The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-07-02
HACKS HASH.
CommeBcements-Wilb Universally
Its sGraduates-Gaines' High school
Glass of 'S1-The Great Surprise
The Floral Shower-Hand-
some Gifts.

During last week occurred the most men,
orable and best commencement that Wilber-
force University ever experienced. Aside
from the immense crowd of friends, the large
attendance of the bishops and the presence of
so many renowned men, there are many
features which tend to make these exercises
not only of interest to the colored people in
Ohio. but also to make them an event of
history. Properly speaking the Commence
ment began on Sunday, week ago, with
the Baccalaureate sermon of President 3. +.
Lee. The subject of this most excellent
sermon was 1.-The sum of human duty"
and it was based upon Ecclasiastes xii, 13.
Separating this into three or four topics he
discoursed tellingly and feelingly of the "Ob
legation of man to God, "The fear of God"
and "Our dutyto each other is given in love-"
Delivered as it was before q large and appre-
ciative audience, it can be hoped that the
MANY high moral LESSONS contained in it.
NAV not be vain in effect On the same day
the "Annual Sermon" was preached by
Bishop ID. A. Payne, formerly president of
the University On Wednesday occurred
the Glass Day Exercises and the Annual
Rhetorical and Prize Contests. Next to the
graduating exercises, those of Glass Day
stand out prominently best. "The Sal
utatory' by Miss A. Ii. Jones and the essay,
Beacon Lights" by Miss A. +. Dugget,
were very fine. The "Class History" by
G. S. Lewis was very humorous, well writ
ten and immensely well taken. The "Pr0ph-
ecy." by Z. A. Clark, written in blank verse,
not only possesses great imagination aud
fire description, and displays for the author
hirb poetic power and conception. In the
exercises of the rhetorical and prize contests,
many we're entered and many displayed
fine rhetorical abilities, but it remained for
one, Mr.. j. Il. Gibson, of Selma, Ohio, TO
he pronounced best and to receive the prize
as such. However, Mr.. 1. n. Burgan of
Terre Haute, Ind. deserves mention for his
great powers as an orator. On Thursday
came the day for the graduation of the
class of '8l, consisting of five young men
and two young ladies. The subjects of their
orations are as follows: Progress ID. M.
Ashbv, Flemingsburg, KY; "The Demands
of the Age" w. w. Jones. Troy, o.; I'm
tellectual Culture" j. A Dodson, Harveys-
burg. o.; Build Your Own Monuments" "
Miss A. IL. Jones, Troy, o.; Ora
ton and Valedictory-'Study of Ma
ture," Z. S. Clarke, Wilberforce, Ohio.
After the viledictory, President Lee con-
ferred the diplomas upon the graduates with
appropriate and kind admonitions and
wishes as to their future. Then the diploma
comforting the title of Master of Arts, was
given to Prof. S. T. Mitchell, formerly a
student of the University, who has by inces-
SAINT study since his graduation, won
and merited the bestowal of such title
Last Friday night the Gaines high school
sent out into the world nine young ladies
and two young men-the Glass of 81. We
have already published the names of this
class and their subjects, and will only COM
men.. The essays proved very highly in.
teresting and were delivered with grea,
credit to both class and school. The young
ladies and gentlemen of this class we're just
literally showerei with boquets, baskets and
| other floral offerings. The whole front o.
the stage from side TO side was covered with
the floral tributes which the many friends o.
the graduates presented to them. Nor were
floral gifts all. Gold necklaces, earrings
bracelets. handsome and costly fans and
sets of books were among the gifts. A
very beautiful floral ship was one o
the presents that attracted great notice
A most interesting feature was the complete
surprise, which the class of 81 has prepared
for the Principal, Peter II. Clark, ESQ
During one of the pauses, the class ros
from the seats, and surrounded Mr.. Clark
and Mr.. Charles r. Hawkins, in very fin,
and choice address, presented finely en-
graved silver service to the Principal. III
| his address, Mr.. Hawkins rendered the ser
vice in the name of the "Class Of 49," as
token of Its highest esteem for him as
teacher and also wished that his future woul,
be surrounded by halo of happiness, full,
equal in brightness to that of the service
Mr.. Clark, who knew nothing at all of tn
presentation, and who had imagined tn
present as one of some of the graduates. wa
totally overcome and surprised, and wa
only able to return his thanks and high aI
probation of the gift in few broken sen
tences. The hour being late when the las
Grafton was finished, Mr.. Clark delivered tn
diplomas to the class, and the large, and, in
deed, handsomely dressed audience was dis
missed. AS usual, ''Old Gaines has acquitte
itself creditably, and eleven more talente
young ladies and gentlemen are out in tn
world, fully equipped. HACK.