Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-06-29
THE COMMENCEMENT
OF THB PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT THE OPERA
HOUSE,, YESTERDAY.
The Glass Of Thiry-Four Graduate in the Afternoon,
and the ColOrsd Class in the Evening,
The Papers Read.

and The Colorsd Class in the Evening.
The Papers Read.
The exercises attendant upon the
twelfth annual Commencement of the city
public schools, at the Opera House, yester-
day afternoon, were of most interesting
nature, and the event was in all respects
as successful as the most ardent friend of
our educational system could have wished.
The long programme of literary exercises
passed off from first to last without even
suspicion of hitch or flaw, and the entire
occasion was so pleasant as to entirely
warrant the qualification which all felt at
the conclusion of the exercises.
The doors Of the Opera House we're
opened at one O'Clock, but before that hour
a large number Of parents OF pupils, and
teachers and scholars cOngregated IN and
sbout the entrance to the building, 30
that when once sdmittanCe was se-
cured there was a rush up
the stairway which half-flled the build
ing in a few minutes. As the successive
minutes after one o'clock wore on, the poo
pie intent upon watching the Commence
ment programme came in ever-incIeasing
numbers. until, at balf-past one, there Waa
scarcely a vacant Cest in the house, u =
stairs or down. Nearly every teacher and
about all the members of the Board Of
Education were present, and the audience,
as viewed from the stage, well deserve1
the name of brilliant. Waving tens,
bright summer costumes and flowers gave
a most charming effect, ard de5pite the
somewhat oppressive atmosphere, the
whole afternoon was not only instructive
but pleasant.
The front Of the stage had heen very nice
ly decorated with ferns and rare plants,
supplied by Mr.. William Zane, of the a.
land, and arranged with much taste by
Mr.. Richardson. The exercises we're under
the immediate conduct of Sup
Anderson, assisted by Miss S J. Meholi1
of Clay school. and others. On the stage
were Rev DR.. Cooke, ID. D., President J.
A. Miller, Of the Board, Hon. John o.
Pendleton, and others.
The class, thirty-four in number, as
sembled through the rear entrance Of the
Opera House, and we're grouped later on
either side of the stage At signal,
while the Opera House Orchestra played
a march, the class entered upon the stage
in three lines from either side, and took
their seats.
THE GRADUATING CLASS
The members Of the class were as fol-
lows:
wesbington--wm. P. Wilson. John storer,
Arndt j. Ryan
Frank H. KRAFT S. Percy Norton.
Clay-Lena Meminger, Jer lie Philips /. June
HornbrOOk, Lille Bullard, Sarah Houston,
Sol NJ Reich, r. Harry Nesbitt, Ben +. Horzhei-
mer.
Centre-Edward II. Schulz. Carrie Fortuey,
Fannie Campbell, Alma II. Bordeaux, Fanny
Stanton, c. Frank Caldwell, Georgia Van Fos-
sen.
Union-John s. Doddridge
Webster--Gail Il. Holiday, AnnieV. Kennedy,
Lille Thompson, Mary r. Foreman, Charles w.
Ritchie.August G.. Remke, Annie Johnson,
Adella Leighton, Adah Lewis, Maggie j. Craig
William c. Hall.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Cook,
and then, after music,
THE sALUTAT0RIAE oFTHE CLASS,
Miss Fannie S. Campbell, of Centre
school, delivered her paper, with the title
of Kingdoms" She asked her audience
not to expect too much from graduates OF
the public schools, and YET she had no
fears but that they wonld do honor TO the
system, and render their papers in an en-
tifely creditable manner. With pleasant
introduction OF this nature, Miss Camp
bell passed to review OF the principal
traits Of the leading nations Of the earth,
pointing out some Of their peculiarites,
and narratiDg commendable as well as
questionable cheracteristicg Closing she
said all earthly kingdoms passed away,
but there existed one which endureth
forever. Miss Campbell spoke clearly,
and generally acquitted herself most sat
isfactory.
THE EVILS OF IMMIGRATION.
This was the pertinent and thoughtful
topic chosen by Mr.. John S. Doddridge, OF
Union school, and he handled the subject
very skillfully. He thought much could
be said for and against immigration. 1t
Was true, an undesirable element came over
the waters from the countries Of the old
world, but at the same time the benefits
were great and most desirable. ''Suppc9e," "
said he, ''when American freedom had
been secured policy of prohibiting i'm
migration had len inaugurated and mrin-
tanned, would we have reached the same
high position we bold to-day? Would the
great West have btan settled up, as it has
been? Clearly not. Where tie great
cities of the Western States stand to-day,
the wigwams of the Indians would still be
seen, had It not been for the millions Of
desirable citizens We have received" " On
the other hand, he thought Congress shonld
take immediate steps 20 eliminate from
the great mass of immigrants the paupers
and criminals who have frequently swarm
ed in upon us both from Europe and
Asia.
THE KINGDOM OF SOL"
Mr.. William c. Hall, Of Ritchie school,
delivered his Grafton in a clear and dis
tinct voice being easily heard in every
part of the building. His Grafton was a
thoughtful one of an astronomical nature,
but go originally gotten up and worked
ont as to be very far from the usual dry
dissertation upon scientific topics. He
displayed, in the course of his remarks, a
clear and comprehensive knowledge OF his
subject, and was altogether intere ting and
instructive. He referred to some Of the
myths az well ss to the maryels of the
solar system, and drew attention in an
often unique way to the familiar phenOm-
enon of sunshine and rain and the changing
seasons
LAWFULLY LOVELY PHILOSOPHY"
Miss Gail II. Holiday, of Webster,
posed IS the humorist of the class Her
subject was a neat bit of sarcasm directed
toward Boston representative Of a too
numerous class of students, who parrot
like, get head-full Of stuff out of the
books, which they utterly fail to compre-
comprehend or digest Her refer
ences to molecules" aUd ''proto-
plasms" and 'difierentstions, and Prot.
Cook, " who was perfectly lovely" were
very amusing. The definitions OF matters
scientific which she placed in the mouth
OF the Boston young lady. took the audi
ence by storm, and Miss Holiday was
chserfully awarded the palm for telling a
good story and pointing an excellent moral
at the same time Her vivaciOus manner
did much 10 carry out the idea Of her reci-
tation.
THE PAST 4 DREAM-THE FUTURE A
WISH
This was the theme of the essay deliv-
cred by Miss Sarah T. Houston, of Clay