'Ilattemoutb Journal,
VOLUME XXVrIl
lLATTSMOUTII, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JUNE K5 1007.
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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.