Daily Republican., 1885-07-01
7 H|R D EDITION,
Our Coaored schools.

The Wilmington Institute was crowd.
ed TO its utmost last night, to see the
opening of the Howard School, the
highest school attended by the colorec
children of Wilmington.
As seen from the platform the scene
was the most inspiring. Every seat
was crowded, long lines of dark faces
crowded the aisles, and great dark
cloud arose seat over seat in the gal
lery. The crowd was as unexpected as
it was gratifying. The members of the
Board Of Education saw for the first
time what mistake they had made
in not procuring the Opera house, and
those who voted against getting the
Opera house, we're the first to acknow-
ledge their mistake.
By eight O'Clock every available
spot contained an auditor and hundreds
had to turn unwillingly away. But
the audience was not all dark cloud
of auditora There wasa large sprink-
ling all through the audience of leading
white citizens as Intensely Interested
in the exercises as the colored people
and away up in the gallery were to be
seen white and colored ladies', for the
time forgetting that white was not
black and black was not white, and
only intent ON witnessing and applaud
ing the effort made to educate the col
ored people.
By the time the hour arrived for
covered with beautiful bouquets for the
successful graduates.
Charles Baird, President Of the Board
of e Education, presided and occupied d
central position upon the platform
Thanking him were Superintendent
Harlan, DR.. Keables, Rev. H. A. Mon
roe, Isaiah Wear, of Philadelphia, and
s. K. Smith. Scattered through the
audience and wedged through the col
ored people were such prominent mem.
beers Of the beard OF Education as
Michael Dunn, Samuel r. Belts, j. T.
P. Fuekel, DIR. Shortlidge, B. K. Heis.
Ter and othevs.
Rev. h. A. Monroe, after this audi
ence was called to order by the chair
man, led In prayer OF exceeding earn
estness and force, referring to the past
state of ignorance and slavery that
oppressed his race and thanked God
that it was now made possible for his
people to become educated and made
more intelligent and better citizens.
5. redmond Smith, chairman of the
Committee Of the Board of Education
for the Howard School, being introduc.
ed, reviewed the past history of the
colored people and said that less than
fifty years ago education for colored
people was strictly prohibited. He
drew happy contrast with the present,
and congratulated the pupils on the
progress they had made.
Isaiah q. Wear, OF Philadelphia, was
the next speaker. He made an able
and polished address, referring to the
rapid progress the colorsd people had
made in education. The past lot of the
colored people was one only Of hard
toll and tribulation, but now they have
their freedom and the revolution that
inaugurated it had become an eyolu
ton. Mr.. Wear was loudly applauded
In his remarks, as were al the gentle.
men who spoke.
DIR. keables on prizes of books for
punctual attendance, congratulated the
school, aud said 10 school in tho city
presented better record for bunctua
attendance or better results. He Their
presented the following scholars will
prizes
Susie Williams, Bessie DOMAIN, Ben.
jamin and Annie Hubert. Florence
Black, William Flamer, Dollie Bay
ohu 6uu Aoulbt L d. III,
The graduates were Miss Louis,
ParI, who read Al estimable essay OF
Work" Miss Rhoda Robinson reaC
one on The Future" aud Hiss Lizz,i
Williams one on Knowledge" Fac!
of them were written in an able name
showing rare depth OF Thought and al
apt use OF language rarely found il
young ladies of their age.
President Baird presented each c
of the graduates with her well earne
diplom q, accom- paaying the presentation
with the compliment that they La
been faithfully earned, and gave thel
collectively few words of timely coul
sci.
The music for the occasion, wh:c
was no uninportant part of the exer
cisas, was under the charge of I'rofesst
c. Samuel Adger, of Philade.ph
Though to all who labored in tt
cause of education in the Howal
school much praise IS duo, IL lst Il
pecially it is due to Miss Elwina
Kruse, the principal, aud TO Miss Ma
gle n. Elias, her able assistant.
They have labored, indefatigably
season and out of season not to nut
their time only and draw the salari
attached to their position, but to eieya
their race and show 20 the people
Delaware that their race was suscep
Bile OF being educated and brough.
into the higher walks of life. Last eve
ing's exercises Gid much towards brea
ing down the uuiusti!t lo4e preiudic
that have sprang up Oh account 81 cas
and race.