High School Graduation 1910

ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin

High School Commencement

1910

Watertown Gazette, 06 24 1910

High School Commencement a Success

A packed house braved the intense heat of Wednesday evening to attend the annual commencement exercises of the Watertown High School, which were held in Turner Opera House, and while it was very uncomfortable the large audience was attentive throughout the long program. The members of the graduating class, numbering thirty eight, the members of the Board of Education, Mayor H. G. Grube, Supt. W. P. Roseman, and the speaker, Dr. John Merritte Driver of Chicago, occupied seats on the stage, which had been very neatly decorated for the occasion by the members of the Junior class.

The boys of the class wore the conventional black or blue suit, while the girls departed from the usual custom this year by wearing white shirt waists with small black ties and many were the words of praise and compliments from the audience for the democratic spirit which is beginning to mark events of this kind throughout the state.

Each number on the program was received with applause and the manner in which each student speaker acquitted herself was deserving of a great deal of credit. The valedictory was given by Della Wilkowski whose average standing in the four years of high school work ranked highest. Her talk was listened to attentively and it showed deep thought in preparation. The salutatory was given by Florence Foley. The beautiful sentiments so well expressed by Miss Foley, found a responsive chord in the heart of every one present. Her delivery was faultless, and she was enthusiastically applauded. The presentation by Esther Humphrey, like the two previous speakers, was admirably well rendered. The present of the class consisted of a beautiful frieze depicting the Spirit of the Revolution, which will be placed in the assembly room of the High School as a memorial of the class of 1910.

Mrs. C. R. Feld, who is always a favorite with a Watertown audience, rendered a vocal solo in her usual pleasing manner and responded to an enthusiastic encore, after which Dr. John Merritte Driver, former pastor of the People's Pulpit, Chicago, and at the present time an educational lecturer of international reputation, was introduced by Supt. W. P. Roseman and talked upon the subject "Young America and His Mission,” for more than an hour in a very interesting and entertaining manner. Following Dr. Driver's address the Girl's Glee Club of the High School rendered a vocal number in a very creditable manner, after which Hon. Wm. F. Voss addressed the class in a few words and distributed the diplomas. The program was closed by Wheeler's orchestra which furnished music throughout the evening.

The program was as follows:

PROGRAM

Overture - American Home Song

Wheeler's Concert Orchestra

Salutatory

Florence Foley

Valedictory

Della Wilkowski

Presentation

Esther Humphrey

Music - Selected

Mrs. C. R. Feld

Address Young America and His Mission

Dr. John Merritte Driver, Chicago, III.

Music - Revel of the Leaves

Girls High School Glee Club

Presentation of Diplomas

Hon. Wm. F. Voss

Music - Selected

Wheeler's Concert Orchestra

GRADUATES:

Modern Classical Course—Clement H. Brennecke, Alma Cohen, Florence Foley, Henry Goecke, Esther Humphrey, Erwin L. Henning, Henry W. Krause, Helen C. Koehler, Joseph E. Moriarty, Helen A. Schatz, Mabel E. Triplett.

Commercial Course—Alvin Guetzlaff, Ernst A. Jaeger, Clara E. Laffey, Meta Radtke, William E. Rabenhorst, August W. Schnenke, Max W. Terwedo.

General Science Course—Helen S. Adsit, Arthur A. Bublitz, Margaret M. Evans, Lillian A. Hartwig, Milton J. Heisman, Charles R. King, Elsie E. Krueger, Eneida A. Lange, Martha B. Maas, Arthur Remmel, Clarence T. Schmidt, Evora Shakshesky, Elenora Rosella Schaefer, Olive E. Thauer, Earl D. Voldersen, Delia E. Wilkowski, Emiline A. Zickert.

English Course—Charles S. Stapleton, John E. Salick, Catherine E. Williams.

Seldom has it been the privilege of a Watertown audience to listen to so scholarly an address as that given by the speaker of the evening, Dr. Driver, of Chicago. Having had wide experience in his chosen vocations, those of pastor of the People's Pulpit in the city of Chicago and later of lecturer, in which capacity he has spoken in every state and territory in the United States and many of the larger cities abroad, he has had great opportunity to study his subject deeply, and that he has profited by his experience, goes without saying.

His earlier preparation was secured in the United States and the great centers of learning in European countries, and it is this thorough understanding, coupled with a magnificent command of the English language, together with rare ability in oratory, that makes Dr. Driver's services demanded in every state in the union. After tracing the descent of the "Young American" in his opening remarks and comparing him rather unfavorably with the great artists, sculptors, scientists, musicians, etc., of the old world who excelled in their respective vocations just for the sake of the vocation, he launched into eulogy of the "Young American" that has scarcely been equaled by word of month or in print. He proclaimed the mission of the American to be that of the law giver, the government organizer, and last and most important of all, the ideal man and woman. He produced evidence of the latter movement by reciting the democratic customs and movements in this country and he predicted even more of these as society advanced. The great spirit of charity so prominent in American institutions he took as one of the greatest evidences. After speaking for more than an hour he closed his address with a few imposing remarks to the graduating class. We are sorry that we cannot publish even a synopsis of his able address, but space and time forbids it.