School: Colby High School (Graduation – 1910)
Poster: Marla Zwakman
Email: dzwakman@msn.com

Surnames: Pinney, Kurtz, Shafer, Beyerl, Hansohn, Engeldinger, Reyer, Salter, Meritt, Harry, Lulloff, Kautsky, Neumeister, Walthers, Prescott, Slinde, Blanchard

Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 06/09/1910

Large Class Graduate Class of Thirteen Young People Receives Diplomas. Large Crowd Attends Exercises.

The twenty-second annual commencement of the Colby High school, which was held at the Colby Opera House, on Thursday evening, June 2nd, was one of the brilliant successes of this day and generation, and there was no lack of audience to witness the workmanship wrought out by these years of earnest endeavor and skillful drill. The new opera house was filled to overflowing and while the seating capacity is large the space was all taken up and even standing room was at a premium. We look not upon this vast gathering that “a free show draws the crowd” but that the people of Colby and the surrounding towns feel that they have an interest in the public schools, and this was a fair manifestation of it. As they looked upon this ending of well applied and judiciously directed efforts they must certainly concede that the liberal support they have given has not been lavished in vain, or trusted to hands that have misapplied it; and while it does take means to maintain our school system, it is means well applied, and repays in benefits fourfold any community and our country in general. The youth of today must make and administer the laws of the future and it is the boundless duty of the “powers that be” to prepare them for the task.

A class of thirteen consisting of Ethel May Pinney, Ethel Marie Kurtz, Florence Ella Shafer, Elsa Katherine Beyerl, August C. Hansohn, John G. Engeldinger, Hugo Reyer, John S. Salter, Lee H. Meritt, Louis W. Harry, Elvin H. Lulloff, Emil John Kautsky and Herman Neumeister were graduated. The stage was tastefully decorated and the class motto “Mehr Licht” was suspended just above the stage opening. The exercises opened with the “Song of the Vikings” by the School Chorus, who were arranged on succeeding steps and presented a very pleasing spectacle and under the direction of Vice Principal Walthers gave a very creditable rendition of the song. The Invocation was given by Rev. R. Prescott. The Salutatory was delivered by Hugo Reyer who did both *** Note: Part of the article was cut off and was not available at the time of transcription

*** diplomas was made in behalf of the school board by Principal Imelia J. Slinde, who in a few words gave the class some very good advice. The song “Farewell Classmates” was the next number on the program and was well rendered.

The commencement address which was one of the principal features of the evening was delivered by Geo. W. Blanchard. He chose for his subject “Man’s Adjustment” which was very appropriate for this occasion. The manner in which it was ? showed the result of deep thought and the delivery demonstrated that George is an orator in every sense of the word.

The high school octet sang “Pale in the Amber West” and after the benediction by Rev. R. Prescott an impromptu reception was held and the friends of the class pressed forward to extend their congratulations.