the speaker. He maintained that the beginning of everything has, in germ, the end also. The creation of the universe was the first and best beginning. Everfwhere is great regularity. If there were no fized principies in the uni?erse it would be impossible for men to study it. Mr. St. John compared the Virginia and Massachusetts settlements in this country. The one was a failure; the other succeeded because it was grounded on deep and sound principies. It is sometimes said that it is good for a boy to sow his wild oats, but wild oats never bf-come wheat. Such boys fill our prisons and die drunkards' deaths. Life cannot be successful unless sound business principies are followed. Enthusiasm also is necessary. A clear conception of the plan must precede the execution of any work. In conclusión, the speaker addressed some words of advice to his classmates. "the man in the hoos" was the somewhat fanciful subject of a somewhat fanciful essay by Miss Florence E. Smith, of this city. With pleasing fallacies she proved that a man in the moon actually does exist. She hoped and believed that science would devise some method of communicating with him. How many vexed questions he might settle, süch as "who was Cain's wife," and the like. The essayist scoffed at the old idea that the man in the moon was an ignoramus or a lunatic. "EARTH'S BATTLEFIELDS" was the subject of a thoughtful paper by Miss Nettie Treadwell, of Ann Arbor town. She described a decisivo battle as one which changes the whole course of history. Like the battles of history are the battles of the heart. Through them strong and manly characters are built up. These battles are often fought in the hearts of young children. They seem hard but they are necessary to success. There are higher prizes yet than mere earthly success. The gate of heaven is open to all who will enter in. The essay contained a number of cogent illustrations. "a pao e in history," by Vanee P. Wilkins, of New Orleans, was the last paper on the program. He told about the uprising of slaves in Hayti in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Napoleon was called upon by the terror-stricken planters. He responded, with the evident design of taking possession of the island. What happened? In three months his soldiers were driven out of thecountry by the despised blacks. Had Napoleon succeeded, French possession of Hayti would have been a menace to the young American republic. The speaker is entitled to much credit for havingopened up an entirely unknown page of history. The effect of the paper was considerably marred by poor enunciation. THE FINALE. At this point Superintendent Perry distributed seventy-one diplomas; seven to classical, eighteen to Latin, seventeen to English, fourteen to scientific, eix to engineering and nine to commercial students. The exercises closed with the benediction by Rev. J. M. Gelston, and the large audience filed out, leaving the happy graduates to gather up the many floral tributes which friends had sent them. ALUMNI BANQUET. A large number of alumni and friends of the high school attended the banquet Friday night. Prof. J. C. Knowlton was toastmaster, and thefollowingresponses were made: "Alumni of the High School," A. W. Hamilton; "Class of '91, Our Youngest," James S. Handy; "The Teacher and the Scholar," Miss Sarah Whedon; "Our Literary Societies;" A. C. Gormley; "Our Bygone Days," James R. Angelí; "Our Girls," J. V. Sheehan. The program concluded with dancing.