Commencement at Old Union.

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ADAMS, N. Y., TUESDAY, JUNE 30,1903

Commencement at Old Union.
[W. K. MOTT, '92]


There's a place we call Old Union, a spot our hearts hold dear.
Though our feet in paths afar from her may roam.
There's a hand stretched out to point us to ways of truth and right,
There's a loving voice that calk her children home.
—P. B. Bowman.


Union Academy last Wednesday closed her 79th commencement. The week was a pleasant and encouraging one; the old institution graduated the largest class in its history, nineteen. Reports of the faculty show a high grade of scholarship and excellence all along the line. The old graduates and alumni seemed to he more awake than usual to
tbe needs of the school and a willingness was apparent to respond to the demands of those needs. Progress was
the watchword of the week.

The first thing on the program was a lecture, "Folks Wise and Otherwise," by Rev. Mr. Helms ot Buffalo, this occurred on Friday evening, June 19. The lecture was profusely illustrated by short stories, both humorous and well adapted to mark a point. Seldom, if ever, did a lecturer on the academy platform keep up such a constant bombardment of his subject with illustration. This classification of his folks were: 1. Those ignorant of the ordinary
facts of life. "What part of speech is 'but?" Boy—"But is a conjunction because it connects a man and a goat."
2. Those who stick to an undertaking. 3. All folks find the thing they are full of. 4. Folks who don't skim the milk,
5. Folks who have the third eye. These were the people who saw bright things in life. A man who had the goat was
thankful that he was not a 1,000 logged worm. He had the third eye. 6. Folks who push do not rely on a pull, they
travel on the G. O. P. R. R. 7. Those who have a tape about their waist, their usefulness in life cannot be enlarged
beyond the tape. 8. Folk who know it all. "Mary milked the cow;" the boy was sure that Mary was a noun and that
cow was a pronoun because shestood for Mary.


JUNIOR CLASS ENTERTAINMENT

Saturday night occurred the Junior Class entertainment, The program tbo' long, was both varied and interesting.
The excellence of the program gives promise of a graduating class in 1904 of rare merit and worth. The recitations were well delivered; each oration showed careful thought in subject, matter and rendition, and the musical numbers were all well received. The class paper by Miss Colraan caused considerable mirth with its clever hits and allusions. The stage was unusually pretty in its festoon trimming of pink and white, the junior colors. The program
was published last week.


BACCALAUREATE SERMON.


The lecturer of the Friday evening before preaclted the baccalaureate sermon to tbe graduates. The subject, "Christianity in contrast," based on the text "Have reasons for the faith that is within you," was a powerful exposition of the reasons why the speaker believed in the Christian religion. His reasons were six in number: 1. The Cbistian's God. 2. The only rational religion. 3. The. Christian's book, the Bible. 4. The Christian's teacher. 5. The moral "tone Of Christianity, 6. a. The Christian's death; b. the Christian's heaven; c. The Christian's immortality.


CLASS DAY.


Monday afternoon gave us class day with its usual amount of fun and sadness, nonsense and sense. No one in the large class was slighted, each had a part. When "das ende" came tbe fertile ground had been sowed and the full
harvest reaped. No skeleton in the class but the deep going plans of reality and imagination had unearthed. Originality here had full play, and surely the class of 1908 proved itself essentially original. The programme:
Piano solo Nellie M. Doane.
Class Historian. Genevieve M. Waite.
Kecttation. Mabel G. Lord.
Statistician. George J. Honeywell.
Vocal Solo. Blanche I. Coburn.
Class Reporter. QraS. Wilcox.
Class Gleaner. Blanche WT. Martin.
Piano Duo. Kent C Haven.
Address to tbe class ol "1904." Brent E. Overton.
Reply Nina B. Coleman
Class Essayist. Sydney D. ?[illegible]
Vocal Solo. Roxey H. Frame.
Recitation. Cynthia J. Thomas
Class Prophet. Maude M. Long? [illegible]
Post Scriptum. Etta G, Fish.
Class Poet. Arthur N. Thomas
Class Will. Floyd M. Holley
Class Song. Composed by Dora A. Robbins
Das Ende.

.
THE MUSICAL RECITAL

by the students of the department was enjoyed by one ef the largest crowds of the week. This is always a signal for an overflowing throng. A large number could not gain admittance to the hall. Those graduating in music
the Misses Frame, Coburn and Doane and Mr. Haven, showed a high standard of proficiency in their several performances. The length of the programme makes any further mention impossible.
The programme:

PART I.

Piano Duet-Marche Millionare.........Englishman
Marion Miner, Kent Haven

Vocal Quintette-Thine Eyes.............[illegible]
Martha Carter, Male Quartette.

Piano—Masurka in b flat.. ....[illegible]
Mabel Dutcher

Vocal—As tbe Dawn .....[illegible]
Myrtle Edmonds
.
Piaao-Whispering Winds [illegible]
Hazel Hungerford
.
Vocal—Love's Vision [illegible]
Blanche Coburn.

Piano Duo-[illegible]
Anns Lowrey, Miss Morgan.

Vocal—It Might Have Been
Boxer Frame-

Violin Quartette—AaU and Vivaes from
"La Favorite" -..
Martha Carter, Harry Jones.
Barry [Harry?] Tyler, [illegible]

PART II

[illegible][illegible]
[illegible][illegible]
Piano-let Movement C minor Concerto ........ Beethoven
Maude Thompson.
Orchestral part arranged for 2d piano.
Miss Morten.

Vocal—A Year Ago,........... Loyd
Mrs. Mather.

Piano-Concert Waltz................ Kowalski
Kent Haven.

Male Quartette-Annie Laurie .............Buck
Edward Ha wee, Ora Wilcox.
Kent Haven, Holland Wagoner.

Piano Duo—Marche Triomphale ...........Gloria
Nellie Doane. Roxey Frame

Mixed Double Quartette,
a. Good Night Beloved ... [illegible]
b. Trust Her Not.........[illegible]


COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

Tuesday was commencement day and a large number of friends were present with the expectations of a strong programme, and in no particular was there a disappointment. From salutatory to valedictory each number was highly enjoyed. The orations were fit products of a graduate and the performances by the graduates in piano music of their difficult pieces reflected great credit. At the conclusion of the valedictory Prin. T. E. Lockhart presented the diplomas in an admirable speech. The programme:

Invocation.

Salutatory. Flora C. Greene.

Oration-The Brook Farm Experiment Mable G. Lord

Orstion -The Evil Tendency of Striken. Roy B. Graves

Oration - Singleness of Aim. Sidney D. Smlth.

[illegible] ....... St. Saene .....Roxey H. Frame.

Orntlon - "The Princess." EttaG. Fteli.

Oration - How Nations Talk. Ora S. Wilcox.

Oration - Character. Dora A. Robhins.

Oration - Victory and Defeat. George J. Honeywell.

Value In A [illegible] Moshaowski? [illgible]. Blanche I. Coburn.

Oration—Ambition. Blanche W. Martyn.

Oration - The American Flag. Floyd M. Holley

Oration - Courage To Meet Lifes Dangers. Maude M. Long[illegible]

Oration-The Influence of Money in Politics. Brent E Overton.

Nocturne In D flat .......Chopin. Kent C. Haven.

Oration The Influence or a Noble Life. Flora C. Green.

Oration-Crowns and Kingdoms. Cynthia J. Thomas.

Oration—Patriotism. Kent C. Haven.

[illegible] Nellie M. Doane.

( Orcbestral part arranged for 2d piano. Miss Morgan.)

Oration—Achilles, and Valedictory. Arthur N. Thomas.

Presentation of Diplomas. Prin. T. E. Lockhart, A. M., Ph. D.


ANNUAL SOIREE.


The evening of June 23rd was marked by the annual soiree of the Graduate s Association. After a short reception
when each entertained himself and others with reminiscencing, t h e usual business meeting was called to order by the president, George Wood. Tbe following officers were elected: President, Cnauncy Bickford; vice president, Amy Benjamin; secretary, Mrs. Will Waite; treasurer, Fred Millard. Tbe scholarship committee was discharged from fur her duty and a new one, with Jean Mather as chairman, elected. The chairman of tbe old committee, Mason Swan, reported about $450 in the fund. $100 was raised during the evening, making the total approach tbe desired amount necessary ior a full scholarship, $600. When this is acquired the interest will be used in paying the tuition of a student at the academy. About 10 p. m. the graduates and truste s, about one hundred in number, repaired to the
banquet hall, where a choice spread awaited them. The pleasure of the evening was much enhanced by several
new school songs written expressly for the evening by Mrs. Phua Butler B owman, '92.

MENU. __ .
Olives - Salted Almonds
Sarotaga Potatoes -Cold Ham
Rolls
Chicken Salad - Cheese Wafers
Pineapple Ice - Raspberry Ice
Strawberries with Cream
Angel Food - Champagne Wafers
Bon Bons - Stuffed Dates
Chocolate


TOASTS.
The Class of 1903. Miss Flora C. Green.
[illegible].
Our Old and New Alumni. Jean J. Mather.
Something of youth I in old age approve;
But more the marks of age in youth I love.
—Denham.
Professional Experiences. Miss Fanny Frame.
Experience is by industry achieved.
And perfected by the swift course of time.
—Shaketpeare.
Tbe Value of Athletics. Clarence E. Ford.

[illegible]

Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
—Longfellow

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.

At 10:90 a. m. Wednesday the alumni association was called to order by President M. M. Swan, with a goodly number of both old and new alumni present. After the treasurer's report and the reading of the minutes the following
officers were elected: President, M. M. Swan; vice-president, W. K. Mott; treasurer, C M . Overton; recording
secretary, J. J. Mather; corrisponding secretary, Mrs. Wm. Mather. W. K. Mott and J. J . Mather were appointed a
committee by the president to write the local history of the civil war days, paying special attention to the sons of the
Academy who engaged in the struggle. Mr. Bentley was appointed press agent of the association. Short speeches were made by the president, Col. Littleneld, Dr. Chapman, Sherman Thompson, D. M. Kelsey, N. Barney. Martin Swan and W. K. Mott. Adjournment. Matteson's orchestra furnished music during the day. After the large crowd had been entertained in a very material way by the ladies in Grange hall, the Academy chapel was well filled to hear Principal W. K. Wickes of the Syracuse High school deliver his lecture on "Barters of Youth." This followed the reading of the memorials by Dr. B. A. Chapman of Watertown.


[attempted transcription of illegible poem]

"Thy children now are scattered along a thousand ways, but their voices ring with gladness at thy name, and heart to heart give thanks where ever they may meet, and their eyes will kindle with sudden flame" -P. B. Bowman

 

(If anyone has corrections that can be added to illegible portions please e-mail me at the link below.)



Article as it appeared in the
Jefferson County Journal
ADAMS, N. Y., TUESDAY, JUNE 30,1903
Thanks go to www.fultonhistory.com and their fabulous newspaper database


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