Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-12

= best fn the class, but were selected by
their classmates to represent them.
There was not time for all OF the list to
read essays. The following young ls-
dies and gentlemen were graduated and
their diplomas last night: Lizzie b.
Speers, LOttie Qusckeub1sh, Estelle V.
Miller, Angie Martin, Bette Martin,
Fannie BrOtbeck, Katie r. S.iunett,
Annie h Miller MOllie J. Steinkuh',
Jessie O'Neil, Lizzie Gallagher, Bertha
T, ScharzenbeTg, Matte White, Minnie
Steinbecker, Ellen Buckley, Fannie
Phillips, Jeanette Long, Sue May, Lii
da Caps, Ella HaIsted, Carrie Duncan,
Ellen EdmondsOn, Lille Alexsnder,
w. B. Kirwan, (. J. Heiskell, r. b
Meriwether, G.. D. Lsndrum, T.. II.
Hally, E H. Porter, G. NJ. Bigelow.
AWARD OF PRIZES.
Prizes (gOId medals) we're awarded to
the following pupils: Principals med
als-Misses Jeanette Long, Fannie
Phillips, Carrie Duncan, Lily Alexan-
der, and Jennie O'Neal. Mayors med
als-Misses Julia Bingham. Pattie Wat
kins, Maggie Johnson, and L0uiie John
son. Miss CrOckett's medal, the same
being 8 botanical prizs-bIiss Linda
Bond. Miss Mary KunkePs medal
Misses Gertrude Anderson, Mary An.
derson, Lizzie Raine, and Anna My
matt. The principals medals were Of
fered by Miss Jennie NJ. Higbee, Mrs.
Crockett aud Mis- Mary Kunkle, for the
highest average as recorded in the,
monthly reports Of scholarship. The
handsome gold medal offered by Su-
perintendent Pickett was awarded to
William B. Kirwan, he proving him
self the best Greek scholar in the school.
We regret that our space does not per-
nit us entering into a minute descrip-
ton of the scene attending the bestOWal
| Of the metals, that of Mayor LOague
being last presented, and accompanied
by the following speech from him:
| Julia Bingham, Maggie johnson, PattIe Wat
kins and louie Johnson:
YOUNG LADIEs-In pursuance Of
| promise long since made to myself,
| though but recently made public, for at
| tendance and superior advancement in
| studies during the past year, l present
/ you each with 8 medal certifying to that
fact, and evidencing to the world your
! industry perseverance and attainment.
! After 8 careful examination by your
| principal, Miss Jennie NJ. Higbee, and
/ others well qualified to Judge OF the pro-
| gress made by the young ladies OF the
| Memphis female high-schOOl, she in
| iOrms me that it is impossible, under the
rule laid down, to determine which one
| of you four is best entitled to receive,
| let me repeat, the medal promised to
the young lady whose report would show
| at the end Of the session was
| best entitled to receive it. Your reports
show thst each of you are entitled to an
examination average of one hundred;
and OF you Miss Julia Bingham, l am
| informed that for the past two years
you were not absent or tardy on a single
occasion. Your teacher, and other
judges, declining, under the circumstan-
Ces, to say who is best entitled tOTeceive
the medal, causes the exceedingly deli
cate duty to devOlve upon me to make
the award. Hence l will, as gentlemen
always should do when called upon to
determine a question between ladies,
give to each s. verdict; and IS you are
all perfect in your studies, and no differ
ence is perceptible in any way, none
shall be made by me. Therefore you
shall each, as have said, have q medal
alike in every particular. Your medals
will be by you the more highly priced as
they cannot be regarded in any sense as
promised rewards, for it is but few
weeks since mention was first made of
the intended prize, although to secure it
the labOrs OF the past year have been
taken into consideration; and hence to
you an evidence why we should always
strive for the best and have hope for
just reward, This is really, young ladies,
an occasion Of great pleasure to me, as
it should be to any one who has visited
your crowded schOol-rOOm during the
past session, and noticed how apXiOusly
you and your companions have been at
work labOTing to assist each other in
your several studies by word and exam |
pie. In your classroom you have ap- |
peared, by your application, more like |
teachers endeavOring TO solve difficult |
problem than like school girls. In after |
years no doubt you will look back with /
pleasure on this evening, when you re-
member that you were surrounded |
school companions, your friends, |
and larger assemblsge Of |
citizens than has ever perhaps appeared |
in this hall; all of whom are, / trust, |
most heartily in favor of public edues-
ton. Public schools are as necessary |
for the diffusion of useful knowledge |
among the masses of the people as our |
written constitution is to protect the |
weak from entertainments by the strong |
and evil disposed; and may l not add |
that education is The cornerstone upon |
which our republican form of govern |
ment is erected, and to it must we look |
for the peace and happiness Of the citi- |
zens and the prosperity Of the govern |
meGt. In conclusion permit me to say |
that you have now and in the future q |
very important duty to perform; it will |
devOlve upon you to prove that you are |
deserving Of the great benefits you have |
received in the public schools Of this |
al Ap~I ifrgf 70
that your thanks are due, and l am |
sure generously rendered to Mr.. Pickett, |
the distinguished superintendent !
through whose ability and experience |
the public schools Of Memphis have |
reached degree of excellence never be- !
fore contemplated. You will always re-
member with gratitude the labor and
anxiety Of your excellent and untiring
principal, Miss Jennie M. Higbee, and
your former teachers, to whose watch
fulness you are, to great extent, in
deOted for the position you occupy this
evening. You will always refer with
pleasure to the legislature Of our State,
which has ever stood in the front rank
in enacting laws for the advancement Of
public education, and also the able judi
ciary Of our State, which has ever been
thestrOng arm Of the government in sus-
JdlulBB puUAlC SCuOOl5 ny pIOupuJ uO-
Gliding all questions whenever an issue |
was made in any manner affecting pub
lie education. And lastly, though 20
less deserving of gratitude, the board of |
education, by whose liberAlity in senti- !
meut and action our public schools have !
teen raised to q degree Of usefulness not |
surpassed by any other in the country. !
Remember that you have every day and |
hour of your life God to glOrify, and |
your neighbOr to edify. With these OBJ |
jects in view and with these purposes to |
accomplish may you live long and be |
happy, and when called upon to render !
an account for the benefits, gifts and |
graces bestowed upon you, may it be |
that you remembered the motto on |
your medal, "Ld6OT OnlTiG Ujncit."
THE MEDALS.
The medals thus presented are Ofshield !
shape, having on the diverse side an
inscription Endorsed in what represents
a ribbon, surmounted by star:
Memphis High-SehoOl.
Presented to
For attendance and superior advancement in
studies,
by
John League,
MqVGr