The daily gazette., 1879-06-26
FIRST EDITION.
OUR GIRLS
And How They Acquitted
Themselves on the Stage,
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF
THE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL.

oSlhCOlAs
AN IMMENSE AUDIENCE--PLEAsAN
EXERCISES REGULATIONS,
ESSAYS AND ADDREssEs--THEA ADAMS
PRIZE, ETC.
Rain fell necessarily, last evening, and
rendered it exceedingly unpleasant to be
It of doors, but it did not have the eff
feet of abating one whit the commence
ment exercises of the Girls High School,
which were to take place in the Grand
Opera House.
Without needing the unpleasant
weather, the people turned out, shelter
ed by umbrellas and waterproofs, and
every lucky possessor of ticket reso-
lutely faced the storm determined not to
allow a dampening shower stand be-
| tween them and the evening of rare ell
joyment they so confidently expected.
Even those who held only admission
tickets came up as briskly as the others,
and stood up during the entire entertain
ment, without feeling, apparently,
the slightest fatigue, SO great was their
interest in this now recognized feature of
the operations of the Wilmington High
School.
| When the exerci es opened every seat
IN the hall was occupied and hundreds of
persons sat upon the steps and in the
aisles, up stairs and down, and stood in
every location that was sufficiently avail
| able to give them a view of the stage.
| About twenty-five hundred tickets were
AIKEN in at the door, and form a fair es
innate of the extent of the vast audience.
i A sea of eager, expecta 1t faces faced the
81 age, and the scene was far too vivid
and inspiring to be adequately descrb-
ed by any words, however graphic, that
might be penned.
The forward part of the stage, when
the exercises commenced, was scene of
artistic floral beauty. Three rustic
stands, filled with rare plants, occupied
positions at either end and in the centre,
while the bouquets and flower-baskets
that had been sent up for the graduates,
formed semi-circle of rich and gorgeous
: colors, across the entire width Of the
stage. Mingled with these were baskets
of misunderstanding fruits, pleasing to the
eye and tempting to the senses, while a
huge pile of neatly-bcund packages gave
a practical turn to these impromptu
decorations, and showed that the gradu-
| dbCS WClC W UC lCW dluCu iloiC oupotdii-
TALLY than with mere flowers and fruits
for their temporary pleasure and enjoy
ment. The stage scenery was set for the
well-known garden and terrace scene
and numerous seats were provided fol
the graduates, singing class, presiding
officer, committee and visitors.
On the stage, besides the graduates and
other scholars, the following gentlemen
|
who presided, and Col. B. r. Heisler, the
Board of Education committee Of School
No. /; Henry Eckel, President OF the
Board of Public Education; John ii
Adams, Esq, the generous donor of the
English Grammar prizes; Rev. James
NJ. Williams, President of Wesleyan Fe
male College Rev. Lafayette Marks, d
d., pastor of Hanover Presbyterian
Church; VIM. II. Purnell, l.. l.. ID.
President, and VIM. McCaulley, one o
the Professors, of Delaware College; ID
w. Harlan, Esq, Superintendent of Pub
lie Schools. The graduates were Misse!
Mary. f. Elliott, Kate S. Pickles, Ell;
= Cleaver, Ella A. Beeson, Annie f
Michener, Ida o. Wood, Maria c
Loney, Ella f. Coudon, Clara Hyde
Lizzie d. Wolaston, Martha l.. Nc
Clane, and Ella Mitchell. They wer
arayed in the proverbial white gradual
ing dresses, and were the objects ofgrea
attention.
The exercises were of the most enjoya
BILE character. The singing and recita
tions were excellent, while the essay
y y were of deep and thoughtful nature
displaying careful study, and a slTpris
ingly thorough knowledge of history
literature and general affairs. A full re
port OF the entire programme, in detail
is given below.
A few minutes after eight O'Clock,
large class of the High School young Ia
!. dies, came upon the stage, to the accom-
paniment of brilliant march upon TIL
piano, followed by the graduates, twely
in number, who took seats on the sout
y side.
IN Henry G. Conrad, Esq, of the Boar
OF Education, and a member OF No.
committee, presided over the exercise
which opened with prayer by Rev. }. N
Williams, President ofWesleyan Femal
b College.
A song, "The Distant Drum" by I'll
High School class, followed under IL
leadership of Prof. Rhodes, with Mi
Matte P,ckels at the piano.
Il The fist essay read was ".Nothing bl
Leaves" by Miss Mary Z. Elliott. II
= essayi,t opened with a salutatory addre
W, looming the audience to the exercise
and claiming that the presence Of SO va
an assemblage was an encouragement
the graduates and to the cause of educ
EA tion.
10. The essay was an able review of maj
-, human lives, which, when the gold,
ae summer of youth is passed, show no ha
vest of character, patience and long-su
W fering, but only the leaves of unattain'
results and useless endsavors. 1t was
thoughtful production, and was read
an easy, natural manner, and a cles
" well-modulated tone. As natural I
AZ suit it was greet with hearty applaus
- At the conclusion Of this essay, sever
bouquets were sent up to the fair essayi.
> and also large and beautiful baskt
made entirely of leaves. Like the su
=, ject of the essay il was "nothing b
leaves" and the audience recognized Il
appropriate character of the present by
4 spontaneous burst of applause.
7 "Wishing," was the theme OF the lie
u essay, by Miss Kate s. Pickels. 1t he
that man ever aspired to unattainat
ends, and his lnclinations in this dire
ii on were of two Characteristic futi
-; misdirected Efforts, and the soft, drear
md existence that tends to life of inertnt
eir and barren of results. Wishing, the