Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-06-05
Temperance Lecture.
Eleventh Annual commencement OF
the st. CIairsyiIIe High school.

On last Thursday evening at w eluay
Hall, occurred the lltn annual com
mencement of the st. ClairSvilie hlgt
school. Interest among the. patrons vi
the schools in these occasions has in
creased every year, until they have be
come local events of considerable i'm
portance, not only to the graduating
class and school, but to all interested in
the cause of education. At An early
hour, long before the doors of the hall
were opened, the people began to gatf er,
to hear the essays and OratlOns of those
about to "commence" life in earnest; and
| few moments after the doors were
thrown open, there was not standing
room left in the ball, and many later
arrivals had to return disappointed to
their homes.
TBe floral decorations of the stage,
showed trat the young ladies of the
class, who superintended their arrange
ment, had an eye to conceive and hand
to construct nature beauties into a
genuine work OF art. In front was a
double arch uf cut flowers and ever
greens, on either side of which were the
floral letters 1854" and on tue floor of
the stage the pot tiGwel and shrubbery
made one almost imagine he was in "a
conservatory or green house; and only
the hum of the bee und chatter of the
bird were lacking to make ii seem like
one of the most beautiful gards.R spots.
At the rear of the stage were hung some
handsome steel eBgravings and paint
ings, the whole forming a lifting sur
rounding for the center of attraction
fer the eveniug,the class of 'S4, the three
sweet girl graduates" and The young
gentleman, who occupied seats on the
stage.
The exercises of the evening were
opened by the singing of Home, Sweet
Home" followed by an appropriate pray
er by Rev. DR.. Balph, and solo by Miss
Ella West, entitled ''Happy Childhood."
with chorus of voices from the school
The first essay of the class, Nothing
was created in vain," was read by Miss
Lulu NJ. Sutton, in a pleasing tone of
voice, and was of such interest as to
carry the audience from the beginning
to the end. The essay showed that the
young lady was well versed in the sci
pnce which treats of animal life, from
its rudest and most uncouth form, to its
highest type.
After singing of Hearts and homes"
by the choir, Mr.. Sherman II. Doyle, the
only young gentleman in the class, de-
livered an Grafton on the subject, Ma
ture lodges kher treasures in rocky
grounds" which was we'll prepared
and well executed effort, and showed
that the young gentleman had an idea of
what real life, outside of school boz"
days was to be.
The essay of Miss Emma ID. Sutton, |
entitled "Caskets," was another excel |
lent paper, rendered in an easy, cultiva
ted manner, and the different "Caskets
pictured were instructive to those who |
had passed through life'S experience, |
and were on the homeward march. The |
ESSAY was followed by well rendered |
solo. by Miss Blanche Frazier, entitled |
"Mether, Home and Heaven"
"a sorrow shared is half trouble,
A joy shared is a joy made double"
was the title of the essay of Miss Sadie |
Giffin, and she is also to be congratuled |
on having pleased and delighted the an
dience with an excellent paper, which |
would have done credit to one Of matu
rer years.
The class exercises were concluded by |
the "ValdictOry," by Sherman ii. Doyle,
anu singing of the class song, Our boat
is launched" followed by presentation
of diplomas 10y W. A. Hunt, President
of the Board of Education, in a short
address to the class.
At the conclusion of the exercises the
Rev Thomas Balph. offered a resolution
of cOmmendation and thanks to Superin
tendent Hitchcock and Prof. Elliott, who |
retire from the schools and it was unani- |
mously adopted.
After benediction, pronounced by Rev
Robert Alexander, d D., the audience was
well pleased with the eve
nings entertainment as an entirety. and |
the "Class of 'S4" step forth into new
life to be followed in time by that of '85,
'86, and SO on, and fond parents, and |
friends innumerable, will watch with
anxious eye and trusting hearts, hoping
that their future life will prove as bene
fetal to them selves and those they come
in contact with, as the evening they were
honored, gave promise of.