New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-21
NEW ORLEANS THURSDAY DECEMBER 81 1871
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES,

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
New Orleans. Central Htsh school.
At an early hour yesterday morning tn
spacious hall Of the Central High Schoo
r was thronged with an assemblage remark
T able for erudition and beauty. Prominen
among the audience we noticed the mem
bers of our school board, the State and cit,
superintendents of education, and the fai
pupils of the city high schools. Above tn,
platform were arranged pen and penci
sketches by the graduates, among which &
landscape drawing Of the Chateau de Car
rouge and water-colored Christ, by JOSEPH
Gomez, and stippled pen and inh
statuette of Hero and Leander, by Brooks
Carnes, are deserving of special praise. On
the reporters table we're placed a collection
OF journals edited by the students. anon:
which were the Critic, issued in 1862 Our
Effort, the organ of the junior class, and the
dina Mater, a production from the pens of
the present graduates. Many of the ar
tlcles bespeak a literary advancement
which would grace publications laying
claim to higher standard.
The Rev. John Percival, principal Of the
Central High School, preluded the exer-
cises by happy address, in which he
congratulated the pupils ON the present
gathering of parent and teacher to greet
the efforts Of the departing seniors, and af-
ter expressing wish that the public would
extend to their efforts that generous re-
ception careful preparation deserves, in
troduced Omar H. Bartlette to deliver the
sa1utatory.
The young gentleman thanked the as
sembly in the name of his class and the
school; paid q glowing tribute to his pro-
fessors, and regretted that they had sown
on so sterile soil: reviewed with pride the
triumph of the classes that had gone before,
and spoke with good feeling Of their inter
course with the sister schools-all with a
clearness of enunciation and q grace of
dction worthy of himself and his class.
Light and Shade" an original compo-
sition by w. r. Richardson, was fraught
with happy thoughts and brilliant meta
phOrs. His essay, full of practical sug-
gestions and worthy aspirations gained
much of its attractive charm frOm the ele-
gance Of the delivery.
English Grafton Beauty" by Victor J.
Oplatek. This original effort betokencd a
comprehensive knowledge of the subject.
and cOmmendable familiarity with the
theory of beauty. Chaste and finished in
style, excellent in the arrangements of its
nd 1,, :%c -
deserves a prominent place among the ex-
ercises of the day.
Master G. Ridgely contri buted a sensible
view of the requirements of the student
when merged into the man. His essay. en-
titled " The Epoch" met with deserved ap-
plause.
Master Philip Cohn. in a we'll worded ora
ton. touched on many of the points III ade in
the salutatory. and, in addition. tina nked
the parents and friends of his classmates for
their presence, and promised. in return.
that in after life they would, by their ef-
forts in the path Of honor and truth, prove |
their appreciation Of the kindness thev met |
with at their hands
English composition-' Review" by J. ,
Mclean. The title Of this produc ton was
suggestive of its purport. In fresh and
lucid manner he reviewed the scenes and
associations of school life. and retired leay-
ing the audience well pleased with the sub
iect and the manner in which it was
treated.
Latin oration. by W. r. Riddle With
the exception Of a few errors in infection,
this gentleman delivered. in an excellent
Cicero.
English declamation-"W Who is Blenner-
hasset ?! Mr.. A. Edmunds' conception
and delivery of Wirt's address in the trial
II Burr was extremely cOmmendable.
The English defamation, 1.-THE Skeleton
n Armor," by Master f. p. Ellis, was. with
'ut doubt, the defamation of the eve
ling.
Eugene Aram's Dream was declaimed
n masterly manner by Master NJ. Stern.
Demands of Country" an original ora
ion by B. Carnes, was beautiful. Its pc
iods were nervous and we'll rounded Its
ubject - the duties of manhood was
raught with interest. and treated with a
kill and an energy worthy of maturer
1inds.
The farewell address of Joseph Gomez,
the fact that the subject
'as hackneyed, in our opinion proved the
xercise Of the day. Free from ster-
otyped adieus to friends, teachers
nd classmates; ranging over the la
ors of the past four years; dissecting
,e features of the systems enforced; look
g out into the future with hope and judg-
ent; pouring forth it's elevated and COM
endable sentiments with q purity of Ian
lage, a brilliancy of metaphor and show
eloquence, it touched the heart and con-
need the reason with the pathos of its ap.
,als and the truth of its propositions.
Governor Hahn, as chairman OF the COM
ittee on high schools, ascended the plat
rm, and addressed the retiring class as fol '
ws: u
Young geptlemen-The exercises of today =
9 now being brought to close. 1t is un- q
'cessary that should consume your time b
tax your patience with a lengthy address
the tulfilfment of my duties I have on
rmer occasions. before the young ladies q
Q honors of graduation and the excel
nces of popular education, in which the
h and the poor, the high born and the II
WY are placed upon equal footing at the
rine of knowledge. l will not attempt
burden you with recapitulation of that
vice you have received at the hands of
nj and able professors From me no