The daily gazette., 1876-06-30
FIRST EDITION
our Public Schools.
THE ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF THE HIGH
SCHOOL. NO. !. BoYs' pEPARTMINr

VWF II stUssc 6ehOOtN.
THE ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF THE HIGH
SCHOOL, NO. /, BOYS DEPARTMENT.
Tho Grand Opera House was crowded
last night to excess, there not being less
than 1900 or 1900 present. The audience
was, of course, from all classes; but it
was nevertheless quite as brilliant in at
tire as the season would permit, while
the preponaerance of youth and the
light and airy dress of the fair sex, many
of whom carried handsome boauets.
gave it charm that greatly assisted one
to bear with the oppressive heat and the
unpleasantness unavoidable on the oc-
casion.
The stage was handsomely arrange d
and the auditorium profusely festooned
and decorated with the national bunt.
ing. The President and several mem
bers Of the Board of Public Education
occupied chairs on the stake, as did also
Rev. MIR. Marks, Chas. B. Lore, John c.
Patterson and Joshua Maris, Esqrs. At
o'clock the graduating class number
ing thirteen, entered and took seats
on the north side of the stage. They
are all boys ranging from about sixteen
to eighteen years.
The exercises were preceded with the
finely executed Overture. Tancred, by
Ritchie's Orchestra. A Prayer was of
fered by Rev. Lafayette Marks. Mr.. S.
J. Wiley, the Principal of the school,
had evidently carefully considered the
whole arrangement and presented his pu-
pills before the crowded auditory of reia-
tives and friends i'll as Iudicou, a man
ner as possible, and the friends of the
cause of popular education could not
well help feeling proud OF the results.
'Nhn al. al
a bout equal to the average of juvenile
efforts on such occasions, but the class
did not appear as favorably in many
points as the one of 1875. The COM
positions were fair, and with one OIL two
exceptions, might be commended for
their avoidance of the hackneyed politi-
cal phraZes of the past decade.
The "Salutatory' ly Harry Pepper
Scott, was very well pronounced, and
was followed by some excellent advice on
Economy" hy john Palmer. The
Constitution" by James Perry Holmes,
referred to the authors and shed some
light upon the manner in which that
much abused instrument was given to
been called to popular attention. "Life's
Battle Fields" by Frank Fisher Slo-
cunb. contained much good advice, but
the audience did not seem to appreciate
it half as much as it deserved. Fail
ings," by Charles Reynolds, was produc-
| tive OF a round of applause, while an ex-
cellent essay on Work" by VIM. ELL
wood Hawkins, should have been pro-
ductive of calls for encore, but the boys
who did the rapping in the gallery
could not see the point" Civil Ser
vice Reform" by Alfred Scott Robinson,
was loudly applauded notwithstanding
1T gave the "Reformers" and the oppo-
nents of high salaries slap full in the
face. 1t was appologetic for Grantism,
or in substance recommended bribing
men to be honest. True Ambition"
by Augustus Dickerson Baker, was very
creditable, but little tedious. News
paper Literature" by Frank Merrihew,
showed the author to be little careless
of his words, but that he cultivated his
own ideas. His effort was appreciated,
and as the reception of several hand
some volumes upon the stage proved.
Courage by VIM. Christopher Murga--
troyd, was an excellent composition, and
probably the most finished in logic, of
the evening. Poetry" by VIM. Stewart
spoken. "Self-Goverment.' by Walter
Bacon, contained some injunctions that
would not be out OF place in any one, $
scrap book. Things that have Passed,
by James Hill Semple, was u very good
production, but not well committed.
The prompter should have been near at
hand.
John c. Patterson was here called upon
to present the Adams prize for excel
lency in English grammar, which he did
in neat address. The prize was hand
some gold medal, on one side is figure
of Minerva, and on the other the inscrip-
tion Scientid est Potentid-k knowledge Is
power. 1t was presented to Master
Frank Merrihew, whose competitors
numbered sixty-si
Hon. Joshua Maris in few approPri-
ate remarks presented the prize for the
highest standing for the three years
course, to James Hill Semrle. The prize
was five volumes of Bancroft's history OF
the United States.
DIR. Shortledge here presented each
graduate with diploma.
Charles B. Lore, Esq, then made a
neat and appl opriate address to the grad :
yates, replete with admopitions and
good advice The Valedictory was
then made by Patrick Henry Rigney.
whose address to the audience, his in.
structors and his classmates was quite
neat and well articulated.
The orchestra then struck up the
Parting Hour" and the immense audi
ence dispersed more hrmly convinced OF
the value and necessity OF our pr DIG
schools than ever, and in much better
humor to foot the heavy tax bills whlcE
little more economy in the Boaro
might reduce two or three cents on each
\ lanbolar Rnf parhups mt more.