Ilion High School - Class of 1905

Ilion Citizen - June 27, 1905

COMMENCEMENT, 1905

Article 3

COMMENCEMENT, 1905

COMMENCEMENT TIME IS WITH US ONCE AGAIN

The Ilion High School Graduates
Twenty-two Bright Young Men and Women
The Commencement Exercises in Detail Class of Sixteen.

June never smiled on a fairer season or a finer class of graduates from the Ilion High School than in this beautiful year of 1905. Twenty-two of our choicest young men and women finished the courses prescribed by the Board of Education and received diplomas therefore; and while on one occasion the class has numbered twenty-six, it is to the honor of '05 that they graduate with the highest standings ever won by any class in the Ilion High School; this suggests two reflections; first, it is as it should be; second, it is greatly to their credit. The competent administration of the Board of Education and the superior instruction of the faculty is having its designed effect.

The Baccalaureate Sermon.

Sunday evening, June 18 the baccalaureate sermon was preached in St. Augustine's church by Rev. Wm. M. Cook; the text was I John 5-3; "This is the love of God that ye keep His commandments; and His commandment are not grievous." The class attended in a body; the church was packed with attentive worshipers; and the discourse was most appropriate to the occasion.

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.

Tuesday evening, commencement evening, was the time of times. The opera house was packed with anxious and proud relatives of the graduates and with their admiring friends. As the evening progressed the fine record and splendid work of the class became evident, anxiety disappeared and well merited congratulation was generously bestowed. Wilcox's orchestra again catered to the musical tastes of the audience; prayer was offered by Rev. S. J. Greenfield; and the High School Chorus, under the most competent leadership of Miss Schaeffer, sang with fine effect the Soldier's Chorus from Faust. The first of the orations was then given.

Edna Brand

Miss Brand caught the audience at once with her clear voice, deliberate manner and distinct enunciation; she was distinctly heard in the remotest parts of the house; her them was "Chivalry in Ivanhoe and the Vision of Sir Launfal," and her treatment of it was highly praiseworthy.

Charles D. Jarvis

Mr. Jarvis in his oration on "Good Citizenship" added materially to his already recognized ability as a public speaker; in the face of some disadvantages Mr. Jarvis has won upon his merits, his delivery was forceful and spirited and deserved the favor it received.

M. Anna Bennett

The selection of "The Culinary Art" by Miss Bennett was a revelation of the wide field which lies outside the threadbare line of ordinary theme choosing; she argued for attention to the culinary art on grounds of health, comfort, economy and home happiness and made her homely subject decidedly interesting.

Leon T. King

An interesting subject and an interesting speaker were most fortunately united in Mr. King's able treatment of "The Future of Electricity"; careful preparation in the marshaling of facts was evident; the audience was taken through the realm of modern witchcraft and were again impressed with the wide practicability of electricity in transportation, in mechanics, in chemistry, in medicine and in every department of life.

Edna Malloy

Miss Malloy captivated her audience by the easy confidence with which she championed "The Influence of the English Speaking People" and carried her hearers to a climax in which these people filled and controlled the whole world; the effectiveness of her work was attested by the fact that her predictions were made to seem reasonable.

Rome D. Worden

Mr. Worden also struck a popular chord in "The Hand of Destiny in the Philippines." He held that the conquest of the Philippines was neither thought of by the Filipinos nor the Americans; it was brought about by the guns f Dewey and the Star of Destiny; he ably trace the beneficial effects to the Philippines, the reflex benefits to the United States, and the advantages to the world. It was well written and well received.

Antoinette Bergersrud

Miss Bergersrud deserved the hearty congratulations she received for her splendid treatment of "The Part the Negro Woman Plays in the Negro Problem"; her fine voice hearty presence, effective delivery and rhetorical skill were noticeable.

Ona K. Ringwood

Lovers of Dickens must have been highly pleased by the appreciative treatment given "Dickens as a Reformer" by Miss Ringwood; his direct and effective influence upon the notorious conditions in English schools, prisons, alm houses and courts was well noted; Miss Ringwood's was the last of the series of exceedingly good orations.

Honors Awarded

The award of honors were eagerly awaited. To Charles D. Jarvis was presented a handsome and rich solid gold enamel badge pin by the Department of Patriotic Instruction of the National Woman's Relive Corps, for the excellence of his oration on a subject submitted by the Department; this competition is open to all members of graduation classes; the presentation in the absence of Mrs. Kate E. Jones, National Patriotic Instructor, was made by R. E. King.

Dr. A. B. Poland, formerly principal of the Ilion High School, presented to the class of 1905, the Stone Scholarship Cup, which for nine years has been held by the class of 1896 by reason of the largest average number of regent's counts, 60; 1905 has an average of 66; hereafter the cup will be awarded on the per cent of scholarship secured on the entire courses of study.

Prof. Abrams awarded the honor of valedictorian to Miss Ona K. Ringwood, who made the magnificent record of an average of 94.5 per cent on her entire course; and to Leon T. King the honor of salutatorian for the splendid average of 89.7 per cent.

Ilion has a just right to feel proud of its schools; the Board of Education, the Faculty, the Class of 1905, have done us splendid service. All honor to them.

The benediction was pronounced by Rev. J. V. Quinn, and the audience hastened to congratulate the successful class.