Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-03-24
PoRr RoYAL. March IS. 1875

probable coming of the ice-gorgs froui
beyond Lewistown summoned courage
enough to go to Port Royal, legally So
called, to hear and see the closing exer-
cises Of the public schools Of that boz
ough. ia
A friend kindly furnished me with a
ticket, which according to late cirii
matters at Washington entitled me to q
full undisputed seat in one of the best
cars ever saw in that train, and away
| sped carelessly rejoicing in the anti
cipstion of the approaching mental
feast. On arriving IN the place | i'm
mediately made inquiry as 10 the man
ner and terms of securing a seat IA the
hall. l was promptly informed it was
altogether .uatter Of option whether
person went in or whether he stayed
out, the difference being twenty cents.
This feeli ,g was local, however, and as
l never made local option matter OF
concern, | compromised at once with
the doorkeeper, went in aud " stood"
The ball was brilliantly illuminated
with rows of wax candles across the
windows, and the walls were beautifully
decorated with wresths of evergreen
spotted with skillfully wrought bows
and flowers, while the pupils were
tas,eiully and appropriately aprareled
for the occasion. To those who take
an interest in the young hopeiuls Of
to day they appeared lovely and beau
tifui indeed. They were orderly, free
from undue excitement, and cheers1ily
obeyed their instructors, Messrs. |. e..
Gable and j. T. Turbett, ve,eran
teachers and undoub;ed d,scspiiuariaus.
The large audience was apprrc'arivr.
instrumental music was furnished b,
those master musicians, McMeen. Krl-
mer and brother The mere mention #
their names renders all further com
ment on the music unnecessary. The
cu.tain rose at precisely seven aud fell
at half past eleven, the feast of music,
essays, dec'amations, etc, continuing
without interruption for four hours and
a half. | thought If ores Whole lie
time would pass as rapidly by, how
short would be the lapse from the cradle
to the grave. The conGuct Of the
pupils on tie stage was everything
that could be desired. As the mnrn-
ing star exceeds in brilliancy all
other considerations, so here anong
these little stars we're some that by
reason of age and other differences,
dazzled above the rest in their youth
full splendor There we're no break
downs nor promptngs, a commerdabie
feature in an entertainment OF Fifty
pieces, when 1t is remembered that all
the performer, we're not primary pupils.
The Salutatory was spoken by Dir.
Horace Wallace, in a clear and COM
tone It was we'll rendered.
The Valedictory, by Miss Grace T.
Coyle, was a 6ne literary production,
abound;ng in the most endearing
thoughts and delivered in a very grace
full style. Of the rcmsiniDgs pieces |
can note only few from memory. Es-
says Of real merit we're read BY Misses
AIDA Gray, Anna Koons, Beckie Sny-
der, Ida Taylor and Mr.. John Diffen-
derfer-but, as is usual with such, not
much appreciated. ''Not so Easy" by
George Ebberts; "Ella's First Sps ecb''
by Ella Brant 90 The Little 0rstGr,"
by harlie Koons; "Anorew Speech.
by Andrew Crczier: 1.-The Starr, Far
BY Martin BeidIer; "P,an
of Marriage" BY Charlie SLuman
"Senecharit," by Blauche Thompson
By Harry Shindle f; "Use-
fulness," by Sadie Zeigler; Lesson
Worth Enshrining," BY Anna Civils,
aud some that have passed my mem-
ory, mostly small pupils, fairly delight
ed the audience.
The Tableaux and Pantomimes were
all good. "AmputaiioI ike " mixing"
brought the 'soh's" out OF nervous fe-
males.
"Sheridau's Ride" BY Rhet;ie Ham
lin ssJohn Maynard" by Beckie Sny
der, and "Our National Banner," by
John Bealor, were sll highly credita-
Bile performances The body OF the
school was engaged in dialogues. "Auc-
tion," by Master Koons, was g""d
"Smack Id School," sThe Graduates" T"
Children" lead By Aura Ln-
thurst, we're highly iI-rirGrinu> But
"Paddy the Boot Black" sang ard
played BY that prodigy reri"rmanr'..
Charlie Shsffer, with William M'i!, as
gentleman "Comic Song" b, Berthe
Hamliu and Harry Wbitne, 4" The
Rival Orators" by John McMnnigaI
and Charlie Shaffer; '.Red. Whit. aud
Blue" by Ssllie Taylor, Minute Shell
ley and Berthe Wharton, trauscended
and put the climax to the entertain
ment. These will be long remembered
even after school days have passed