The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-06-11
COuuENCEMENr EXERCISES.
The students OF the Seminary We st
Of the Suvvannee an Honor to tho
State.
THE AWARD OF GOLD MEDALS.


The students of the Seminary West of the Su-
wannee have studied diligently during the ses-
sion which closed today and have stood cred
table examination they are therefore worthy
of recognition by the press, and that their exer-
cises may be given fresh to the public, the
presses of the FLoRIDIAN stopped tonight
while reporter with rapid pencil jots down
their program, the award of medals, ETC., and
busy typos hastily set the cheering words in cold
type.
Ats p NJ Messrs John A. Henderson, d. s
Walker Jr, George Lewis and J. II. Ancrum, of
the Board of Education, and Gen. George NJ.
Edgar, principal ofthe school, made their appear :
ance upon the stage, greeted by the hearty cheers
of the immense crowd of interested citizens and
visitors, the Opera House being packed
Miss Bessie Edgar, the first student introduced,
delivered bright and cordial address of welcome
to the audience, her manner being that Of perfect
ease and her voice clear and bel-like. She was
loudly applauded and was the recipient of many
baskets and bouquets OF beautiful flowers
The address, The American Navy" by J. A.
Elmondson, Jr well rendered, full OF
patriotism and cloquence, and proved him to be
an apt student of American and foreign history.
An essay, entitled Silent Influences" prepar
ed and read by Miss Jimmie Grant, was indeed
a master piece, evidently having received much
thought and care in its preparation-a paper
that any graduate might be proud OF.
"Igher E lucation,' a dcclamltion, by George
Perkins, was strong, timely and well rendered
hi. GESTURES being good and manner earnest and
in full sympathy with the subject VA ch he 50
ably hapdled
The closing address, The Dsvclopn mt of
F!ori,,n," was delivered by Richard Hopkins,
the Young orator doing full justice to his theme
and ev;dencing an envia5le familiarity with the
h story OF his own beloved State, being sel.-pos-
scssec, and speaking with the warmth aud pride
naturally due Florida by of her own tru e
and brilliant sons.
The exercises closed with the presentation OF
a handsome gold medal, which had been offered
by our public spirited jewcler, MIR. f. w Clark,
to the student who stood highest in the entire
school in both studies and department, and a
similar gold medal to the student OF each of the
four classes standing highest in studies alone
offered by the B BARD of Education.
The Clark medal was awarded to Miss Matti e
Ball. she having general average OF 96 80, her
nearest competitor being Miss Bessie Elga +,
with an average OF 96 39-a close shave
The First Collegiate Glass medal was awarded
to Miss Bessie E ly,r, on score Of 95 s29, Rich
ard Hopkins nearly winning the prize, his aver
age being % 81.
The Second Collegiate Glass Medal was
awarded to Miss Matte Ball, average 95.6S
thus making her the happy winner OF two gold
medals in one term.
The First High School Medal was captured by
Miss Len. COMBS, OF Sunny Hill, average, o.
The Second High School Medal was awarded
to Miss Margaret Randolph, average 90. 497.
Miss Brevard, teacher OF the class in writing
offered beautiful gold pen to the student stand
ing highest in her class, which was awarded to
Miss Mollie McCaskill, of Walton county.
The program for the exercises WAS not elabo :
rate, the students only having devoted two
weeks to its preparation and in that time had to
study hard and devote much time to the written
examination They did well, one aud all, and
proved that the app:o )rlaliOn made by the Leg
slature to enlarge and build zip the school was
we'll placed.
Gen. E igar AMI his corps OF assistants are
earnest and eff .ient )rkers. and in their hands
the s ,mnary West of the Suwannea will yet be
the pride Of the entire State.