The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-23
Commencement Exercises Of the
West Liberty Normal School.

commencement Exercises Of the
West Liberty Normal School.
WEST LIBERTY, June %, 1877.
Editor Intelllgtnesri
The morning opened rather glOomily.
The air was chilly, but coon the clouds
were diIpelled and the sun shone brightly,
promising q beautiful day. Shortly after
0 o'clock the crowd began to assemble
and by 10 o'clock the large hall was filed
to OVERLOOKING by an intelligent audience;
| would say a very intelligent audience,
for no other kind assemblies from the
town Of West Liberty and vicinity. On
the stage ! noticed Dr.. A. b. Miller, Pres.
ident Of the Waynesburg College; ReyS.
4. E. Myers, J A. Brown and ], p.
Thatcher, Of West Liberty; Rev. j, A,
Haugh, Of Bethany, and Prof. Anderson,
OF Wellsburg, Soon after the opening,
State Superintendent Pendleton and
Judge II. J. Samuels, Of the Board Of Re.
gents, arrived and took seats on the plat.
form, as also did Col. W. b. Curtis, s. S.
Jacob and Thos. NJ. Pemberton, members
OF the Executive Committee,
Prayer was offered by DR.. Miller, fol.
lowed BY music, after which Mr.. T. y.
Riley, Of Beeler's Station, Marshall coun.
~, was introduced as the salutatorian Of
the occasion, who in avery pleasant style
delivered a short salutatory and also an
GRAFTON, the subject Of which was 1.-THE
Perpetuation Of the Republic" The ora
ton was carefully prepared and we'll de-
livered, rejecting credit both on the per.
former and the institution.
Miss Mary Z. Burrows, Of New Mar.
tinsvjlle, ". Va, read an essay on the
subject, "There is silver lining to every
cloudh The essay was very beautiful
in thought and was well read, though
perhaps in a voice too low to be heard In
all parts Of the hall. But Miss Burrows
can surely congratulate herself that she
Is a success as an essay writer.
Miss Emma +. Bell, OF West Liberty,
being introduced, read an essay; subject,
Dream on, awake only to find sorrow"
This subject, when announced, caught
the attention OF the audience aL once, and
had all In the house kept perfect stiffness
It could have been heard by all, bnt am
fearful that many did not hear. But
Miss Bell showed that much pains had
been taken in the preparation Of her
essay. 1t was very Creditable perform
anCe and was well received by all who
heard il.
Mr.. L. ". Barr, Of West Liberty, was
next introduced, who delivered an ora.
tion on the subject, Qualification" md
he closed the Grafton with a short vale.
dictory address. Both were good, but
the speaker showed lack Of preparation,
which should never be on such occasions
as this.
Following the delivery Of the valedic.
tory, pleasing little episode occurred
which was not on the programme. Dr..
A. b. Miller arose and, after few words
Of explanation, presented TO Miss Tillie
Dunlap, on behalf Of the Glass, beauti-
full silver cord basket, and to Professor
Gwynn an ice pitcher anI cup, both Of
silver. The DR.. in the presentation
made a few appropriate and humorous
remarks, to which the teachers responded.
The presentation was quite surprise to
the teachers, though no doubt an agree
able one.
The State Superintendent next present.
ed the diplomas to the class after deliver.
ing shOrt address explanatory OF wl,y
diplomas are granted to graduates. <
diploma does not certify that the young
lady or gentleman receiving it is quail.
fed TO impart instruction, but only that
he or she has received that drill in all
the branches enumerated. The fact Of
PREPARATION is set forth.
After the presentation Of the diplomas,
Superintendent Pendleton also made some
remarks on the Normal School in gener.
al. lie urged on all the citizens OF the
community to try to make it success.
The permanence Of the Normal School
now depends upon the efforts OF teachers
and friends Of the school. Many words
Of kindness and good advice were given
to the young ladies and gentlemen Of the
GLASS.
Prof. W. II. Anderson, +. II. CraSo,
D. Miller, Revs. J. A. Brown and A. E.
Myers made brief remarks, all expressing
themselves as pleased with what they had
witnessed, and the citizens OF the place
spoke in the highest terms Of Mr.. Gwynn
ard urged that he be retained by the
Board Of Regents, The school under Mr..
Gwynn's management has been a success,
and have no doubt that the Board Of
Regents will retain him in the position
Tor which he il in every way qualified.
The school under his management has in.
creased from ten to tiity.six pupils, and
the prospects for the coming year are very
tla!terirg. This school ia situated in the
midst ola community that should sustain
it, even without an appropriation from
the State, and | think hereafter it will be
well sustained.
Hon. W. X. PeEdletOn and Hon. II. j.
SAmuels were the only members OF the
Board OF Regents present. Was this
a. il should be7 Governor Mathews
passed through this place on his way
from Bethany Just as the exercises were
beginning, but he did not stop, which was
a great disappointment to all, but especial.
" those who assisted in electing him, and
heard one Of them remark, in com.
menting on the circumstance, that had it
been n few weeks before the election il
mi9A have been different. We hope not
though, but will assure our Governor
that large and intelligent audience OF
American free men and women we're very
much disappointed in not being favored
with his presence. REPoRTER.