The daily gazette., 1883-06-28
OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
THE CLOSING EXERCISES LAST
EVENING".
NEARLY THIRTY GRADUATES.
A Very CreditAble Showing on the Part
Of Our Boys and Girls-The Prizes
Awafded.

semlclrcle IOr tne graduating class, mum
berlDg 30. The young ladies were seate,
on the left and the young men on the righ
of President Baird, who occupied the centr
of the half circle. Back of the young ladie
we're seated j. II. Adams, the Revs. DR.
Marks and j. Richard Boyle, J.. H. HofI
ecker, George A. Elliott, and principal of tn
High School Birdsell; ~ the right and rea
| OF them were seated sfe giee class OF the girl
department. The front of the stage, as 1
usual on such occasions, was covered will
boquets, baskets filed with fruit and flowers
All having any part to perform at las
nights exercises acquitted themselves cred
itably, but owing 10 the large number O
graduates only six delivered addresses. Not
withstanding the fact that the entertainment
last evening was, or is supposed TO be, fol-
the graduates alone, the last speaker on the
program, while making splendid address
and giving wise counsel to the graduates
spoke considerably longer than the needs
demanded and consequently heightened the
program materially, the closing number
being given In time to drop the curtain 81
| IL o'clock.
The Philharmonic Orchestra, numbering
25 pieces, opened the program with an
overture by Bach In very pleasing and
highly enjoyable manner. L. Calvin Berto
lette followed with an essay entitled cam
You have been invited to this, the annual
commencement OF the Wilmington High
School, and the classes of '63 extend to you
cordial welcome. A year has gone since
classes of our school occupied this platform.
We come, therefor, to present TO you the
fruits OF another year Of work, In the hope
that the result may show the. time and labor
well spent. 1t il a proper and pleasant
custom that periods and events, which,
from their influences on the future lives OF
men are rendered of great import
ance, receive public notice and appropriate
celebration. The occasion when the little
child fist learns to walk and talk, and that
more important occasion when he becomes
the happy possessor of his first pair of pants,
are events which are tondly spoken Of and
whose memory is cherished throughout lite.
And, as all the pleasant events OF childhood
deserve appropriate notice, 1t Is peculiarly
fitting that we make memorable the occa-
sion when the thoughtless pleasures of
childhood aud youth must be laid aside and
when we are called upon to bow to the
world and take upon our shoulders the re-
sponsibilities of manhood or womanhood.
An heir, on coming of age, calls an assem-
blange of his friends to celebrate his a, rival
at mans estate. So we are here to celebrate
our completion oil the public school course
We deem this an important stage in our
progress, inasmuch as itcompletes that edu-
cation, which the State thin necessary to
provide for every citizen. Thus far we have
received of your bounty; henceforth we must
rely upon ourselves. Since then we cease
to night to be wards of the State, 1t is ft-
ting that in celebrating the event we sub
NIT ourselves to your approval. This is,
at once, our Introduction to a ma
turer life and our day of reckoning, for we
N 81, ,t.-hN r.
use of the advantages you have afforded u.s.
During our years of study we have not been
without ambition. There have been some
hills to climb, difficulties to overcome, tasks
to perform, which at the time threatened us
with defeat and failure. They lie beneath
us now-so many stones, we trust, In the
foundation OF our strength. We have been
ambitious, not so much of distinction as OF
excellence. We have desired many things;
scholarship, manlness, good character.
Whether we have attained them you may
judge tonight, we desire one thing, your
approval.
Miss Kate Plummer read an essay enti-
tied "The Good Old Times," in which she
depicted the condition of men in the early
days with those of to-day, and closed by ex-
pressing herself as thankful that she did not
live In those good old times when successes
were accomplished by force and VIII n the
strong overrid the weak, and the rich
subjected the poor to all manner OF uupleas
antnesses.
The glee class followed with a song enti-
tied Fair janet" by Abt. Their singing
was remarkably true and In good time, and
was one of the great successes of the even
ing's entertainment.
George A. Elliott, ESQ.,, then presented
the Wilmington Institute prizes to w. L.
Cooling, Charles B. Palmer, Ella Pickles,
Ella Aldrich and Mary Pickels, for attain
ing the highest general average in their re-
spective classes. Frank M. Jones, one of
the successful scholars, was absent on ac-
count of illness. The speaker, in pre- .enting
the yearly tickets to the Library, cautioned
the successfal ones how and what to read.
The orchestra then delighted the audience
with Franke's "Idylle," which was rendered
In very creditable manner and received a
very fattering applause from the large au-
dience.
John j. Whelan followed with an essay
entitled, "Then-Now," In which he re-
viewed the whole history of the United
for the purpose of proving the saying that
time works wonders and contrasted the
colonial era with the 10Th century. An
essay entitled, "Home," by Miss Hannah L.
Foulk was very well received, she contrasted
the homes Gf the royal families with those of
the poorer class and spoke of the homes of
the former class which were not enjoyed
from the fact that arrangements were made
more for appearance than pure
comforts, and also expressed her
opposition to having around a place
for everything and everything in its
place without regard to personal comforts,
and suggested various methods by which a
home might be made everything that could
be desired.
A song by the glee class entitled "North
Wind" by Gatty was well sung and deserved
the hearty applause which its rendition re-
ceiVed. The wording of the class was clear
and distinct and It's mOdulatos were every
thing that could be desired,
Rev. Lafayette Marks, d. D., in present
ing the Adams prizes tor excellence in Eng
lish Grammar after congratulating the sue
cessful scholars Miss Elizabeth Carlisle and
g. 7. Hildebrand, said:
This occasion is very interesting
one to the young ladies and gentlemen, who
have successfully passed through the schools
| and examinations they are to be given the
| honor of being graduates; to them the even
| ing belonged, and he would therefore oc-
cupy but little time in his remarks. There
| is no institution in this city that should re-
oeive such hearty support as our high school,
/ which is controlled and owned by the citi.
zens and lie open to all classes alike. The
graduates are the fruit and the school is the
tree which belongs to you; long may 1t grow
and flourish. In presenting the prizes 70 the
i two successful scholars the speaker said
that SO boys and 30 girls had contested fol-
the Adams prizes this year. tFI
! The OFchestsE followed with the s'Fest