The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-06-14
THE n E w B E r r Y H E. r A l. d.
Closing Exercises of Prosperity High
School.

Closing Exercises OF prosperity HIGH
School.
We have watched the Prosperity
High School with interest, ever since it
was erected. We attended its closing
exercises in 1880; III 1881 and again
i'll 1882: but, while we saw much that
was gratifying in the success OF each
commencement. we We're at no time
more pleased than or last Thursday
when the school reached the fourth
mile-post III its career. 1t WAS 4 glad
day for Prosperity. The morning
hours were devoted to the exhibition
OF the
PRIMARY DEPARTMENT,
which took place in the schCo!-hOuSe,
under the management OF Mis- Matte
Sfrck. The exercises consisted OF eS-
says and extracts read and spoken by
the little girls and boys. who were
bright and Sclf-poSSe>ScI. The hours
passed swiftly, and there was nothing
to regret in them. The parents, no
less than the teachers. have reason to
be gratiiicd at the success Of the chill
drcN-it was tCo marked to admit un-
favorable criticism. And. while words
of praise were freely bestowed, We
have yet to hear the first cXprcsSion OF
disappointment or dissatisfaction. Al
ter the children had performed their
parts. fitting remarks were made by
Prof. Perrin, the Rev. Bushnell and
Major G.. G. DeWalt and the exercises
closed.
Just before nightfall the town was
visited with q refreshing rain which
caused a pleasant breeze to spring up.
AID at an early hour hurrying crowds
were vending their way towards Grace
Church in which the
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
took place. and which was soon literally
packed with an eager audience. At
81 O'Clock. the readers and speakers.
who had marched from the school
house. filed into the church. and after
prayer by the Rev. \. j. Bowers, a
greeting song was sweetly sung by the
fifth. sixth and seventh classes. This
was followed by the >alutatory essay,
Oh. Beyond the Alps Lies Italy'-wlit-
ten by Miss Sallie J.. DomiIick, and read
by the Rev. j. G.. Boyd. After pictur-
ing sunny Italy with her blue skies,
her bright traditions and splendid
ruins, the writer passed to the Italy Of
life. and showed that we must cross
Alps OF dificulty.sin order to reach sue
cess.
The concert recitation of the '!Old
Clock on the Stairs" by Misses SteVie
Bowers, Sarah Luther, Amanda Domi-
nick. Sall:e LangfOrd and Beulah
Barre. the members OF the fifth class,
impressed lis as being especially fine.
The programme furnished nothing
more pleasing. But it detracted moth
ing from the interest OF the essay
which followed. on ''Fiction''-writtcn
by Miss Nina G. Wheeler and read by
Prof. Cork. The writer took a very
just and liberal view OF the subject ;
showing that while the lower order of
fiction, devoted to flippancy and trash,
is injurious, fiction OF the more dignitied
kind tends to refine and ennoble. I'M
mediately after this came practical,
well written essay on The Use and
Abuse of Worldly Advanta@eS''-writ-
ten by Miss Mary I. Dominick, and
read by w. II. Wallace, Esq.
At this point the audience gave IN
mistakable signs that they had been
looking forward with unusual interest
to the debate, on the question, (which
is the better place for university, the
Country or the City," The affirmative
was espouSed by j. Pettus Wheeler,
and the negative, by RUFUS Il. Boozcr.
The young debatcrs crossed swords III a
way that would have put older speakers
whom we have heard, to shame. They
had given the. subject careful study ;
and the meri:s OF both sides were so
well presented, that we should not be
willing to decide the question OH the
merits of the discussion. The young
gentlemen Won the first applause OF the
evening-1iow.rS were given in profu-
sion to all the eSSayiStS and speakers.
The debate as followed by an ora
ton on ''Southern Literature" by
Henry w. B yd. He deprecated the
money-gctting spirit that has chilled
the southern illagination-that leads Il
to make co. ton rather than write
| poems. He iminiStered some severe
blows to fiction that floods the 'couD-
try and loves Our standard OF taste,
and which We bny because it is cheap.
The speech was good one The
speaker held the close attention OF the
audience by his earnest, impasSioned
delivery. Heis young man OF much
promise. He is upright and studiouS
and the future holds something worthy
in store for him.
The yaledicto:y essay, on "UncrOwn-
ed Heroes" written by Miss Lillian L,
Luther, was read by Geo. 3. Cromer.
| The fair writer, drawing L Just distinc-
ton between crowns of gold and
crowns of merit, showed that the real
heroes of life are the busy toilers, the
hewerS of wood and drawers OF water,
who live umcrowned and die unsung.
Her parting words to her teachers and
school-mates were appropriate and
touching.
Prof. Perrin then announced the
class adYancementS, made few re-
marks to the pupils, and stated that
the session of the school was at an end.
The benediction was pronounced by
the Rev. Hodges. This report would
be ineXcusably imperfect without
some mention of the delightful music
with which the exercises were inter
spersed, and the occasion enliyened
Mrs. Rose Kiblcr, music teacher. played
the organ, the only musical instru-
ment used. except the triangle, and the
guitar with which she accompanied the
song of 'Jaunita." ''The Bridge
was sung with pleasing effect by Miss
Carrie Sease, and ''Under the Daisies
and several other pieces were sweetly
sung by Miss Sleek.