Friday, June 11, 1909
Worthington Advance

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TWENTY-FOUR GRADUATE
Largest Class in History of School Received Diplomas Friday Night

The twenty-second annual commencement of the Worthington high school was held in the Methodist church last Friday night, at which time twenty-four pupils were graduated, having completed the assigned course, and were granted diplomas.

The church was crowded as was also the Sunday school room and the galleries. It is estimated that between six and seven hundred friends of the pupils were assembled to witness the exercises. The decorations were in the class colors of green and white, a row of tissue paper of the colors extending around the gallery railing and the pillars, while on the platform the same color scheme was carried out with flowers.

At eight o'clock the graduates took their places upon the platform and the high school orchestra, composed of Messrs. Arnold Moeller, Ben Hildyard, Arthur Sather, Outhwaite Kumler, Joe Hildyard, and Miss Beth Sibley, rendered an appropriate and pleasing selection.

Rev. Schmidt in a short invocation followed, after which came the salutatory, by Grace V. Mann. Miss Mann chose for her subject "Memory," and the young lady delivered her address in a clear distinct voice and showed that she was possessed of the quality that goes to make public speakers. There was no time when she could not be distinctly heard and understood. That she had given considerable time and preparation to her paper was evident from the masterly way in which she handled the subject.

Outhwaite Kumler then sang two tenor solos in good voice, accompanied by Miss Beth Sibley at the piano.

Dr. S. Arthur Cooke, of Marshall, Minn., was selected by the class to deliver the address of the evening, and they could not have made a better selection. His address was a masterpiece of thought and was ably rendered. He is a deep thinker and has the happy faculty of expressing his thoughts in a clear, concise manner.

Messrs. Arthur Sather, Arba Bedford, Joseph Hildyard and Outhwaite Kumler composing the Senior Brass quartette then rendered the "Pilgrim's Chorus," by Wagner, in an exceedingly fine manner, followed by the valedictorian, Helen Ramage. Miss Ramage selected "Lives Worth Living" as her topic and brought out many points worthy of study by older and more experienced people than herself. She cited instances of numerous lives that had been worth the living, showing that she had devoted much time and careful attention to her subject.

Superintendent E.C. Meridith, in a short address then presented the diplomas. The parchments were tied with the high school colors of crimson and black instead of the class colors, making a very pretty contrast.

The Senior male quartette then sang two selections, "Shepherd's Lullaby" and "The Shoogy-Shoo." The quartette is composed of George D. Lawson, 1st tenor; Outhwaite Kumler, 2nd tenor; Arba Bedford, baritone and Joseph Hildyard, basso. These young gentlemen are all the possessors of excellent voices and rendered their selection nicely, the voices blending in perfect harmony. Their work was highly appreciated.

The senior class song was then rendered by the entire class with Arba Bedford at the piano, after which came the class yell and the exercises were over and twenty-four young men and women were pronounced able to enter into the battlefield of life.

A pleasing feature of the commencement was the fact that two more pupils were graduated than whose names appeared upon the program. These pupils had given up the idea of passing, but by dint of extra hard work they made up their back grades and secured the necessary credits. These two, Misses Alice Bloom and Grace Hagerman, probably deserve an extra measure of credit for the pluck and perseverance exhibited in winning out after the case seemed hopeless.

The class of '09 was the largest ever graduated from the Worthington schools and was composed of the following: Misses Edna Fellows, Beth Sibley, Emma Strom, Lottie Kall, Thresa Sibley, Ella Guernsey, Mary Ramage, Alice Pannell, Bernice Weidman, Lillian Darling, Gertrude Mishler, Helen Ramage, Emma Dysthe, Grace Mann, Alice Bloom, Grace Hagerman and Messrs. Paul Ventioner, Arba Bedford, Arthur Sather, Outhwaite Kumler, George Kunzman, Joseph Hildyard, Joseph Hagerman and George D. Lawson.

Where They Will Spend It

The following teachers of the Worthington schools have departed for the various towns and cities opposite their names, where they will spend their summer vacation:
Miss Eva Parish, Rusford [Rushford], Minn.
Miss Lizzie Swanson, Mankato.
Miss Elizabeth Thompson, Spencer, Iowa.
Miss Mary Ashe, Mankato.
Miss Ida Ainsworth, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Misses Ida and Minnie Nelson, Kasota, Minn.
Miss Freda Otto, Red Wing.
Miss Margaret Brooks, Canon Falls.
Miss Carrie Bachtel, Delavan, Minn.
Miss Blanche Donahue, Clear Lake, Iowa.
Mrs. Julia Hensel, Royalton, Minn.
Miss Martha Wick, Jackson, Minn.

Of the out of town pupils the following have returned to their homes.

Arba Berford [Bedford?], John Roberts, Ivie McKenzie, Rushmore; Freda Lees, Gertrude Geyerman, Grace Hagerman, Bridget McCall, Joe Hagerman, Brewster; May Holland and Edna Comer, Bigelow; Ada and Emma Dysthe, Chandler.