Ilion High School - Class of 1908

Ilion Citizen - June 25, 1908

1908 Graduates

Article 1

1908 GRADUATES

ANOTHER CLASS BIDS FAREWELL
TO ILION HIGH SCHOOL

Beautiful June Weather, Smiling Skies and the Kindest of Kind Wishes Give Farewell to the Class of
The Yearly Round of School Activities and Festivities Comes Once More to and End and the Wheel Stops for Another Rest

Once more Ilion congratulates a senior class which has so successfully completed the prescribed course of study and come to the honors and pleasures of graduation. Once more Ilion congratulates its splendid corps of teachers on the accomplished work of another year. Once more Ilion congratulates itself on having such students and such teachers, and all remind themselves that it is years since nature has conspired to give to the close of the school year such perfect days as have been the good fortune of the class of 1908.

Examinations closed last week; the results were generally better than was feared and in a very large percentage of cases to the great credit of the schools. In a few cases exceptional circumstances have resulted in great disappointment and the application of the rules at Albany seems to have done an injustice.

The juniors and seniors have exchanged parties to the great delight of both and numerous social gatherings have been enjoyed.

Baccalaureate Sermon.

The baccalaureate sermon was preached by Rec. C. H. French at the Presbyterian Church Sunday evening. The subject of the fine discourse was "Loyalty"; the text, "I have kept the faith." The sermon was a most impressive one, well timed and well delivered and was heard by an appreciative and large congregation.

Class Day Exercises.

Monday evening the opera house belonged to the Class of 1908 and the faculty sat outside and looked on. Wilcox's orchestra rendered fine music. As the curtain rose it revealed the class seated upon a dark stage while above them shone in brilliant radiance the electric figures '08'; it gradually increased to full strength. Harris Myers, president of the class, came forward and with new well chosen words announced the program to be given as printed and in the hands of the large audience. The class history was given by Harrison Brand, Jr., the class poem by William DuBourdieu and the class will by Clyde Werner, they were four keen witty, able papers and elicited repeated applause. The second part of the evening consisted of a well rendered farce comedy, "Sunbonnets"; the characters were represented by Anna Carney, Grace Robinson, Lillian Gould, Marion Bell, Josephine Parker, Elsie Van Wiggeren, Ethel Barger, Belle Brookes, Vera Ackler, Bessie Jarvis and Helen Hutchins. The class day program was much enjoyed.

Commencement Exercises.

Tuesday evening the opera house was thronged with an admiring host of the relatives and friends of the sixteen graduating members of the class of 1908. The class colors, banners and decorations made a pretty scene. Occupying the stage were the faculty, Board of Education and the local clergy and the members of the graduation class.

CLASS OF '08, I.H.S.

Vera Ackler,
Marion Bell,
Ethel Barger,
Harrison Brand, Jr.,
William DuBourdieu,
Belle Brooks,
Anna Carney,
Helen Hutchins,
Bessie Jarvis,
Blanche Kark,
Elsie M. Johnson,
Ruth King,
Harris Myers,
Josephine Parker,
Grace Robinson,
Clyde Werner,
Elsie Van Wiggeren

Music was furnished by Wilcox's orchestra; prayer was offered by Rev. H. E. Pike; Superintendent Warren announced the speakers chosen to appear by reason of scholarship.

Blanche Kark

"The Influence of Music" was the subject chosen by Miss Blanche Kark, the first speaker. Miss Kark gave her subject careful and interesting treatment and well justified her appointment as commencement speaker.

Vera Ackler

Miss Ackler discussed Rebecca, "The heroine of Scott's Ivanhoe." She spoke in an easy manner: her modulation was pleasant and her easy stage manner most gratifying.

Anna Carney

One of the finest pieces of work of the evening was Miss Carney's treatment of "Joan of Arc." She told the familiar story of the shepherd girl but told it with an impressiveness and rhetorical skill which was highly appreciated.

Elsie Johnson

Miss Johnson spoke in a clear, distinct voice which would have added much to the effectiveness of some of the other speakers. She gave a truly patriotic oration and made clear the good and sufficient reasons "Why Do We Say 'Our Beloved America?".

Bessie Jarvis

The splendid record in elocution made by Miss Jarvis was wen exemplified in her fine delivery of an oration on "The Evolution of the Character of Macbeth:" her strong treatment of the subject was well conceived, her gestures were intelligent and her rendering appropriately dramatic Miss Jarvis' oration was a pleasure.

Harris Myers

Mr. Myers treated in a strong and impressive manner the timely topic of "Slavery in America Today." He dismissed peonage and the conditions in mines and factories and made a forceful address.

All the orations were highly creditable productions and. their delivery showed competent and careful training. Each speaker was given well merited applause.

A most regrettable interruption of the oration of Miss Jarvis was caused by some fool who concealed in the wings an intermittent alarm clock which rang three times before it could be found and removed. The contemptible nature of this act is beyond characterization. The interruption was sufficient to have greatly embarrassed an experienced speaker and in many cases would have caused the entire failure of a high school orator. It is a disgrace to the town that we have any person of such imbecile intellect as to thin smart an interruption which might have such grave results. The disgust of the audience was manifest and the well merited rebuke of Superintendent Warren was heartily approved by the audience, as he significantly remarked, no on smiled at the senile attempt at smartness. It is time that horse play on decorous occasions be stopped. Ilion audiences have long suffered serious disturbance at the hands of those who are old enough to have an appreciation of propriety and they are very tired of the little boy attempts which are due to the lack of brains. The young men who are responsible for the uncouth rowdyism of such occasions will one day learn that it is worth something to be regarded as young gentlemen.

The Class Honors.

Superintendent Warren made a valuable explanation of the change in the requirements of the State Board of Education for graduation and announced the long looked for class honors as follows: valedictorian, Elsie Johnson, 88.60 per cent; salutatorian, Miss Bessie Jarvis, 87.40. In spite of the additional requirements which this class has had to meet they have also attained a standing of 83.4 and win the Stone scholarship cup; the standing of last year's class, who hold the cup, being 82.7. The cup was presented by Supt. Warren to Harris Myers, the president of this year's class who responded briefly.

The diplomas were presented by A. D. Richardson, president of the Board of Education, who congratulated them on their successful completion of their school work after which the benediction was pronounced by Rev. S. J. Greenfield.