Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-06-16
Closing of W. M. Academy.

The closing exercise Of Wentworth Male
Academy were held 1t the opera house on
Thursday night, jane !. A large and appre-
cistive audience, listened atteutiyely through
the entire programme. This academy Is
comparatively a new institution incur midst,
but 1t has won Its way rapidly, and now
stands on 3 firm basis, with an increasing pa
tronage, and has the best wishes of all our
citizens, whether they patronize it or not. 1t
was with much pride that VI listened to the
following programme, The rendition of each
piece meriting and receiving the heartiest sp-
.plause: 5..
Opening Preysr-By Rev. W. N. Posge.
Auslc-Lsxtngton String Band.
~ STAGE DRILL By THE CADETS.
.'Maclsine,s Child'.-W. B.. .waddell.
MUSIC.
? ''s.Ths Rum Maniac''-W, r. HAYES. Jr.
Melting Momsnts'-Ernest chapman.
Oratien: Subject. ''Roms''-s. S. Cash.
s.'Uncle Daa'rs Apparitlon and Prayer
vs. j. Howe
MUSIC.
'.Msturnus' Address to his Band"-E. P.
'''Mr FoeK's Account Of = Scientific Expert.
i. Aehl.
Presentation Of Nedals-Mr. Richard Field.
MUSIC.
BENHDIcTrox.
The first piece, sMaclaine's Childs5' by Mr..
Walter Waddell, was delivered with q clear
and distinct voice. easy and graceful gestures,
but he was not thoroughly familiar with his
work. He required prompting once or twice,
became embarrassed, and dropped into the
a0rnnnon.r10oo ofu1o -Af f~o,S<ok;o~ hut he
speedily recovered, and tried hard to redeem
his lost opportunity. Study and practice will
do much to make him q fine speaker.
"The Rum Aaniac,"'a recitation, by Mr..
W. T. Hayes, Jr., was as well delivered as
anything we ever heard from = school-boy Of
his age. he seemed to forget self, to feel
that he was holding up an example to warn
his hearers. Every gesture was good, and
his expression was still better. He felt the
force of his subject, and did himself great
credit. We would advise him to perseyere,
composition. go
"Melting Moments by Mr.. Ernest Chap
man, was . funny piece, where the speaker
was compelled to change his voice to repre-
sent two speakers. 1t is rather q difficult thing
to do, especially for young speakers. 1t was
very well done, and the audience had no
trouble in distinguishing whether It wal the
grocer or his victim who was talking.
."Rome,p an Grafton by Mr.. Jos. s. Cash
was worthy Of special mention, even where
al did 50 vel. his was the only ari9Iqsl
quiredin its production was 10 much taken
from his practice. His composition would
have done credit to q much older head, and
exhibited deep and sound thought, elo-
lquent. and easy diction. His delivery is also
very good; but he had not SO thoroughly
memorized his speech as to make it flow
easily, and two or three times, while study
ing the run Of his subject, he let his voice
drop mite almost q conversational tone; then,
collecting his thoughts, he would again launch
out in an eloquent and earnest manner. TAX
ing all things into consideration, bis effort
was very creditable to him.
"Uncle Dan'Ps Apparition and Prayer" by
w. J. Howe, was an old piece, with which
everybody was perfectly familiar. Like all
funny pieces it Is hard to recite properly.
We have heard it in public many times, but
never better than Mr.: Howe gave 1t. He has
q fine voice, good gestures and q commanding
appearance, and while he acquitted himself
well, we regretted that his selection was not
such as to have shown his oratorical ability.
"Address of Maturnus to his Band,n by
Mr.. E.. P. Ryland, was one of the finest selec-
tons for oratorical effect that could have been
made, and it wss delivered in a manner high
ly creditable. The piece had been thoroughly
memorized and practfced, and the speaker
entered into the spirit Of his work. With q
strong, distinct enunciation, earnest and
graceful gestures, and such = subject, Mr..
Ryland really xstonished the audience with
his eloquence.
mr.. Fogg's Account Of . Scientific Exper-
iment," by Mr.. W. f. Mehl, was another
funny piece, where the speaker carried on a
dialogue between Mr.. Fogy and his wife.
While the selection was not such as to do the
speaker the greatest credit. we think he
handled the dialogue about as well as any
one could have done It. He seems to have q
talent for such things, and they lend variety
TO the programme. But, still, we enjoy the
fun, at the same time regretting that the
speaker has no chance to exhibit the W
we know he possesses.
Taken as . WHOLE. the speeches were the
best we ever heard from a like number Of
school boys. 1t must not be forgotten that
they are boys-some of them large and fine
looking-but nearly all are young in age and
experience. With a little public practice,
some criticism, and plenty Of encouragement,
we would have no fear of failure on the part
Of any one above mentioned. We take the
more pleasure in thus heartily encouraging
these young men because the institution they
represent is yet in its infancy, and some of
the pupils, especially those living out of town.
have not heretofore enjoyed many school ad.
yantages. All seem to have taken hold in
good earnest, and the record of the Academy
this term is y great advertisement In its
favor.
Three medals were awarded this year, The
first for, %punctuality and department, was
Won by Mr.. John Tate. The next, for gen.
eral scholarship, was won by Mr.. Willie
Rathbun, and the third, for mathematics and
languages, was awarded to Mr.. VIM. ].
Howe.
In making the awards of medals Prof.
Sellers stated that Mr.. Eddie Taubman, hsv.
ing won the medal for punctuality and de-
pertinent last year, was not eligible for It
this year, nevertheless his record was higher
than that of the winner, and he deserved
special mention. Mr.. o. S. Buckley was q
close contestant for this medal, and might
have won it had he not been sick for a couple
of months.
The medal for mathematics and languages
was also closely contested, and Mr.. Joseph s.
Cash deserved honorable mention in this con.
nection. The general scholarship medal was
contested for by many, but Mr.. Lee Slusher's
record was SO high as to deserve honorable
mention.
Thus closed the third term of this very
worthy institution. 1t began its career in .
very modest way, but the necessity for an
academy soon became apparent, and it has
grown and prospered to it's present standing,
and we hope for til long term of usefulness
and prosperity. Certainly, if the public un-
derstood the ~thoroughnesa of its worth, the
care taken with the department of the boys,
and the strict supervision of their moral con-
duct, 1t would rapidly grow into one of the
largest schools Of the kind In the state.