Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-23
COMMENCEMENT
At the eIsnviIle Normal School.

first production by the class of 1885 was
poem entitled "An Ancient Riddle" By
Miss Florence Fl. Hays. which was vel
written aud BEAUTIFULLY read.
The next upon the programme was mir.
L. i. Bark, the clSss essaYist, who read O
thoughtful and scholarly production.
Mr.. G. W. Bent, the class historian, read
the most unique and humorous production
of the evening. He in a moststelicitous
manner portrayed the genealogy of each
member of the Senior class, much to the
amusement of all.
The last production of the evening was
by Mr.. Howard o. Hays, class prophet.
His predictions Of q gloomy future tor each
member of the class except himself were
very amusing indeed.
Then followed the smoking Of the "Pipe
of Peace" iu the formal manner of an In
disn Council sad the "PlSrting the Ivy,
both Of which were beautiful ceremonies.
Music, the "Lsnd Of Dreams" closed q
most pleasant entertainment.
Ga June l2Ih was the anniversary OF
tee Cosmisu Literary Society.
THE Relief OF Lucknow" was a recita'
ton BY Mics Msude Brsupon, which was
exceeciogly well delivered, snd wen for
tez much applause and many flowers.
Af.er this an essay was read by Mics
| BEATRICE V. Hopkins, of Writ c3unty, upon
Lse and jackson. the Gracchi of Virginia
This essay, 80 beautiful in historic, so
lofty in sentiment, was almost universally
conceded to be the finest production OF the
evening.
MISS Hopkins eloquent reading was
listened TO with the keenest emotion, and at
its close won tremendous applause, while
the reader was overwhelmed with flowers
and received he waEmest congratulations
OF her friends.
Then followed an grafton upon "Monu-
meats" By Mr.. s. w. Warner, OF GI!mer
couQ,y, This Grafton was strong as well
rs beautiful. He went on to say that a
nation without memories was q nation
without great achievements, and that when
ever a nGtioa contributed q great man or an
low. nt,on Of permanent value, these would
be fifty comnemorstsd in enduring monu-
mgnts Q brass Os grants or song, and ,he
greatest deeds would be em5Glmed in the
songs Of the ages, or as William Leighton
sSys:
"Whcre ouce Troy stood no monument appear',
But Honeg's song Survives the persisted years
Next followed o recitation, "The Pal
melto and the Pine" by MISS Carrie Wies-
enfield. Of Braxtou county. This was eN-
| c~allently delivered and received the hearth
est applause.
MISS Mary l.. Brown, of Monongslia
county, then read an essay on Change,
which was a thoughtful and we'll wr'tlan
essay.
Music followed, after which came an Ora.
ton on the Progress Of The Age By Mr.
F. b Wilfoug, OF Gilmer county. In this,
Mr.. Wilfoug predicted that the South and
West would soon surpass the North T.
East in material, wealth and progress. Al
ter this, one o. the best papers which 1t has
ever been our pleasure 10 hear, "Ihs Cos
miau Tyro," edited by Miss Mary Il.
Loren,z, WA read by Miss Louise Holt, Of
Glanviils. Miss Hollis reading was superb
On Sunday, June l3, the Baccslsureate
sermon was preached BY Rev. Mr.. d. d.
King, Of Homecoming, Md. This sermon
vas a very brilliant and able one and wac
devoted chiefly to the present great prob
lens of our country. In this Mr.. King
maintained the startling liberal doctrine
that it ia Of more Importance to De we'll
prepared to carry on the present active
campaign according to q correct line OF
conGucI than it is to be attempting to solve
the inpracticable problems OF the future.
o. Monday evening, June Ii, occurred
the prize contest. Mr.. G. W. Bent, dehv-
Grad Darius Green and his Flying Ma
chine" in a highly theatrical manner,
which son uurosrious applause. Mr.. B.
+. Burwell, acclaimed "Roderick Manri'
gul."
Mr.. J. c. J. Clawson acclaimed The
Telchar the Hope of America" in such a
manner as to arouse the highest eXpscts-
tiozs on the part of his friends.
MISS Dee Kse detained The Old Sur.
gaon's Story" in q most beautiful and
touching n
The judges, Rev. Nc. Bare, Of Va, Mr.:
3. W. Mssioas, OF Gilmer county, aud
Mr.. J. S. Hall, of Lewis county, then re-
tired to make no their decision. Mean.
while the prize essay on the subject Which
is the Best of the American PoetsY' which
had been previously awarded to Miss En-,
ma T. HAYS, o. Chenille, was read by her.
In her essay Miss Hays chsugioued Bret
Harts as being the best American poet, aud
indeed made for him a splendid argument.
When the Judges returned their decision
upon the declsmstion Was announced IN
favor OF Me-. b. I. Burwell.
Mr.. King then presented the prizes, one
of $40 to Miss Hays, aud one OF s. to Mr..
Bu,geli. As 3 testimonial for the heroic
manner in which Mr.. Clswsou took his de-
feat the students aud citizens soon made
up q purse OF $40, which Was presented tc
him the following day.
On the morning of commencement day
tie people from the country swarmed into
lie town and filed up the streets. Prob
ably Dot more than half of the people
could crowd into the Baptist church IL
which tue exercises were held.
There we're four graduates. The hrs
upon the programme was an essay by Mis-
Florence II. Hays Of Chenille, whose subjec
WAS To morrow" with salutstorY. De
essay was beautifully written and was YER.
we'll read. 1t ia mainly based upon the expe:
fences Of school life.
The second was an Grafton by Mr.. L. h
Burk, Of Ssnd Fork, Gilmer county, who's
, suhiect s"Ninsteen Hundred and Eighty
/ six Mr.. Burk's grafton was a rather elat
r orsss discussion OF the probabilities OF tn
? next hundred years OF our nations life
Hs Grafton was excellent was but to
|, long. Music folloWsd-"0ne Hundre
Yesrs Ago"
! The third thesis wa an essay by MI
\ Howard o. Hays, of Chenille, whose sub
! Secs was Aaron Burr. Mr.. Hays essa
|, gave q very correct view Of the acts gu
I character Of Aaron Burr.
The last thesis Was an grafton BY Mr.. G
. W. Bent, Of Grove, DOddridge count,
: whose subject was the Analogy of RshE
4 ion and Evolution" Mr.. Bent went int
a an elaborate discussion of organic an
social evoluticR, in which he esponss
q views of the advanced thinkers on tho'
~ d., a-,4.on tndoad NAE a mo