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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 13, 1907)
'Ilattemoutb Journal, VOLUME XXVrIl lLATTSMOUTII, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JUNE K5 1007. good BYE Tl am Thirty-two Young- Men and Women Constitute Graduating Class. L B. WICKERSHAM PLEASES THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE Notwithstanding the Incessent Down Pour the Parmele Theater was Fairly well Filled with Prople. Program Invocation Rev. A. L. Zink Piano Solo Selected E. II. Wescott Salutatory "A Ileal Question" Crete Briggs Valedictory. "A Constitutional Study" Alice Brinkman Vocal Solo Selected Mrs. Mac S. Morgan Address L. II. Wickersham Vocal Solo Selected Mrs. J. W. Gamble Presentation of Diplomas E. L. Rouse. Names of Graduates Paul C. Morgan Nellie Brinkman El'hMockenhaupt Helen Spies Florence White Clara Teipel Clyde Brooks Mabel Leesley Kirk Bates Gladys Sullivan Emma Jones Edwin Fncke M. Tattle Metzger Cbarles Mapes C. Kirschenblatt Ernst Horn Alice Brinkman Crete Briggs Kathryn Windham Emma Bauer Blanche Robertson Elmer Root C'tine Soennichsen Fred Jess Florence McElroy Agatha Jones Elizabeth Falter Beula Miner Bernice Baker Daisy Thomas Sophia Sattler M. Pearl Barker With the fountains of the deep orcken up, the rain coming down in torrents, and our streets like rushing mountain streams, and the elements looking like more to follow, the com mencement exercises were held Thurs day evening at the Farmele theatre to a well filled house of enthusiastic peo ple whose apparel was damp, but whose spirits were gay. Somefewmin uteshad elapsed over the appointed time when the curtain arose, reveal ing seated upon a raised circular plat form, a galaxy of thirty-two tomor rows, with all the hopes of the present, the well-laid plans for the future, crystalized into that sentiment as ex pressed by Ella Wheeler Wilcox when she says: "In polden youth, when swms the earth. A summer land of sinpinj; mirth. And not a shadow lurks In sipht'" representing the graduating class of 190" of the Plattsmouth high school. The murmur of voices which ran over the audience at the sight pre sented were busbed in reverence as Elder Zink of the Christian church, lifted his hands as a signal for the house to arise while he asked the benediction of God on those whose term of schooling at the above insti tution were closing with this evening. E. II. Wescott rendered on the piano one of those harmonious melo dies, of which his is the touch of a master hand. In the salutatory,"A Ileal Question" was discussed by Miss Crete Briggs, beginning with somewhat of diffidence but gaining courage as the first brush of the new situation disappeared, she grappled with the subject in a way that showed she had given due con sideration to the theme, and felt the thoughts which she clothed in langu aze of her addressthe text of which is as follows: A Real Question. Superintendent, (1-iss of 1U07, mtndxrs of the lUird of Edwation. Friend: To you who attend these annual commencement exercises, this may seem a very commonplace affair, but to thirty-two people on this platform ! far from a commonplace event. In fact It is one of a possible three or four dates In each life that will be cherished to the close of that life. To us it Is not a commencement, but the commencement. From this stand-, point, then, as a representative of the class of 1907, I welcome you. Com mencement time marks the closing of one period in the educational life of the graduating class, they have com pleted one part of their education and about to take up an other. In no case does their mental training cease. Education must continue as long as life. The question which the High school graduate has to settle is regard ing the nature of that education. Shall college faining be a part of it or shall the individual trust tocontact with the world to complete his mental piscipline? Let us take a few minutes to con sider the reasons for deciding upon a college course. In the opening of the discussion let it be understood he who urges a college education for every man has no selfish motive actuatiug him. What is the first great purpose of the college? It is not for the profit of the individual alone, but for the ad vancement of the race. This is the view expressed by I. W. Howerth of the University of Chicago, when he says: "The function of higher educa tion is therefore especially that of pro viding the personal and scientific ele ments which are to urge the race on ward to a newer and higher civili zation?" It is through the colleges that many practical and scientific discoveries have been made. We expect our col leges not only to keep up the standard of civilization but to raise it. This is what they have accomplished and are continuing to do. A great amount of the progress made during the last few years is due directly or indirectly to the college. The men who have made the greatest acheivements who have been of the greatest benefit to the world have been college bred. The service to the individual is as great however as to the nation. The training is perhaps the best they can receive. The college does not merely teach a man to become a lawyer, a mechanic, a doctor or a minister. The training received is of greater value than the knowledge of some profession alone. He can think and act more wisely than if he had not been at college. It is the college trained man who best succeeds In every vocation; even our business affairs of today re quire a man who thinks and acts quickly, possessing keen insight; and who can grasp ideas in a short space of time. This is what the college does for our young people it fits them to fill the places which are always open to people of this type. It is often said that the college man holds himself aloof from work, that he will not stoop to what he terms the drudgery of common mortals. How ever this is not true of the properly educated man. It is the man with only part of an education that thinks to show his superiority in this way and he does not succeed in doing so by any means. The truly educated man sees that it is not the work one does, but the way in which he does it thit counts. True education and high ideals never make a man feel above honest work. Some of the best edu cated men of our land have when oc casion required, performed the most menial tasks. Their education did not prevent them from seeing and per forming a duty when the necessity arose, why should ours prevent us? If the advantages of higher educa tion become fixed in the minds of those who oppose the college, there is still brought forward another ques tion. Cannot higher education be ac complished as well outside of the col lege, or is not self-education as bene ficial as that obtained through a regu lar course? We might possess as much book knowledge lr the end. But even that is doubtful. But is that all there is to an education? Does noth ing else have a part? Do the train ing, the discipline and the culture have no value? The people we meet, all have an in fluence upon us. If this is so, why not strive to meet the bett people and as sociate with them? And where can we meet better people, more cultured and refined than at our higher insti tutions of learning? The young minds are easily moulded, they receive impressions readily, and a few years spent among people with high ideals and pure aspirations are sure to leave the same characteristics ingrafted in our lives. Then how many people would edu cate themselves? they would not have the incentive to do the work alone. A few great men, it is true, have sue ceded, but they naturally bad greater mental capacity than the majority of us. Most of us need and would profit by a college education. "Higher education is all right for the boys," some one declares, "but what need has a girl for more than a cood high school education. Her duty is plain and simple, she had bet ter remain at home, helping her mother and preparing herself for her own home duties later." However, does not the founder and maker of the home, need wider preparation for the duties she is to assume? Can a home be successfully conducted when hus band and wife are not on the same level? If this is the condition the home will fall. Who is it that has charge of our youth? Is it the father? No, he is busy looking after other affairs. Who oversees our education? Who is our instructor before we enter school life? It is our mothers who do all these things. Then if they are to be the teachers and care takers of their chil dren, should they not have as good an education as their husbands? The women of every age have been great factors in the shaping of its civilization. Their influence is far reaching in its results. Ask any great man to name the most potent factor in theshaping of his life and he will tell you, int he majority of cases, either my mother or my wife. Then if our women have such an influence, why shculd they not have the best education to be obtained? That the home is the foundation of the Nation, and that woman is the maker of the home, is an established fact, so upon our women rests the sue cess or failure of the Nation. Therefore why should they not be fit ted so as to direct affairs as well as possible. It seems that for any vocation the college graduate is better prepared He is a better citizen, a safer counsel or, a wiser business director, a better home maker. I trust, therefore, that to many of the class of 1907, this may be a real commencement, that the twelve years of schooling for which we are indebted to you, may be but the foundation upon which we shall build the superstructure." The valadictory, "A Constitution! Study," by Miss Alice Brinkman, was par excellence, and was indeed a mas terpiece on the making or a written constitution for America. Her pro nunciation was clear and distinct, and the silvery cadence of her voice reached the remotest corners of the spacious auditorium, the full text of which will appear in this issue, if space will permit and if not the re mainder of it in tomorrow's paper Mrs. Mae S. Morgan followed with one of her sweetest songs, "A May Morning," which was received with a great deal of pleasure. E. L. Rouse, in a few well chosen words, introduced L. B. Wickersham who addressed the graduates, and the audience, on "Blowing Up the Gifts Within Us." His speaking was very pleasant, intelligent and to the point, and his illistrations terse and logical. His definition of the 'blowing up' was the developing, or expanding, of those talents inherent in every person, and which can be done within or without. In part he said: "That he was well satisfied that if the gifts of intellect which were congregated in that room were made the most of, not to take into consideration those of Platts mouth not present, that there would not be a village or hamlet within the confines of the state in which the name of Plattsmouth would not be a by-word. Not only in the state alone, but I would be safe in saying throuhgh out the nation. With due difference to the ministers who might be pres ent, he said that he wanted to give a new creed, and one which, he said, j would not interfere with the beliefs of the Baptists, the Christians, the Methodists or the Presbyterians, and which consisted of five cardinal decla rations. The first of which is, that which is easily done, is generally over done: second, that which is hard to do Is generally neglected; third, that which has been done, can be done again; fourth, I am the very person who can do it; fifth, the impossible is un-American. Standing, as we do, on the threshold of the future, he says to the graduates, with the experience of the yesterdays, you should putiall into life that is possible, and it is certain that you can obtain infinitely more from it than your parents could, for you have the facilities for further pushing and achieving those successes in life than had the parents before you. The only difference between youth and age is the difference in en thusiasm, and fired with enthusiasm we can accomplish anything that we may desire. Have faith in yourselves, and feel that you are going to make a success, and work to that end, and the promise is yours. Better than not to have faith enough, be like the man from Boston, who said: 'I live in a galaxy of states of which the world does not produce an equal, the Amer ican nation, and of that constalletion of bright states, I am the inhabitant of the brightest and most splendid the staie of Massachusetts, and in this state the grandest city within its confines is my place of abode the city of Boston. I am, therefore, a citizen of the grandest city of the most splen did state of tug createst nation on the face of the globe.' In any walk of life, If you have faith in God, and con fidence in yourself, and put forth in telligent labor.there is no attainment tbat is not yours for tue claiming." Mrs. J. W. Gamble sang "Life's Consolation," which in itself is an in spiration, in a way that made it doubly so,and received a rapturous en core. Supt. E. L. Rouse said that he wanted to be like the teacher who, when the term of school had expired, came to him with an inventory of all the apparatus books, and percentage of "V .students In her department, at' iwhere thejiiJyiild start at the beginning of nextterm,so that if from any unavoidable cause she should not be with them the next term, there would not be any difficulty in going ahead with the work. lie said he did not want to leave anything unfinished for the next year to have to be taken up. He congratulated those who were to receive their diplomas upon arri ving at the goal, whether they had reached near the 100 mark, or only near enough to have passed, and say ing that in the freshmen class from which the members of the class of 1907 came, there were 110 who en tered, and when this class became a junior, there were 60, and now, to complete the course there were 32. On closing he said that be was glad to be able to congratulate those who had been successful in arriving at that point. Miss Alice Brinkman was the one who had the highest average, and was the recepient of a scholarship in any college in the state. The diplomas were then presented to the gradua ting class. A Constitutional Study. Superintendent, Class of 1907, members of the Jionrd of Education, Friends: The idea of a written constitution did not originate in America. In the old Roman period, it first came into existence. Although much diff erent from our notion of a constitution the Romans had written contaacts, regulating their societies. Likewise almost all the parts of ourgovernment originated in other countries, the state system was borrowed from Switzerland, the township and the county from England and Germany. Our institutions more closely resem ble those of England. They are the developed and expanded principels of the mother country. The first colon ists came directly from England, bringing with them a charterfrom the King granting them certain privileges. They were ruled by council appointed by the King, but the colonists did not remain content under this form of government. In 1619 the inhabitants of Virginia secured for themselves a representa tive government. A general assembly, composed of two burgesses was elected by the inhabitants, this was the first legislative body that ever sat in America. The parliamentary rules of England regulated this assembly. Soon after the other colonies followed out this plan thus, state governments were organized, each independent of the other. The first signs of union were shown when the New England colonists uni ted for protection against the Indians. The colonies were all somewhat unit-1 ed during the French and Indian wars. War always brings people closer together. After this lr-ng strug gle with France the laws of English parliament became so oppressive that it was necessary for the colonists to form some sort of National Govern ment. They were aware of the way in which England had secured its famous Magna Carta and the declara tion of rights, and they had succeeded so well in their minor organizations that they were willing to undertake something more difficult. Several plans of union had been presented to the people but at such times as they were not prepared to undertake them. The Continental Congress was called to protest against the Mother Coun try's method of taxation and to de fend the inalienable rights of the col onists. But events had gone too far and the gap had become too great to be closed by resolutions or removed by compromise. War seemed to be inevi table. Congress assumed the dutiesof a National Government, it undertook the raising and organizing of an army provided for its support, and settled the issue by a treaty of peace. After the war was settled a commit tee was appointed to draw up a writ ten constitution. The articles of con federation were submitted to Congress in 1777,but were not adopted until 171. Under this form of government the powers of congress were very limi ted, laws could be made, taxes levied and peace or war declared, but there was no means of enforcing any of these regulations. The people .were afraid to commit this blood bought power to any body of men. hence, like any orgnnization, with the weak exe cutive, the government soon became such, only in name. Universal anar chy threatened the country. Several attempts at reform had been! previously made but all had end ed inailure. At last delegates from all tbtates, except two, assembled at PK o'eJphia 1787, organized with Wasic'rson as chairman, and began their task. It was soon discovered that 'tan entirely new government wouln have to be established. Ques tion$ as to their power and authority.; to do- such were raised, but were set tled by the fact tbat they would mere ly give suggestions to the people for their approval. The framers of tbis great work did not attempt to establish a series of new ideas. Many clauses were copied from the Magna Carta and the bill of rights of England. The writ of habeas corpus is stated just as it is in the English laws and personal rights, such as the right of trial by jury, were copied from England. Variousterms, such as president and congress, were taken from the states, almost every state furnished some feature. Many difficulties arose which were settled by compromises. The whole constitution might be looked upon as a series of compromises. The first great questions to be settled was the equalizing of power among the small and large states. The small ones wishing to be represented in congress by the state system and the larger ones by population. This was over come by establishing the bi-cammeral system and having an equal number of representatives in the senate and being represented according to popu lation in the house. As might be expected the regulation of commerce afforded a field for one of the controversies during the conven tion. Should the federal government or individual states be given the power to shape the commercial tuture of the new republic? Should there be both import and export duties, 'or neither? These questions called for the wisest settlement because they came so to the people. It was finally settled in vesting the power to regu late but prohibiting the export duty. With these and many other compri ses, we have a written constitution created as an instrument of checks and balance and so it stands today slightly altered by amendments, and somewhat developed through usatre. The framers of the constitution bad no idea of this government extending beyond the Mississippi. With the ex pansion of territory and the advance ment of civilization, it has become necessary for congress to take powers, of which there are no mentiou in the constitution, but which are justified by various clauses therein. Such as the controlling of trusts and the regu lation of railroads which would come under tjae clause providing for the common defense and the promotion of the general welfare. Likewise, it was intended that the state governments should be sovereign Instead of the National government. But it has developed through the causes and results of the civil war that it is essential for the maintain- ence of the Union for the Federal Government to be the unit. We have also developed what might be called an unwritten constitution. Some customs have been so thorough ly established that they mean the same to us as laws. For instance, the number of terms of office of the President of the United States have never exceeded two, although there is no law saying that it should he so limited. Again, the policy of the United States to go vern various parts obtain ed by conquest is not mentioned iti the constitution. Necessity compel! such regulations, hence they must be justified. Classmates: I am sure that our study of history and civics has enabl ed us to appreciate the love, loyalty and patriotism of not only our Ameri can fathers, but of our Anglo Saxon grandfathers, who have worked out the system of gouerntnent to which we are indebted for our education. May we show this appreciation by maintaining the traits of character that have marked the makers of tills country; yes, may we so prepare our selvs as to contribute something to wardsadvancement ino ur generation. Let us remember as wc go from school into life that we owe our city, countyandstateagreatdebt that can not better be paid than for each of us to an become honest and intelligent citizen And now dear friends, you who have shown your real interest in us by your presence here, in behalf of the class of 1007, I have the honor to say: Farewell. A PIONEER GALLED HOME Grandma Molting Died at the Home of Her Son Monday Night, June 10, 1907, Aged About 8? Years. At 11 o'clock p.m. Monday Mrs. Wilis mena Nolting, known to everybody as Grandma Nolting, peacefully passed out of this life to that greater life be yond.. She was born on September 14, I82., and would have been 82 years old "on her next birthday. The cause of her death was tonsilitis and old age. She made her home with her son, A. G. Nolting, and has been sick for about two months. Mrs. Nolting came to this county in 18W, on the ;th day of August, from Wisconsin, mak ing the trip in a covered wagon, and has made this county her home ever since, residing here more than forty one years. During all this time she has lived on the same place on which she settled when she came to this county, where she peacefully spent her life a blessing to all who knew her. She peacefully passed out of this world, but to be remembered and her name a blessing to all of her acquint ances. Five children survive her, also two step daughters, who reside here, namely: Mrs. Leonard Born, Mrs. Adam Kaffenberger, Mrs. Peter Hal mes, and Mrs. Andrew Jasper of Thayer county, this state. The funeral will be held from the old home at 2 o'clock Thuisday after noon, and interment will be made in Oak Hill cemetery. Rev. Longhorst of St. Paul's church will conduct the funeral services. Says Kansas Looks Fine. Judge II. D. Travis, who returned from an extended trip through cen tral and western Kansas.Sunday after noon, says Kansas is looking like a garden, and there is a promise of an abundant harvast. The early wheat has been injured some by the late freez ing weather, but it has not been of such a character as to alarm any of the people who live there and know the country. The judge says that the corn looks fine and that there is a good prospect of an abundant crop. He was through to the Colorado Jine, and he thinks that Trego county is the best of all a fiine looking country and well settled up and improved. Land even out to the last tier of of countrie com mands a good price. Chopped Doj With Spade. A telephone message came from Wintersteen hill Tuesday, tell ing of a man who, becoming offended at a dog, flew into a rage and secur ing a spade which was handy, chopped chopped the dog up with it, then threw water on it, and otherwise abused it. The law should be denom strated in such cases. If a dog is of no account or is vicious or dangerous, it is the place of the owner to have it killed but to abuse a dumb brute, and thus make ones self more of a brute than the animal, is a thing that should not be allowed. Such actions should be reported to the police and have th proper steps taken to properly punis'i the offender.