West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-06-06
High School commencement.
Parkersburg's annual Jam.

Ii Oil tOllC l1o dOOOUO tkldb 16G-
kersburg's chief pride and interest
were centered in her Public Schools
the scene at the Academy of Music
Monday evening, was surely
enough to sweep away all such un-
certainty of convictions. That
about the whole city turned ont
en- naasse to attend Commencement
was evident to all, and that about
half of the people couldn't get
nearer than the street and had to
return home disappointed, was
painfully evident to the latter class
at least.
While we succeeded in getting
within "earshot" range of the stage
by roosting on carpenters tres
sic behind the scenes, and "took
in" the entire program, we are per-
haps too full of the common and
universally expressed pride in the
Commencement as whole, to be
safe critic in detail, and don't pro-
pose to hazard our own reputation
or that Of any of the graduates by
any haphazard attempt at criti-
cising the exercises.
We listened attentively to all the
essays and orations, and we believe
we risk nothing among all in.
teliigent listeners present, in say
ing that the graduating perform
ances, both In matter and manner,
would rank high with those of like
sized classes in any of our semina-
ries and colleges.
That the young ladies of the
class took the honors, was a gladly
yielded compliment to woman's
ability to cope with her gallant
protector and admirer in the class
room, and was no reflection upon
the bright young men of the class.
Verify they have their reward in
being honored members Of such a
company of graduates.
1t was evident that the class as
whole was mutually proud of itself.
as well it might be. One Of the
ladies remarked to US at the close
of the exercises:
"Now, wasn't you proud Of our
three young orators ?"
Of course we said yes,-and we
didn't prevaricate, either.
1t was a happy thought, that of
having the music and exercises en-
tire by the class and the classIsong,
composed by Miss Hockaday, and
sung by all at the close, was hap
ply climax to this happy idea.
In closing these brief comments
in a general way, we are sure none
will complain if we step aside from
our declared purpose to say, that
we were especially pleased with
the hearty frankness, the womanly
wisdom and touching terseness OF
the brief valedictory remarks. The
citizens of Parkersburg, Board OF
Education, Teachers and Glass
mates, each in turn received appro-
pirate words of recognition, praise,
honor and ahection-words neither
too many nor too few, that went
straight to the heart with the
precious burden of feeling, gath
cred from the fresh, warm heart OF
pure young womanhood. Surely
Mr.. and Mrs. Bowen, of the Sixth
Ward, may we'll be proud of their
interest in the commencement OF
1883.
We give the Program complete
in another column, and will only
add in this connection, that the
Commencement was splendid sue
cess III every material part, that
it gave abundant evidence of the
most excellent management and
remarkable progress of our Public
Schools, under the mastery super
intendency of Prof. Purinton, with
his superior corps of teachers; and
finally. that these annual exhlbl-
tions, showing so obviously the
rapid advance in school work from
year to year, are fast bringing our
citizens up to the happy unanl-
nous conviction that no money OF
the people can be more wisely in
vested, or brings better returns
than that put into our Public
Schools.