The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-17
RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL.
CLOSE or THE TENTH SESSION.
Annual Commencement Exsrcises-Addre
by MIR. Thomas N. PaGe-Reading OF rs.
says-Awardiup or Medals, &c.

BY MIR. Thomas N. PaGe-Reading OF rs.
says-Awardiug OF Medals, &c.
The tenth annual commencement OF the
7 Richmond High school took place at the
Richmond Theatre last night. The school
authorities had taken prudent steps TO ac-
eommodate the crowd, which upoo these
occasions is always large, enthusiastic, To-
quacious, and curious.
Before O'Clock people began to assem-
BILE In front OF the Theatre, waiting for
the doors to open. They were friends and
relatives Of the scholars, and in many
cases they came from a distance.
At 7:l5 O'Clock the doors were opened
and the crowd poured into the Theatre.
Thanks TO excellent management, no
trouble was occasioned. The school trus-
tees and public func,ionaries were provi-
ded for by having seats reserved for them in
the main auditorium OF the building. The
families Of these dignitaries as matter OF
course were included in this courtesy.
These guests entered the building from the
centre door on the Seventh-street side.
All tue galleries were crowded even to
the standing room, and the happy faces OF
the pretty girls and the bright colorS worn
by them made pretty picture, over which
the waves made by the movement OF bodies,
bats, and fans chased each other as they
do over an oat-feld on windy day in
June. And then the talk
As talking tournament n Richmond
High. School commencement Is healthy
affair. No medicine needed there ; every
thing is perfectly well. From PIT TO dome
OF the Theatre the hum rose and fell, but
roared duly all the time. There were
bassos. tenors, falsettos, sopranos, and
every kind OF voice that could be desired
by the most complete demagogue that ever
wanted to voice public sentiment.
SCHOLARS COMING IN.
At s O'Clock Mr.. Fox, principal OF the
High School, brought from ,the stage, be-
fore which the curtain was still drawn, bis
command, consisting OF pretty misses at
tired mostly in that everlasting and never
questionable dress for commencement Oc-
whte-and scores OF bright-eyed
boys. food for future political, military,
literary, or some other kind OF glory. The
faces OF all were very much brighter in
anticipation OF two-months' holiday than
was the gas-light which grinned ghastly
welcome to the great crowd.
Meanwhile Jardella's Band delighted the
crowd with some OF its best work in the
shape OF various well-rendered airs. AT
S:15 the curtain went up, and what pret-
ty picture the stage presented. Three
stands made OF beautiful bouquets, fresh
and bright, and scores OF pretty young
maidens, fresher and brighter. The ilow-
ers stood on each side OF the stage ana one
stand in the centre. Behind these were
the human flowers and thorns, the gradu-
ates OF June and February. The boys are
the thorns.
THE GRADUATES
were as follows:
Adele Williams, Eliza p. Nesle, Erily Dill
Bosher. Minnie r. Tayler, Walter r. Green, Bessie
| j. Tribbett. Charlie c. Anderson, jesse X. Pen
dleton Marge W. Parker Lnlle n, f. yGnes Unnnie h1e
McGehee, Lola l.. Mitchell. Mollie o. Tucker Kit
| tie N. Norris. Sarah Gwathmey, Elise ID. Ragland,
| Florence Minor. Ernest G.. Levy, Mamie VI. WIN
| ston Lee NJ. Eppes, Jennie l.. Leftwich, Kate l..
Childrey. Carrie /. Clarke. Marie J.. keane, Lucy
Il. Powers. Thomas +. Hunt, Maggie +. CRAIG, Msry
A. Pollard. Eloise Richardson, Amelia Levy, VII
lie Bowles, Florence f. Duke, Fannie g. Ragland,
Mary A. Drinkard. Reed c. Carrington, John W.
Link Mamie w Woodson, MAID nI,N, w. Hyde r, AT
Patton, Annie u. Kelley, Lila G. Petttt, Eugenla
Birchette' n. Lon Egglesto., Lille IL + Sleeper pPI
berger, Eugenia b. Lisberger, Alice w. Sweeney.
WELCOME.
Mr.. Fox came forward, and, in few
words, announced the nature OF the cxer-
cises, welcomed the vast crowd, and beg
ged its patient and respectful attention, as
suring il that the schoo-exercises would
occupy but brie' portion OF the evening.
| He introduced Miss Lola l.. Mitchell, who
read in excellent style an essay" What
Shall We Do with lt?"
The young lady exhibited great compo-
sure, and bore the battery OF so many eyes
50 bravely as to win many compliments.
| Mr.. Ernest c. Levy was next presented,
and read an original essay, " His Mothers
Apron-String." The young gentleman did
not show IN his movements any great de-
sire to be tied to his mothers aprOn-string
when introduced by Mr.. Fox. The essay
was really good one and fine tribute to
mothers influence, and was well read.
MR.. PAGE SPEAKS.
The orator selected for the occasion, Mr..
| Thomas Nelson Page, was introduced by
Mr.. Fox. Mr.. Page. in graceful terms,
commenced his address by alludng to the
fact that the first young lady he ever adj
dressed was q schoolgirl. He congratu-
lated the school on the quality and charac-
ter OF the essays Just read, taking occasion
to highly compliment each. Mr.. Page then
fell upon train Of thought, the parent
stem OF which was the work OF teachers.
In searching out the branches that spread
out from this great tree OF thought Mr..
Page was interesting and careful in his
words. He was pleased to pay women the
very highest compliments, declaring 1t was
their influence that sweetened the world
as flowers sweeten the summer air. A
mothers love, commencing with the feeble
| - % qst
| ing till death itself put it out, was
a potent influence, pole star to guide and
direct through life. His tribute to the
purity, fidelity, and nobility Of the love OF
| southern women brought out decided and
vigorous applause. 1t is very rare that a
more chaste and excellent address than
that delivered by Mr.. Page /, ever heard
upon similar occasions; no advice more
sound, sensible, and full Of important
hints was ever given graduates. At the
close OF his speech he was loudly cheered.
MEDALS AND DIPLOMAS.
Rev. w. w. Wood presented Miss An
ME b. Kelly the medal offered by the Wo-
mems Christian Temperance Union to the
student in the High School who should
write the best essay on "Alcohol and its
Effect on the Human SYSTEM"
The Peabody medals were delivered by
Mr.. Manly B. Curry.
Mr.. j. Taylor Ellyson, president Of the
School Board, delivered the diplomas to
the graduates, who numbered in all nifty
four-the largest class ever graduated from
the High School.
The following is a list Of the medalist
and first-honor scholars:
Ksdalists. s.-Medal offered by the Womsn's
CHRISTIAN Temperance Union, Annie II. Kelley.
Peabody Bronze k.dals-h.dison School:
Minnie Drewry, Third Grammar A. Eloa school
Nellie A. Minor. second Grammar A. Leigh
school: +. Myrtle Hundey, First Grammar n
Centrsl School: Lila Crenshsw W. secona Srsmmsr
mar A. Bellevue school: etanhope Libby, see-
ond Grammar A. High school: Branch Binford,
a. Tpfe A