Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-07-04

VI Ah0dns eNONNtu ny SittLtust
NN -
l Yesterday week will 60 on record rs tho
brightest in the educational annals of the
city OF Wilmington. The graduating class
A was the largest ever known here, 43
young ladies and gentlemen receiving
from the hands OF the Board OF Educa-
ton that most coveted "blue ribbon" of
soholastic honors the diploma of a gradu-
ste OF Wilmington high school.
Next TO the proud young recipients Of
that great prize were their teachers Prin-
~ cipal A. Fl. Berlin and Principal Miss
Mary Miller with the lady teachers who
sre their aids and who seemed equally
proud Of such harvest of honors gar.
landed this year.
Il High school graduation dqy ia tho edu-
bationslfeteo OF Wilmington par excellence.
Everybody focks to the Opera Houss
on that anniversary, and so last night
week as President Raub of Delaware
College remarked It seemed as il the
whole city had turned ont to accord IN
ovation in honor of its most popular edu-
oational establishment.
! Literally speaking there was not
standing room to be gained in the
- ,era House last night week. From
reporters box the spectacle OF
he immense gathering WAS inspiring. 1t
gave the best proof of toe high estima-
tion in which the common school system
is held by the average citizen of Viii.
"A FtmingtOn.
Toe large edifioe was a sea of heads, OF
N 4 uttering fans, of white and tinted cos
lines.
~ The platforA arrangements unfor-
Il tuuately were extremely unsatisfactory.
The score and a-half of young ladies
u whom the thousands Of visitors wished to
get good view Of were pu he'd back to
the rear platform and their pretty faces
and elegant costumes were curtsined be-
hind the forbiddipg funereal black Co.'S
tunes of the officials of the Board OF
Education aud their numerous guests,
who ranged themselves in black barrier
on the front benches of the platform,
making total eclipse Of the real stars OF
the evening.
This, however, though o great disap.
pointment to the audience, was the only
one of the evening. during the inter-
ludes Of the exercises the public was
afforded ample opportunity of oglipg the
r. solemn faces Of the quiet gentlemen oocu.
pying the front benches Of the platform
n as they were ranged in lines behind the
green palms, ferns and. cut flowers, beck
ci the footiights. Occasional gllmpses
were gained of the girl grad.
VI uates In their glistening white satin
and surah dresses which shone
y resplendent like bed OF stephan
!. otis. The young gentlemen graduates
\ looked gallant too in their pretty bou
tonnieres and class day fayors of red and
. white The boys had conferred some oi
the latter favors on Principal Berlin and
Superintendent Harlan.
~ Charles Baird, president of the Board
of Education, presided. To his riRh
was President A. N. Rsub OF Delaware
N College. On the other side WAS Principal
Berlin of the high school. Along the
front benches of the platform were
IN Superintendent d. W. Harlan, Abner p
NJ Bailey, Principal Isaac I. johnson O.
Friends school, Frederic II. Robinson
st DIR. James II. Morgan, the Rev. Jacol
Todd. d. D., \. Redmond Smith, Esq.
tG Or. o. Elton Buck, L. B. Jones, Judg,
f Ball, DIR. Shortlidge, Jerome b. Bell
William II. Foulk. Others on the plat
III form were jesse X. Baylis, Charles FL
Is Simmons, William Turner, james A
Magee, John Dandy, Samuel f. Belts
DR.. John Palmer, David X. Smith, Thos
=. O'Donnell, John A. Cassidy, 8. N
Trump, Patrick Magarity, President o
III Council John q. Fsrra, Mayor Harring
a ton, Il. s. Goldey. Consul Horao
Greeley Knowles enjoyed the evening il
luxurious et.piush chair guest o
the reporteEs in their private box.
III The exercises were opened by Presi
dent Baird inviting DIR. Todd to offe
prayer. The speaker asked diyin
guidance that our schools bs made tn
bulwsrk of the nation.
Miss Matte s. Perkins then deliveret
N an essay on the topic, "The years tina
NJ are told" The theme disclosed
thoughtful and widely. .garnered hsrves
of the great things our country hns &C
complished in past years. 1t WAS spokei
b N In an easy, clearly enunoiated ton
which reached all the audience. III
speaker touched upon the invention o
Elias Howe as revolutionizIng woman
Hphe-e. She referred to the more recen
scientific application of inventions il
their advantage to humanity in the con
servation Of force, giving more varie
y occupation and GfordiDg longer life
Bhe applied the lines
N5 Better nifty years OF Europe
Il - Than cycle OF Oathay
[ ito our country asserting that tho America
cannot fail to have an elevated idea O
the great progress OF his country. Mis-
Perkins was loudly applGuded at tn
close of her address.
tkFe william IL. Gouuley next spoke on til
1N topic "Our Forests" The snbiect was
'IXmost timely address upon the very i'm
III TX portant fact OF the shameful condition o
deforestation 80 which this land is re
n duced. lie cited the well known scien
lS tific reasons for the cause and the equal
VI irrefutable physical results. The fasriu
disaster at Conemaugh is really attribute
stNble to the ruthless cutting down of tim
iber In the Pennsylvania mountain regions
The speaker suggested both state an,
n Federal action as a safeguard and spok
\ of the establishment Of an annual Arbo
IN Day, or tree planting. in each state in tn
III Union. The theme was very interest
ing one and earned well.dsserved az
III plRnse.
Miss Harriet f. Pawley next delivered
4pairiotic address on the subject "0u
HCountry." The speaker based the pres
lent success of our country and its futur
lsuppn education, moral rectitude, politi
Acel freedom aud religious federation
ghsse ars the pillars that buoy MS up a
X.ja nation. Miss Pawley referred to th
IN 3femperance question. she considers tha
Y Nm the social word the American know
nsho equal. The various points were closel
a{followed by the audience which showe,
Nits approval Of the sentiments by demon
n btrative applause. During an intsrlud
IN Of music by kitchie's orchestra the audi
encs employed itself in quiet inspectio
Nslpf the gentlemen arrayed along the from
r,{benches OF the platform.
W#1 Isaac N, johnson principaI of Friend