Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-26

rear Oh the pTstuuttec lOE tNe dccOiilihotst
ton of the members of the Board Of Edu
cation, quite n number of whom wen
present.
At So'clOck the five members of tn,
class, Misses Sadie NJ. Beasley, Annie NJ
Jones and Mary F. Jennings and Messrs
William l.. Dennis and John l. Strange
came upon the stage, while the Opera Hous,
orchestra played a march, and seated them
selves in Semi-circle in the centre
President Collier occupied the right of tn,
stage and Superintendent Anderson tn,
left, while Prof. Jones, Rev. DR.. Asbury
Rev. J. Ii. Jones, and Rev. Daley occupiet
seats on either side of the Board.
After the march was ended, an appropri
ate prayer was Offered by Rev. J. II. Jones
of the 4. NJ. Z. Church, when another sc
lection was rendered by the orchestra.
THE sALUTAoRY.
Miss Mary F. Jennings, the salutato
rian Of the class, then came forward ant
delivered her address, with the title
Stepping Stones" She said it had he
come by-w0rd in American life to ask o
one contemplating a movement of any
kind, ''can you make the croSsing?" Tn,
value of stepping stones in private ol
public undertakings We're fully rs import
ant rs the fragments of rock placed at ir
rsgular intervals in the bed of streams IL
attain any measure of success, il WAS neces
Sary to 90 along by degrees, looking care
fully to the placing of the feet on firm
foundations, and with a purpose 10 sue
cecd in spite of any obstacle which might
he encountered. The entire address Wa
creditablc in the extreme, and the delivery
all that could be wished. Miss Jennings
was warmly applauded.
Mr.. John X. Strange next c.lmc forward
with an essay on the subject of
CHANGE.
The paper treated, i'll a most crcditabie
manner, of the great change which is con
Stantly going on on all sides of US, in ami
mate and inanimatc life alike. From the
time the primcval rocks first appeared
above the waste OF waters down 10 the PRES
cnt the most gigantic natural movements
had constantly been going on upon the
surface of the earth. Animal life, when II
made its advent, at once hcptn Ia improve,
and 81 it had been with man, who had
passed through countless changes in man
neIs, customs, government and speech.
Coming down Ia recent times, the writer
alluded 10 the forward movement made oi
late years by his own race, and closed 10y
hoping that the cOlOrcd race would con-
time Ia prosper.
Mr. Strange was followed by Miss Annie
VI. Jones, the title Of whose essay was
PERSEVERANCE"
She pointed out the great advantages 81
perseverance, in all the undertakings of life,
il being necessary To adhere clu.cly la
whatever may Ia in view in order Ia
achieve any considerable measure of sue
cess. While there were exceptions, the
worlds progress was largely due 10 men in
whom the virtue of perseverance was v'll
developed. Adherence tn purpose must
finally conquer over all obstacles The
lady spoke in well modulatcd and dis
tinct voice. and received round after round
Of applause when she closed her really cx-
rcllcnt production,
'TuE CLASS PROPHECY
BY Miss Sadie VI. Beaslcy, came next upon
the programme. Her paper, read Ut first
in voice almost inaudable, but which
rapidly improved, contained M account oI
an imaginary trip in chariot drawn by
four winged horses, in which the writer
passed through several widely separated
rites. In one she saw her claSsmatc, John
H. Strange, hard at work ut his i;ivOritC
game of htsc kali, in another she found
Miss Jennings, the salutat0rian, ~ the
of large educational in
,titution: in third locality, after .
trip abroad, she found the citizens in
rapturcs over the paintings of n
new artist, who proved Ia bc Miss Annie NJ.
Jones. while visit TO Washington disclosed
gray haired Senator, in whose familiar iilcc
she recognized William l.. DcRIi The
entire paper was original in style and cred
liable in the manner in which the ideas
were worked out.
THE vALEnICToRY
was then delivered by Mr. William H..
Dennis The subject was Manhood" "
md we'll WAS il treated. High minded
hc said, was the gift above all
others to bc desired by the youth just
starting in life. lie held there were five
steps needed to attain this manhood: En-
nrgy, honesty, economy, education
and religion, and with these
aids, there could
b. no such word "a failure in any
sought 10 be accomplished.
The address closed with warm words Of
thanks to the Board of Education, the
AMI taa.hcrs, and an az
fcctionate farewell to the class.
After an interval of music lev. Cornelius
Asbury, ID. d., delivered an address upon
the subject Responsibilities Of Citizen
ship" lie said that there could bc no
doubt but that honest efforts were being
made to elevate the condition Of the race Ia
which he belonged. lie could we'll remem-
her the time when ii would have been utter
ly impossible, In this city, to accomplish
what all had seen this evening
through the efforts Of the Board Of Elu-
cation. These gentlemen, recognizing the
truth Of the saying that cnlightmoat and
culture makes good citizens. ty,d made laws
reaching out for the iaprayement OF all
and tie rssuitof their wise delib-
crations Mas one which must afford great
10 each and every member oi
the Board. This government was govern
ment Of the people, by the people and for
the people The better the people the bet
ter the gayDument, and eIucaiion, the
acquiring of knowledge, makes better pcO-
pie In such government there could BE-
no proper distinction between claaSe-
and Taoc4, and he was glad
to see that old time prejudice
was rapidly dyiog away. lie dwelt upon
the importance Of education in the broad
tst sense, and urged upon his hearers the
necessity of that constant study which 10
suited in a race Of men whore character
istics were thought and action, directed 10.
ward high purposes. lie invoked the
blessing Of God upon the g;ris Of the land,
for in them was tho hnpe Of the country.
On then, lyvolyed, In a large measure, the
fnr strong men and noble
women. He urged thai all men should
be allowed ~ chtcr the arena Of life, and
in tho niithsi OF free competition, let the
prize be awarded 70 he who deserves II
mot.
The speaker congratulated Prof Jones
and bis corps Of teachers upon the result
attained, and characterized their eesprts n,