The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-06-10
Commencement Exercises In
JacksOmville.


Governor of the State was there to attend
the commencement exercises of the high
school, and visit the various schools OF
the city, and we are informed that his
presence and participation had marked
effect in stimulating effort and en-.
HANGING general interest IN the cause of
education, especially among the colored
who, of course, considered that if the
schools are important enough for Gov
ernor to take such interest in they are i'm
portant indeed and the lesson they might
learn is that with Democratic govern
ment the department of education, free
education for all, is of paramount consid-
Grafton. We extract from the report of
the Morning Ne,cs:
The affection of jacksonville for its High
School was never more fily shown than last
night. 1t was the Ninth Annual Commence
ment OF this popular school and before the en-
ercises began every seat in the Opera House was
filled, and the opening piece played by Neshli 5
| orchestra was listened To by one OF the largest
| audiences ever enclosed within the walls OF that
| building. Facing this vast audience was the
| graduating class of eleven, eight young ladies'
| and three young men arranged on the lett OF
| the stage. On the right of the stage Governor
Perry sat- conspicuous figure among wei
| known men, and grouped around him were Ma
| jor A. j. RUSSELL the State Superintendent OF
Schools. l.. |. Femmng, Esq, President of the
County Board of Public Instruction, Mr. VIM.
| B. Carkson, a member OF that Board, Doctor
| William H. Bahcock, County Superintendent,
the Rev r. H. Weller, Rector OF st. John 5
Episcopal Church, Mr.. William Cleveland
| Thayer, Principal ofthe Duval High School and
| his assistants.
Ii was charming sight. Inc stage was sci
| as Tor a drawing-room scene and IN the
back ground was a window drapcd with lace
curtains with the initial letters ID. Ill. ,.
in evergreen fastened above it, The grad
| natng young ladies all in white formed
pretty picture, while the sobcrer dresses OF the
men served tittngy to bring out and reflect
more fully the etfccl of the group OF bright faced
| maidens and youths who were Ia receive the re-
ward of their several years of close application.
Proud faced mothers, happy looking fathers and
| sympathetic relatives were among the ono"kers
| and nerved those upon whom so much depended
| and from whom much was expected To do
their best. And right royalty did they meet
| public expectation. They came forward in turn
as they were announced by Principal Thaycr,
| and not only read their essays "trippiDgly on the
tongue, but gave uttcrance to their carefully
| prepared thoughts in manner evincins that
| what they said they felt.
| 1t would be hard to discriminate among them
| all These fair maids and brave youths trI-
umphantly standing upon The summit OF several
| years weary climb, flushed with the victories
won, and anXiously pccrng into the future, all
met the occasion we'll and no one OF them has
| iuse for regret that she or he did not use sue
cesstully the talents given them.
| Natures tairest producs-f pwcrs-were there
| in pr"tusion, and no graduate was fnrgotlen All
and baskets until the stage became veritable
| bed OF and until all the maids and youths
were hemmrd in with banks of sweet smelling
and beautiful flowers IA fit tribute from this land
of roses
| The diplomas were then awarded by the Pres
! lcnt of the Board Mr.. l. | Fleming, who pre-
faced their delivery with appropriate aud feeling
| remarks 10 The graduates, and after he had per
formed this pleasant duty and HE graduates had
resumed their seats. he turned to the audience
and in Il neat speech introduced the Governor OF
the State The name of our chief magistrate
was received with
LOUD AND UPROARIOUS APPLAUSE,
and An ovation was given him which fairly shook
the building AS the Governor arose and proceed
ed to the front OF the stage, the applause was re-
newed, and he stood there. utterly unable TO make
| himself heard, and not until he raiscd his hands
to command silence did the people dc>st. lie
then made Il speech which an earnest effort
in favor of free schools. 1t Wa, from his heart
Of nf the r nn na BY rs deep ON
the subject, which he allowed to come to the
surface. The main point, and the one which he
| warmly tried to impress on he minds OF his list
eners, was that the her education should not be
| allowed to absorb the lnwcr-tha high schools
should not be allowed to sap the primary schools
and that while the former should be kept up and
| maintained the strength of The people lay in the
| education Of those whose parents could not or
would not provide for the mental training OF
| their offspring. and he suggested that much good
missionary work might be done by going ont
into the alleys and byway, AMI bringing
in those children who from their Positions
were Shut off from the benefits OF education.
He declared himself as an carncs, believer
in the tree school system, and said that the hope
of the State in fuller and advanced condition
! lay in the education OF the masses. ltawas a warm
appeal for public schools and if The applause
with which his remarks were received is any
indication OF the feeling of the people, he and
they are en- rdRl~n on this subject.
He was followed 10y Major ~ J. Russell, the
State Superintendent of Public instruction, in
one OF his able speeches on free education. The
OCCASION the crowded auditorium, filled with at
tenive and applauding listeners the bright
happy faces of the graduates, all consprcd to
| fill HIM TO the full with enthusiasm, and he de-
lvered an
UNUSUALLY HAPPY SPEECH
in which dry figures and statistics on our public
school system were SO intcrspersed with pleas
ing metaphor and happy expressions that they
| lost their dryness He held the attention of the
audience completely and was greeted with loud
applause
His remarks to the class in conclusion were
| very apt, and he pleasantly wound up his speech
| by cOngratulating its members, and urgently i'm
plOring them to make good use of their oppurtu-
mites loI the future.
| Before the conclusion OF the ceremonies the
| Principal announced that lie had received an
anonymous note in which the writer said that
| he had brought with him a medal which be de-
tcrmined to bestow upon the graduate who de-
| hvered the best essay, and that he had deter
mined that Miss Rosa NJ. Sherwood, who dcliv-
cred The essay on Mllestoncs," was entitled to
! it. Miss Sherwood was called forward AMI the
medal, a beautiful gold one was given to her for
| the best written essay
The public exercises were closed by the bcnc
diction which was pronounced by the Reverend
! Mr.. Weller, and then while the orchestra struck
! up the familiar music of the Mikado the immense
audience dispersed The relatives and friends
| of the graduates crowded upon the stage and con
| CALCULATIONS hearty and well deserved were be-
slowed upon the
HAPPY HOLDERS OF THE DIPLOMAS
whose bright faces showed the joy they felt at
having completed their high school course, and
who from the piE 'ncle of this height were al
ready looking eage.y forward to the other and
more distant peaks yet to climb.
1t was an enjoyable affair and the presence of
the Governor was al earnest of the interest Ia
ken in the schools of the metropolis and all those
connected with the exercises deserve warm
praise for the mannT in which they were con
Il rt1.1<