Orations from the Pomeroy High School Graduation Class of 1907

Source – Pomeroy Herald, Pomeroy, Iowa, Thurs., June 6, 1907, p.5

Commencement Exercises
Friday evening the commencement of the Pomeroy high school took place in the opera house. As usual the house was well filled.  Miss Mable Peterson played the march while Rev. C. H. Kamphoefner preceded the president of board, Supt., faculty and graduates through the isle to the rostrom, where Mr. Kamphoefner led in a fervent prayer.
The first on the program was an instrumental duet by Misses Lora Cunningham and Nina Davy which was very acceptably rendered.

Elsie Marple
Oration, "Savonarola," by Elsie Marple.  This consisted of a recital of good and noble deeds of individuals, mentioning in the list Joan of Acr, George Washington and various martyrs the world has known, some of those of Florence, Italy being singled out for especial laudation, chief of whom was Savonarola.

Pearl Parker
"Government Ownership of Railroads," by Pearl Parker, consisted in various reasons given why the young lady thinks it would prove to be better if the government had absolute control of the railroads. Miss Parker had been ill for a week and she was scarcely able to appear on this occasion although she did so and managed to acquit herself creditably. Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Wilkinson rendered a duet, with Lora Cunningham at the piano, in a very acceptable manner to the audience.

Anna Mellor
"Night Brings Out the Stars," an oration by Anna Mellor, consisted of various instances where the times, the day, the hours, and circumstances bring forth heroes, heroines, and other necessary leaders, and especially under a free government an emergency never goes begging for the right person at the right time.

Alyce Peterson
"Qualities Essential to Success" was the fourth oration of the class by Alyce Peterson.  Goodness, devotion, fidelity to purpose and persistency in the right direction with honest and true motives are essentials to success.  She gave an instance where the lack of fidelity to a good cause and country brought sorrow and remorse, that of Benedict Arnold. When asked by Tallerand in a hotel in Paris for letters of recommendation to friends in America, had to acknowledge that, “I am the only man either Europe or America who can lay his hand upon his heart and swear he has not a friend in either place.”
“The Lost Chord” was then given by a double quartette consisting of Messrs Weikert, Julius, Wilkinson, Saunders and Misses Johnson, Smith, Holmes and Mrs. Wilkinson, with Miss Finch as piano accompanist.  The audience was well pleased with this and so heartily encored them that they reappeared and rendered the “Old Folks at Home” which was equally well received.

Bertha Finch
“Little Laborers of A Great City,” an oration by Bertha Finch. This was a pathetic appeal for the child laborer and a demand for the better protection of the children of the poor or indolent parents who require their children to work and often subjected to mistreatment.  The young lady argued that it would be cheaper in the end for employers to engage and pay better prices for older and more experience help.

Viola Fecht
“The Negro and the Nation” by Viola Fecht.  The speaker gave the original home of the negro first enslaved in America in 1619, the difficulties and hardships of which the African had to undergo in this country, of the growing disposition in favor of slavery in the south and the like growth against it in the north until a rupture came.  The secession of South Carolina in Dec. 1860 followed by that of other states in the coming winter and spring. All of these addresses by the girls showed considerable thought and study, and none of them will have cause to look back with regret at their appearance upon this occasion.
Class Prophecy, by a member of the junior class, Walker Moody, was next on the program. The young man seemed so frightened that he did not make the audience hear what he was reading.  The production was no doubt very good and amusing, however correct or incorrect, his prophesying were.
Supt. Kolb delivered some wholesome advice to the graduates.  He told them, in substance, this is now the commencement in life to them. They must not think life’s studies are over, for really they have just begun.  Heretofore you have had parents and teacher as instructors to guide you, but now and hereafter you must depend upon your individual selves for success in life.  G. P. Peterson, president of the board after complimenting the class upon their successful achievements in completing the third year’s course laid down for them, gave each of the six members a diploma.  Miss Huntley with violin, Mr. Julius with horn, and Miss Bertha Finch piano accompanist, pleased the audience with a selection, and also responded to a hearty encore.
A few class yells between the seniors and juniors, then between the former and the sophomores made things lively round there for a little while.  Right in the midst of this hilarious exhibition, Rev. Kamphoefner turned a beautiful dove lose upon the state, one he had most successfully concealed behind the piano during the exercises.  The poor creature was greatly frightened at this last exhibit and fluttered about in amazement.  Thus ended the graduation from the high school of Pomeroy for 1907.
In speaking of this year’s graduates we feel it is proper to mention the work done this year by Lora Cunningham.  She graduated in last year’s class, but when it was decided to add another year of high school work she decided to take advantage of the opportunity and put in another year in the local high school. She has finished the full accredited course with excellent marks in everything and will be given a diploma showing recognition for her advanced work.  F. L. Kolb