The Davis City Advance, Davis City, Iowa
Thursday, April 30, l896

'STUDENTS GRADUATE'

The first annual commencement exercises of the Davis City Schools was held at the Union Church last Thursday night. It was a decided success in every respect. The audience was large, and we feel perfectly safe in saying that no one went away disappointed. Our schools are dear to the hearts of our citizens, and well they may be, for they would be an honor to a town of much larger proportions. For this eventful occasion, when the first class of graduates were to receive their diplomas, much ability was shown in the selection and arrangement of the decorations for the building, which was handsomely decorated in the class colors -- green and white, with a profusion of house plants and blooming flowers here and there.

At eight o'clock the exercises began, the overture being played by Dr. Fred W. Horton. Rev. G.E. Mitchell followed this with a very appropriate invocation to Almighty God in which he poured forth the sentiments of every citizen present, in his thanks for America's free school system. E.E. Horner then favored the audience with a vocal solo, entitled, "Down in the Ocean Deep," which was well rendered, and heartily enjoyed by all lovers of good vocal music.

The first of the class orations was given by Miss Anna Shirley. The subject selected by her was

"DEEDS, NOT DREAMS"

She handled her subject well, clearly setting forth the fact that dreamers and thinkers are two distinct and different classes of people, and bringing out the undeniable truth that with either class, that all-important factor of doing "deeds" must be added in order to make their lives a success, no matter what may be their avocation or chosen profession.

The next oration was that of Lewis Horner, who had chosen the subject of

"WHAT WILL THE WORLD SAY?"

He handled his subject with much ease, showing that he is a deep student, and one who has stored his young mind with useful knowledge. He clearly set forth the idea that, no matter what one's convictions may be, he should follow out the dictations of his own mind, regardless of the minds of his or her associates, so long as they do not conflict with the laws of the country in which they live. Mr. Horner possesses marked ability as an orator, and should he copy after the thoughts brought out in his oration, carrying them into his daily life, he will undoubtedly reach a higher plane than that of the average man.

This oration was followed by a vocal duet, by Misses Mabel Horner and Maude Bowman, which was one of the crowning features of the evening's program.

This was followed by Miss Grace Horner's oration, entitled,

"SAILING OR DRIFTING"

Miss Horner handled her subject in a very acceptable manner, comparing the human being to a passenger steamer on the great ocean, and dwelling especially on the fact that it is just as essential that every person have some definate object in view, and steer direct for it, as it is for an ocean steamer to have a pilot or a rudder. As every vessel on the ocean is either sailing proudly on, to some definite port, or aimlessly drifting on to destruction, so it is so of every man, woman and child on the voyage of life. We are either "Sailing or Drifting."

The next on the program was an instrumental duet, by Misses Nellie Davis and Lena Cummings, which was well rendered and showed their skill at the piano.

Miss Maude Topliff followed with her oration, having chosen for her subject,

"WOMAN AS A FACTOR"

This oration was a vigorous appeal for the rights of women. She did not wish to condemn man of course, but simply desired to convince the audience that with equal chances, "Woman as a Factor," is man's superior. She referred to the fact that it was man who was instrumental in the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and also that Christ appeared first to women after the resurrection. She set forth the power of woman in questions of reform, but one of the leading thoughts she presented, and one which we think will receive the hearty approval of every true-hearted woman, was her disdain for the "new woman" of today. She evidently voiced the sentiments of the audience when she conveyed the idea that she had no use for her.

This oration was followed by a vocal solo by Miss Maude Bowman, entitled, "Zereta," which proved her wonderful ability as a singer, and brought forth applause from the entire audience.

Miss Pearl Norman gave the last of the class orations, having selected as her subject,

"VOYAGE OF LIFE"

She did ample justice to her subject, presenting the truth that this life is what we make it, and that we should each one strive to live higher, nobler lives. In her remarks to her class-mates, she dwelt on the importance of a full use of the knowledge they have already acquired, and the necessity of a constant effort to gain more. Nothing can bring more real genuine happiness than the knowledge of having lived a pure and noble life.

This was followed by an instrumental solo by Miss Nellie Davis, after which Prof. J.M. Howell made a few fitting remarks to the class in behalf of all the teachers. He pointed out to them very clearly the substance of the class motto: "Something Yet to be Gleaned."

S. Radnich, President of the School Board, then presented the class with their diplomas, and made a few remarks in regard to the progress of the Davis City Schools, from the time the district was first organized, almost forty years ago, down to the present date. He said it had taken a long time to get the first graduates ready, but our readers will remember that the schools were not graded until November, l893.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
September 15, 2003