This is apparently a speech my
grandmother gave at her high school commencement in 1909. It was in Twining,
Michigan, Arenac Co. Transcribed from the original document, which is crumbling, and in my
possession, Sandra Miller. My mother
Grace nee McIntyre Buyers gave this paper to me, daughter of Lettie nee Hollister and Hugh
McIntyre.
1909 Commencement Speech
As the summer
vacation drew to a close and the old school bell tolled once more for the commencing of a
year of hard work blended with pain and pleasure, we find only one on deck to start our
Senior Class of 1909 and that was Robert with his beautiful auburn locks. But knowing he
found it lonely we find a new friend entering our midst whom we all
recall is Nellie. We were very eager in regard to our studies when we find a tall slim
brunette asking admission who we learn to look up to, for Mildred has several inches in
height advantage of us. Now we have a hustling class of four and no more.
As days wore on we decided
to organize our class and as only having such a small number we decided to have only
President and Sec'y and Treas. Here again we look up at Mildred and elect her our
leader._______ have every reason to be satisfied. But to the other officer the verdict has
not arrived for our time has been very much occupied by our faithful teacher trying to
instruct us that ALL right angles are equal, and that the Pharaohs of Egypt were great
men. After a time as we became more acquainted with our surroundings and feeling that
we would surely find our last year in school very simple work,until one day the news
was gently broken to us that we were to have a written test of ten questions on the most
beloved subject of all our studies for each and everyone like to learn the tables of 10
millimeters make 1 centimeter in Physics.
As the old sayings go
which has much truth that accidents must happen in the best regulated companies. So this
class could not be expected to continue long on the smoothly running
wheels of scholastic equilibrium. (e-kwe-lib'reum) / Everyone knows how astonished we
were when we saw our brave and manly classmate Robert shyly and affectingly place his arm
around his dear friend Katie while trying his mind with the mental arithmetic problems
that we found so inspiring every morning.
Next we find Nellie so interested
in her studies that even after school hours are over you can see her strolling toward the
dear old school while the moon beams are gently shinning, and she recited the long lesson
never to be forgotten.Later comes our tall and stately classmate Mildred who has been
struggling through her lessons and at the same time trying to guide the feet and
minds of the smaller pupils put in her charge from time to time ans we find her a heroine
for as a telephone pole was found to be short for the general welfare of the public,
Mildred at once offered her assistance by holding the wires safely beyond all interference
of the working world below until one of the equal height was found. And now if she is
deserving a medal she certainly is a heroine.
Now as I have made you personally
acquainted with our class of 1909, we will attempt to tell you of some of our struggles
and tribulations.The first thing was to decide on our class colors, motto, flowers and
pins but on finding a Henry Clay in our class we all entered into a compromise which ended
with a glorious, promising feeling of being close friends. But now our expenses began to
come before us and not way to meet them.
At this moment the
important events happened in our history for we cleverly planned a supper with which the
eighth graders joined in and gaining a few dollars we had a great desire to earn
more. And knowing where there is a will there is a way we decided to show the public
the real talent and ambition of our class.After soliciting the aid of some of our friends
and much practicing, arguing and printing of handbills we appeared on the stage, one
beautiful frosty December evening, in a comedy.
It would be useless to
acquired universal fame, but such comedies and actors should not be confined to one
production therefor our plans were to give the outside members secured the possession of a
one horse slay and started for Santiago to bill the town and we did, for poor faithful
Bill brought us home through a blinding snowstorm with complete failure written on
every flake.
Then we all declared
no more to roam thus we rested very peaceable until the thoughts of our final examinations
and commencement appeared before us then who was to be who and the program until we found
Robert perfectly fitted to write and give excellent expression to any oration and to
Nellie who the power of looking far in the future the prophecy, to Mildred the solemn
member of the class the valedictory. While the relating of the past fell to me and
by the deep line of my forehead you see it has been one of hard thoughts and trying
moments for there are so many things better left unsaid.
[NOTE:On another letter written by
Lettie Hollister McIntyre, I was able to find the surnames of the 1909 class.Robert Esler,
Mildred Townsend, (she later was to become the sister in law of Lettie Hollister McIntyre)
Nellie Reynolds, Lettie Hollister. They graduated with the name of Rowland Hill on the
diplomas. The teacher's name was Miss Lillian Palmer. Bill was the horse. Source: My
Memories of Our Home in Arenac County, by Lettie Hollister McIntyre, written in 1974
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