The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-05
NM PEAALa UOLLEGg.

House Last EYenlug.-,Fiys Graduates.
Their brilliant Performances.
The annual Commencement exercises
Of the Wheeling Female College took
place last evening at the Opera House,
in the presence Of q large and very ap.
preciatiye audience, comprising in ad.
ditlOn to the friends Of the graduating
class and patrons Of the College, many
Of Wheeling's leading citizens, who
have always taken q Just pride In the
successful career OF this old and honor,
able institution Of learning,
The class which last evening severed
It's active connection with the College,
while not as large us some that have pre-,
coded it, was fully up to the equal Of
any oil the others Judged from an intel,
leCtual standpoint, II was a matter OF
general comment that for originality
and brightness OF matter, the essays
were considerably ahead Of the average
graduating efforts.
There were but five members OF the
class; Miss Marie Purnell, OF Paris, Ky,
Miss Winifred Davis, Of Richie @, H.,
this State, Miss Ellen ID, Spears, OF Paris,
KY, and Miss Minnie II. Hickey and
Miss Abby D, Ratclif, Of this city, They
made their appearance on the stage, aG-
compaaied by President Blaisdell and
the other members OF the Faculty, and
the Hon. O, II. Hubbard, President
81 the Board OF Trustees, shortly
after eight o'clock, The stage was
prettily set with agarden scene, the re-
allsm OF which was increased by hang
ing baskets of flowers and vines, In
place OF a row OF potted plants across
the front Of the stage the footlights were
concealed by Hastily draped buntingoi
light blue and corn shades, the corn
shade being the color Of the class and
the light blue that Of the class Of 100. The
class was seated in the center Of the
stage and in their handsome white cos
tunes, with their flowers and ribbons
and lRcesi presented q very charming ap'
pearance. Seated In the rear Of the
stage were Messrs, Henry X, List j.
Elwood Hughes, DR.. s. L. Jepson, Rev,
DIR, @. W. Gushing, Rev, E, H, Dorm
blaser, Rev, DR.. D. A. Cunningham
Rev. G, W, Grimes, Rev, O, B, Graham
and others.
The Opera House orchestra provided
the music Tor the occasion. II heraldeC
the entrance OF the class with stirring
march, aud rendered in the course Of the
programme q number OF choice selec
lions. Prayer was offered by Rev. DR.
@. w, Gushing, pastor OF the Fourth
Street NJ, Il. church, who made very
appropriate appeal in behalf Of Chris
tan education. President Blaisdel
then presented tho graduates,
Miss Purnell prelaced her ssay,whicl
was entitled "NVonan's Crowning Clio
ry," with graceful salutatory to thu
Trustees and audience, and In very vel
written rhyme gave expression TO hei
views on that browning glory-Virtue
Miss Purnell's poetry was notabl!
smooth, and some Of the lines were NOR
than well written.
Miss Davis had for the topic Of he
essay 1.-THE Border Lines OF knowl
edge, a mirage that Is never oYerpassed
She dwelt entertainingly upon the i'm
mensity OF littleness and drew severa
trIte conclusions. Miss Spears called at
tention to "The Tangled Skein, aud Ii
n very interesting style attempted 10 un
ravel 1t.
Miss Rickey's subject was Looking
Backwards and she well deserved tht
warm applause her effort called forth
Miss RatClilT was the last member OF thu
class 10 be presented, and she came for
ward with 1.-THE Graduates Plea" Thil
essay bubbled over with originality anC
wit; IL sparkled all the way through, and
was generally put down as the best essay
OF the evening. In closing Miss RatClit
took the part Of q yaledictorian, and per
formed that trying part OF q commence
ment programme very acceptably
President Blaisdell addressed a few
appropriate words to the class, and Their
Mr.. Hubbard announced that degrees
had been conferred as follows. On Mis-
purnell, B0CcalduTea Scientid; on Misses
Davis, Spears, Hickey and Ratclif, Mis-
tress OF English Literature; on Mis-
Mary Beall, Of this city, Baccalauret
Artittm.
All the ladies received numerous
floral tributes from admirinR friends
and the presents OF books and othe
articles Of a lasting nature were more
than usually numerous.
In presenting the diplomas, Mr.. Hub
bard made several appropriate remarks
Mr.. Hubbard announced with gratillca
ton that President Blaisdell would re
main another year, and referred witt
pleasure 10 the splendid work he lat
i accomplished, President Blaigdell, be
fore calling on tho Rev. Mr.. Dornblasel
10 pronounce the benediCtion, took oc
Caslon to express his thanks for the sub
stantial aid that had been given him.
The prospects Of the College were
never better. There has been new bloot
infused into the Board oil Trustees, the
College has had many improvements
made, the System Of teaching and the In,
struCtors are in every way Of superior
order, and there Is every reason that the
institution should receive during the
coming year more cordial support than