Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-07-25
CLOSING EXERCISES.
THE HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
EVENT LAST NIGHT.
Grammar and Other School Exercises
The Programmes that Were
Carried Out.

The Metropolitan Theater was crowded
to its utmost capacity last night by friends
of the free schools, to witness the COM
mencement exercises of the Sacramento
High School.
On the stage were President Chapman
and Directors Sherburn, Payne, Davis, Erie
wine and Tufts, Principal Pond and in
structors Dahl, Mrs. Purnell, Miss De
Laguna and Miss Aull, Superintendent
Albert Hart, Hon. Elwood Bruner, Mrs
Addie Carter and the graduating class, as
follows: Hattie B. Moore, Jennie B. Miller,
Benjamin Parker, Clara B. Root, Blanche
Ryan. Flora R. Vivian, Annie Aiken,
Jessie T. Anderson, Levina E. Barrett
Amy Clark, Nettie ]. Csntrell Thomas NJ.
Diviny, Ruth Spilman, Myra D. Shields
Mollie Titherington, Tina A. Treicbler
Samuel E. Pope, Josie Frost, Daisy De-
ming, Cora Eldred, Eta NJ Glllis. Flora
Hartwell, Eta Joseph, George B Loydal.
The stage was beautifully draped and
never was more handsomely set. Vines.
tropical plants, arbors of green foliage with
distant views beyond, graceful drapery and
a wealth of floral pieces made it beautiful
setting. On pedestals with drapery were
mounted busts of Apollo and Diana, con-
trlbuted to the stagedressipg by the Mu-
scum Association, and over the proscenium
lining an immense plaque of flowers with
the words of the class motto woven in:
"Minerva's Lowliest Nights Attained y
One especially beautiful design was a
great floral star with an arched panel and
tho InitiotG N hrylljant II
80" Another was superb wreath and
still another large love- knot in pure
white flowers. Behind the barricade of
floral pieces and beneath the great floral
plaque sat the graduating class
The exercises were very interestiDg-it
is not recalled that any class of the school
has appeared better. though there have
been classes where the young men took
part in the programme very much more.
The opportunities Tor reporters TO take
notes were notable for their absence, indeed
opportunity for the press to get in seems to
have not had any official consideration
Between the WEAKNESS of standing and dis
tance from the stage some OF the essays
were heard to poor advantage, but enough,
however, to warrant the RECORD. UNION in
saying that there was no poor work by the
class. Those who read loudly were heard
well, and the audience manifested its pleas
ure by applauding such members very
earnestly.
But none were omitted in plaudits, and
all deserved it. The essays were all
too long, but they were all thought
ful and well constructed and logically
ordered. That OF Miss Cantrell's was the
most practical, because largely and really
historical; that of Miss Hartwell's the most
sympathetic; that of Miss Spillman's inter-
ested old Californians deeply and moved
few old pioneers to enthusiasm; Miss JOS
eph's was the most vigorous and related
most nearly to the results of well-spent
and industrious lives as illustrated by not
able examples. Mr.. Diviny, however,
must be conceded the palm. His vale
dictory was remarkably earnest, spirited
and stirring protest against ignorance and
It's results in politics, and government and
citizenship. 1t was a straight, striking,
vigorous, enthusiastically delivered ora
llon, defending the cause of education as q
capital for all purposes, and scoring illit-
eracy as little less than crime.
The musical portion of the programme
was superior and was under the direction
of Mrs. Addie Carter. 1t was notable for
its strength, good time and graceful deliv-
eiy and enunciation, and the control the
leader with the baton had over the singers.
Miss Myra Shields was the only vocal SOLO
let and had taken the number on short
notice. She has a sweet, expressive coz
tralto of phenomenal strength for one SO
young, and she sings with feeling and
taste.
Miss Barrett the piano soloist, was so
successful that the audience demanded an
encore, and Mr.. Pond had to explain that
1t could not be granted before the house
yielded.
Mr.. Burners address to the class had for
its theme self-reliance 1t was a practical,
well-delivered, and evidently carefully con-
sidered address. Superintendent Hart, on
delivering, the diplomas, made fitting
speech full of feeling and highly compli-
mentary 10 the class. Mr.. Pond said the
city had reason to be proud of the class;
no better he believed had been graduated
from the school; in mathematics it was
notably proficient. The school in giving
the class to the city gave ii a gem of which
Sacramento ought to be proud.
The programme was as follows in detail:
Invocation, Rev. W. Ward Willis; song
Friends and Home" salutatory and essay,
Mans s. True Teuchstone," Miss Daisy Deming;
Hear or Did'st Thou Not,' Miss Annie Aitken;
Grafton, Modern Argonauts,' Miss Ruth Spill
man man; song, AN Old Sweet Song, Miss Myra
Shields" essay, Success" Miss Eta Joseph;
piano solo, "Rapsodie Hungroise, No q" Miss
Levina Barrett; essay, sisters of Great Men,
Miss Flora Hartwell: song, BELLS of Evening""
class history, Miss Nettie Cantrell valedictory
and oration, "Minervsee Collibus Superatis"
Thomas Diyiny; address, Hon. Elwood Bruner;
Pilgrim chorus; remarks, J. II. Pond; distribu-
tion OF diplomas, Superintendent A Hart: class
song; accnmpanyists, Misses Levina Barrett and
Myra Shields.
The class song was composed by Miss
Flora X. Vivian, and was as follows
A noble hight stands In our view;
We toll TO reach its steep;
1t hints of Joys all sweet and new
That crown its boundless sweep.
We strive to reach this mystic goal
And press along the way
Towards this, the dream of every soul
Aspiring here to-day.
'Tis but the base we now have gained
The summit is more fair;
"Minerva's lowIiest nights attained"
The lottiest are more rare.
And yet more sublime beyond
Amid the cleaning stars
Beckons our steps-our souls respond
And naught the way debars.
The slope together we have climbed
Thus far in our ascent,
But now our paths diversely wind
Though yet to one goal bent.
SO each must go his sew raj way;
Then let us say good bye
And seek the hight more fair than day
The hight beyond the sky