News: Neillsville (13 JUN 1901)
Poster: Stan
Email: posted4u@charter.net

Surnames: Ingham, Sturdevant, Balch, Jahr, Ketchum, Klopf, Schoengarth, Weeks, Bailey, Wheelock, Wilson, Longenecker, McMillan

---------Source: NEILLSVILLE TIMES (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 06/13/1901

Opera Hall was packed Thursday evening with a large crowd interested in the annual commencement exercises of the Neillsville High School. The hall was tastefully decorated with flowers, the motto “More to Glean” hung conspicuously over the stage. The program published in the Times last week was carried out, except that Rev. A.V. Ingham presented the diplomas in place of L.M. Sturdevant, president of the school board, who was unable to attend.

The class of 1901 were: Leland R. Balch, Marvin E. Jahr, Minna Ketchum, Clarence J. Klopf, Edward H. Schoengarth, Fred T. Weeks.

After the overture by the Whitcomb band a ladies quartet, Mrs. Wheelock, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Sturdevant and Miss Wilson sang “The Last Rose of Summer,” Rev. G.W. Longenecker offered a prayer, Miss Cassie McMillan gave a piano selection, and Marvin E. Jahr delivered the salutatory, “The Power of Truth,” a strong oration, bright with gems of thought, and pronounced with force and great excellence as to enunciation and inflection, showing oratorical ability of a high order. The first half of the program closed with a chorus by school children.

Eugene Field’s “Conversazziony” was recited by Miss Ketchum, the only young lady in the class of six, and her effort was highly appreciated by the audience and creditable to herself.

The high school glee club followed with a selection, after which Fred T. Weeks delivered the class valedictory, entitle “Value of an Education.” Like Mr. Jahr, Mrs. Weeks pleased his hearers with a strength of thought and forceful delivery that made a deep impression.

Prof. H.A. Adrians of River Falls Normal was then introduced and spoke on the topic “Habit,” and was so pointed, eloquent and witty that he fairly carried the audience into the air, Neillsville was fortunate to here so brainy an educator.

“Water Lilies” by the ladies’ quartet, was, like the first piece rendered by them, faultlessly sung, the diplomas presented with appropriate remarks by Rev. Ingham, another chorus by children, and an overture by the orchestra, closed a well balanced entertainment, of which all fell justly proud.