The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-06-15
Commencement of Prosperity High

Commencement of Prosperity High
School.
We had the pleasure of attending last
Thursday night the closing exercises Of
the Prosperity High School, which were
held in Luther & Dominick's Hall. The
large hall was crowded. Everybody in
! ! Prosperity that could 60 went; and
there were many from the surrounding
country, besides considerable number
from Newberry. The occasion was a
fitting close to a very successful year.
The number of pupils the past year was
not as large as the year before; but this
fact was owing to the short crops of last
year and the consequent inability Of
many parents to send their children TO
board. The number was quite large,
however. being one hundred and nine.
The teachers. consisting of Prof D. G.
Lake, Principal. Prof j. S. Perrin, Miss
Mamie Mayfeld and Mrs. R. l. Kibler,
have worked hard during the year, and
the evidences Of their faithful work Civ
en- Thursday night must have been as
gratifying to them as to the patrons of
the school.
The exercises were opened with pray
er by Rev. J. G. Boyd, of Prosperity.
The First Glass, composed of little girls,
from seven to ten years old, gave an
exhibition of Calisthenics. Then fol-
lowed an Essay on The Importance Of
Failure" written by Miss Mary Lee
Dnmini,k, and read b. Hon. Geo: John
stone. of Newberry. The next Essay,
antiquities Of the West" written by
Miss Nina G. Wheeler, was read by G..
3. Crouer. Esq, of Newberry: DO
nestic Accomplishments" Ly Miss Ma
ry i. Dominick, was read by Rev. +.
D. Smart, of Newberry. The debate,
Ought the "reminiscences Of the late
war 10 be cherished by the South?',
was participated in by Messrs. r. T..
Boozer and E. S. Werts. on behalf Of
lie affirmative. and Messrs. H. " Boyd
and D. l.. Boozer on the part Of the
negative. A concert recitation by the
4th Class closed the exercises, and the
benediction was pronounced by Rev. j.
A. Sigh.
The vocal and instrumental music by
Mrs. Kioler and Miss Lizzie Boyd con-
tributed largely to the pleasure of the
evening.
The essays of the young ladies show-
ed care and thoughtful preparation.
The language was good; and there was
a conspicuous and most gratifying abb
sence of the usual sentimentalism, or
"gush." to which school girls, as class,
are loo much addicted in their literary
efforts. We can say for the readers
that they did their part we'll.
The debate by the young gentlemen
was well sustained. For their age they
possess considerable oratorical talents,
and they had prepared their speeches
with much care and thoughtfulness.
Before hearing the debate we thought
| the selection of the query was not hap
py one; but now think it did very we'll.
It gave the young men an occasion tc
read up and study the causes and hlsto'
~ of the late war; and they discussed
the subject with perfect propriety and
commendable good taste, saying no
thing unkind about our former enemies
and not exhibiting in the slightest de-
gree any sectional animosity. The
negative had much the weaker side o.
the query, especially before such an au'
dience, but they fought valiantly for the
side to which they had been assigned.
No Sect in Heaven" was recited ir
concert by five young ladies; and sc
clear and distinct was their enunciatior
that every word could be distinguished
in every part of the hall.
At the close of the regular exercises
JUDGE J. S. CoTHRAE,
who occupied seat on the stage, wa!
introduced to the audience by Prof
Perrin. Judge Cothran said: Had
known that would be called upon fol
an address my heart would probably
have failed me and I would have re
mained at Newberry tonight. Only ;
few minutes ago, as the exercises were
closing, was told that I would be ex
pected to say something; the pleasure
of the evening have not, therefore, beer
spoiled by this anticipation. 1t is DO
necessary to argue in this community
the necessity of education; you are al
.eady fully awake to the importance o
the subject. On the road from New
berry to this place I have seen vel
cultivated fields; and here I have seel
gratifying evidences of tho cultivation
of minds. If your fields are we'll cult
waited and your minds we'll cultivate'
YOU deserve the name Of Prosperity.
The motto that spans the stage is true
Education is the hope Of our country.
It is truer now than ever before. Tn
distinctions on account Of wealth haV
been abolished; we are all poor alike
and the degrees of distinction among
depend chiefly upon education. lhav
f listened with great pleasure to your eS
ercises, especially to the debate. l an
satisfied the debaters on the negatiy
would have taken the affirmative sid
had they been allowed to choose; bu
thew have advocated we'll the dificul
f part that has been assigned them.
cannot decide the question; it must b
; done by different umpire, one wit
more brains than heart. But this
know, these "reminiscences will continu
to be cherished. If forgotten by th
,, , men, they will be remembered by th
women. Passion has not yet allowe
a history of those days to be writer
> but it will be written by some historic
not yet born. and it will live throug
,, the coming ages. One Of the debatel
f has spoken of Gen. Stonewall Jackson
E l saw that great leader carried mortal
: wounded from Charlottesville. Th
{ officers of the war have had historian
to chronicle their deeds; but there
d another class that I commend to yor
admiration-the untitled soldiers wh
illustrated their courage and gallantr
on as many battle fields as the officer
The morning after Jackson was take
away wounded my command was orde
ed to carry the enemy's breastworks.
lifelong friend was shot down by n