The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-09-18
Ezhibit,on at Oakland High School.

Mr.. EDITOR: We attended the closing
exercises of the Oakland High School, near
Antreville, on the 18th inst, and as there
was no one present known to be reporter
of the INTELL1GENcER, and feeling assured
that the work done in this school during the
present year deserves public notice and
praise, we attempt to write you some of
the things we saw and heard on that occa
sion.
Early in the morning the pupils, patrons
and friends began to come together, and by
10 o'clock an immense audience had assem-
bled, all expecting to be highly entertained,
and they were not disappointed. At the
hour mentioned, Prof W. l.. Brown, the
efficient principal, appeared upon the large
and very beautifully decorated stage and in
few appropriate words welcomed the peo.
pie and expressed his appreciation of their
bers to witness the performance of the day.
The entire school was then brought forward
to greet US with happy welcome song
and grand, indeed, it was, to see fifty or
more bright eyed girls and boys march out
with the exactness of we'll trained mill
tary company, and to arrange themselves
on the stage and opening their mouths
send forth their merry song, while such q
smile emanated from their faces as told
that their hearts were in happy unison.
Next was introduced some reading classes,
all of which did well. but we feel that es-
pecial mention should be made of the third
reader class which read with ease and accu-
racy for some time. We were informed
that some members Of the class had never
attended school until this year, and at the
beginning of the term did not know the
alphabet. We were surprised at the prog
ress they had made in only eight months.
A geography class was introduced which
was the best of all. In it we recognized the
faces of some who had been in the third
reader class, who had learned the alphabet
this year. Then came classes in history,
Latin, ETC., all of which showed forth the
careful training they had received as well
as the superiority Of their own minds. We
were also treated to an address by Rev. R.
D. Hawkins, which was eminently appro.
pirate to the occasion and we'll received
particularly by the little folks to whom it
was especially addressed.
In the afternoon We listened to large
number of rich, rare, and racy speeches by
rendered at intervals, cvinced the careful
training they had received from Miss Alma
Wicklitfe, of Elberton, Ga, who had for
some time been in charge of the departm ent
Of elocution and music. We learned that
Miss Wickliffe had been sick tor several
days just before the exhibition, and was
hardly able to attend the public exercise,
but there was no noticeable deficiency in
her work. The entire programme was
splendid. at night the following pro-
gramme was rendered before an audience
even much larger than that which had at
tended during the day: Song-Moon on
the Lake, by twelve girls. Comic Speech
Joe's Cotton. Speech-Curse of Regulus,
by Mr.. Ernest Wakefield. Instrumental
Music by Miss Wickliffe Recitation
The Raven, by Miss Cora Crowther. This
very difficult piece was rendered beautiful
ly. 6ong-Annie Roony, by four little
girls. A drama-No Cure No Pay-by
seven girls The audience was 80 well
pleased with this and their cheers were so
great that we, being seated rather far back,
failed to hear every word, but 1t was very
fine throughout. There was not poor
character in the play and every one was
well performed. Song-Jack and Jill, by
dozen girls. It brought forth continued
cheers. A Case in Court-A Ready Made
Suit, by twenty boys. A song-A Lullaby
by Miss Eva Wakefield This was the
crowning effort of the day and was much
appreciated. at the end of the performance,
MI. a. NJ. Erwin appeared on the stage
and read some resolutions that had been
unanimously adopted at recent meeting
OF the patrons of the school, in which they
expressed, in strong terms, their apprecla-