Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-31
THE MARTINS FERRY HIGH
SCHOOL.
Attractive Exercises at the Com
mencement Last Night.

/ place last night, in the Presbyterian
| Church, at Martins Ferry, and attracted
a large audience, among whom we no.
ticed Prof Duff, Superintendent OF the
Bellaire public schools; Miss Gor6y,
teacher Of the High School; the gradu'
ating class of this year, and the male
! members of the one which graduated
| last summer; Miss Ryan, OF the ~.
\ Clairsville schools, and the class that
acquitted themselves so creditably al
| Bridgeport the night before, and who
could enjoy the occasion all the more
because of the regency of their own pass
age through the same ordeal.
Mr.. Schofeld was the musical direc-
tor, and Miss Emily WarwoOd presided
| at the organ. The musical part OF the
| programme was worthy OF especial no
| tice. Both the vocal part of 1t and the
/ instrumental accompaniment were hner
! than the usual commencement music.
| The opening chorus, "Strike the Gym
| bal" with solos by Miss Flora Williams
and Mr.. Schofeld, gave promise oi a
musical programme well worth listening
TO, nor was this expectation disappointed
by the subsequent singing.
Superintendent j. G. Black, OF the
st. Clairsville schools, led in prayer, by
request of Prof. Shreye.
"All Hail to Liberty a trio by Miss
Mary Campbell and McSsrs. q. y. Chal-
FAINT and J. w. Schotield, followed,
though not next on the programme a.
printed. 1t was substituted ior a quarlu
which was given later in the evening.
Miss Jennie Green, the first Of the
class to favor the audience, and the
young lady who bore of the second
hOnOrs, read an essay, the theme OF
which was "Nlake the Best Of It," and
a wholesome lesson was drawn from the
old adage. The style was clear, and the
stories given in illustration, well chosen
and well told. The delivery was also
good The appreciation OF the audience
was shown in more substantial man
ner than by the clapping OF hands.
Miss Green was made the recipient OF 4
number OF beautiful bouquets OF rare
flowers.
Miss Izetta McHenry, the next read
err was suffering from cold, which
rendered her voice, naturally sweet and
audible, rather hOarse and ind!Stinct.
Her delivery, however, was far from
unpleasant, even with the lncon-
Venence under which she spoke.
"Much Ado About Nothing" "
was the theme she chose, and she treat
ell it i'm an attractive and practical man
ner. 1t was especially worthy of the at
tentiOn of the young ladies with whom
fondness for adjeCtiyes isa marked trait
Miss McHenry also received enough
bouquets to make the reporters, ol
whom several were present, and who
are accustomed 10 mOnOpOllZe all the
good things themselves, feel a tlectInE
twingc of envy. They made quite a
pyramind at her feet.
4 chorus, "Star OF Descending Night,
was given with pleasant effect.
Miss Mary Campbell S essay on Pune
tualitv," was also oil q practical nature,
and conveyed lesson by which most
of us could profit errcading was well
modulated and audible, and her bear
ingeasv and unconstrained. She received
the usual Martins Ferry applause
about half bushel OF bouquets, more,
even, than her predecessors.
James Pennington, the only male
member Of the class, instead OF an essay,
delivered an oration, taking for It's topic
"Anger," which, he said, is good ser
want, but bad master. He considered
il in thoughtful and pleasant way, and
his delivery, though he was not as
much at ease before the audience as the
representatives of the fair sex in the
class, was as good in other respects. 1t
was clear and easily heard in all parts Of
the audience. He was no exception in
the matter of floral signs OF appreciation.
He ought TO be more gratitied by this
than the young ladies-for in his case
the flowers were even more abundant
than in theirs.
4 Quartctte, 'In Heavenly Love
Abiding" was then sung by Misses
Flora Williams and Mary Campbell, and
Messrs. G.. y. ChGliant and j. w. Scho-
field. 1t sustained the reputation Of
Prof. Schofeld as a preceptOr OF music.
Miss Ella Thorburn chose as the per-
vading thought OF her essay, "ll Youth
but Knew and Age Could Do She
alluded in opening 10 the lamentauOn
of Louis XVI, of France. "HOw sad 1t
is that in this life of ours, we never
have both knowledge and power at the
same Iime." And this was the burden
of her discourse, which was the most
thoughtful of all and was we'll read
withal. Miss Thorburn's only lack was
in assurance. She was seemingly some
what embarrassed, and so did not
make quite as favorable an i'm
preston upon strangers as she other
wise might But that the larger part of
the audience very properly overlooked
this was evidenced by the profusion Of
bouquets showered at her feet when she
had concluded. They were also as
beautiful as abundant, and almost hid
her when piled in front OF her on the
platform.
Verdi's chorus, "Grandly Thou
Flowcst, Father of Waters" was sung
by the school, the solos being taken by
Mr.. Schohcid.
The closing essay, entitled "Nislon, y
was written and read by Miss Kate
Lewis, who bore off the first honOrs OF
the class. The production was con-
sideratIon of vision" both in a literal
and figurative scnse-that is, the vision
of the eve, and the vision Of the mind.
The likeness and the difference between
these two kinds Of visions
was clearly pointed out; the merits and
the faults they possess in common, and
the superiority or inicriority Of each TO
the other, were referred to. The visions.
orrcvelations, tthe Scriptures, and those
vagaries induced by the use oi OPT
um orany stimulant or narcotic, claimed
a share OF the esSayiSt'S attention. The
manner OF delivery of the young lady Is
pleasing and easy, and her effort was
appreciated by the audience, and the
appreciation displayed by the gift Of a
profusion Of bouquets.
We think If all the floral offerings on
the platform at the end otthe entertain
ment had been put together, there would
have been a good Cart-load OF them, and
all were choice flowers, and apparently
formed into bouquets by professional
florists. Their fragrance permeated the
whole front OF the church, lending the
aid Of their subtle influence To pleasure.
The presentation of diplomas 70 the
graduates was made by DR.. /. Werlich,