Iowa Old Press
Alton Democrat, May 17, 1902
The Alton high school class of 1902 will hold its graduating exercises at
the opera house next Thursday evening. The members of the class are
Joseph Lieb, Jessie Campbell, Clara Pitts, Henry Scholten and Jennie
Rensink. The class colors are the blue and the gray and the program as will
be noticed is a patriotic one. It was intended to have the exercises on
Memorial day evening but they were held earlier on account of the circus to
be here on the thirtieth.
The program follows:
National Airs-Alton Military Band
Invocation.
Chorus ----"Soldiers Chorus"----- Faust-Gounod.
Salutatory ----"The New South"---—Joseph Lieb
Children's Chorus----" The Little Dustman" -----Brahms
"Memorial Day"—Jennie Rensink
Concert Recitation---- "The Blue and the Grey"
"The Nations Banner" —Jessie Campbell
Recitation----"Music on the Rappahannock"----Clara Keiler
"McKinley—A Second Lincoln"—Henry Scholten.
Girls’s Chorus----"The Torrent"—Marchant.
"Songs of Our Nation" Valedictory—Clara Pitts.
Introduction of Class—Supt. J. E. Verts.
Presentation of diplomas—Pres. John Gleysteen.
Sextette sang several songs.
"Home Sweet Home"—Alton Military Band.
Alton Democrat, May 31, 1902
The Alton high school graduation occurred Thursday evening. The class of
1902 consisted of three girls and two boys. They were the Misses
Jennie Rensink, Jessie Campbell, Clara Pitts and Messrs, Joseph Lieb and
Henry Scholten. The affair occurred at the opera house and drew a crowd of
500 people. This was about a hundred or so more than the hall will
accomodate and those who didn't leave on finding the hall crowded either
pushed into the seats to the discomfort of themselves and everyone else or
stood up and obstructed the view of those sitting. There were many there who
cared not a sou for the school or its graduates or their orations. They made
no attempt to comprehend the program and some of them even talked and
laughed during prayer. They were there merely because the affair was free.
A dog fight would have suited them just as well had it been free. If a small
admission fee had been charged —even ten cents—they would have been too
cheap to attend it. They were there for the same reason that a moth butts
its head against a lamp chimney—merely attracted by the glare and glitter.
When the school board gets to charging a few cents admission and shuts out
those who go merely to see the decorations and annoy others by crowding or
incessant talking it will deserve a reward of merit.