Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-30
HAPPY GRADUATES.
TIE ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT At MARTINS
FERRY HIGH SCHOOL
Last Eyening-The Opera House Crowded u over
f1wiag-The Graduating Class, ard
the Evenings Exercises.

The eighteenth annual commence
mcnt of the Martins Ferry hlgh
School. took place in the Opera House,
which was crowded by the relatives ana
friends of the graduating class, and oil
the school generally, last evening. The
exercises were in every respect most
satisfactory. and the graduating class
reflected credit upon themselves by the
manner in which they acquitted them
selves during the evening.
The graduating exercises had been
prefaccd, with the Baccalcaurate Ser
mon, preached on last Sunday evening,
i'm the NJ. f.. Church. by Rev. Winters,
the pastor, and on the evening OF the
2sth. the class lecture took place IN the
PRESBYTERIAN Church, the lecturer being
Rev. DIR. Kirkwood, President OF Woos-
ter University, who chose for his topic
"a Visit TO London" These prellmln-
airy features of the annual exercises
served To awaken widespread interest IN
the commencement proper, ana mate
rally aided in making the attendance
what il was.
Last evenings exercises were com
menced promptly AT eight o'clock with
music by the High School choir. Rev.
c. w. Conway. Of the Baptist Church,
invoked the Divine blessing. and then
the first member of the class finding a
place upon the programme, Miss Agnes
NJ. Default, came forward with an
essay, ~ Year on the Farm. Her
paper was read in very creditable
manner. and was a well-preparcd and
well-deivcrcd effort, showing good
descriptive ability.
The choir sang as their second Selec-
ton, The Camp-iireS, " winning round
Of enthusiastic applause.
Miss Dora Cooks effort was an Grafton,
the title on the programme being
pluck" She handled the topic II a
mastery manner, some of her ideas be-
ing decidedly original, and the whole
manner of treating the topic very
clever.
She was followed by Mr.. Thompson
Kerr. whose scientific essay. The Evo-
luton of the Horse, evidenced consider
able research. and it contained much
information which was attentiVely lis
tened to.
"The Song of the Volunteers" was
here rendered by the choir, and then
Miss Emma Gillespie, Of Portland, FOL
lowed with an essay on agricultural
Depression" which was probably the
most timely and valuable effort OF the
evening. and one which set a good many
OF the audience off into earnest
thought. The honOrS falling to Miss
Gillespie were shared, however. by Miss
Jennie +. McGrew, whose topic was
Homes of American Authors" She
was greeted with loud applause, and her
effort was an extremely creditablc one
to herself and the school. Some OF her
bits Of descriptive work were really fine,
and with careful study, Miss McGrcw
may yet develop into an American au-
thor herself. Miss McGrcw was greatly
embarrassed during the reading Of her
essay, by the noise of hoodlumS on the
outside.
Earnest G.. Smiths Grafton, "Domi-
nant Democracy" brought the speaker
much applause and hearty commenda-
ton. His delivery was good, his geS-
lures appropriate, and the Subiect-mat-
ter of his effort wcll-conSidercd, logical
and generally mcritoriouS.
The class song: Those Happy Days,
brought the commencement proper to a
close. Prof. Sparks then presented the
diplomas, making some appropriate and
earnest remarks in doing so.
The entire affair reflected great credit !
upon Prof. Sparks and his able assis-
tant. Mr.. Toland. and was most salts
factory to the large audience present.
The only unpleasant feature connected |
with the evenings entertainment was |
the interruption, caused by noise on the |
outside Of the building, during the read
ing of Miss hebrews essay. At one !
time she had to stand facing the audi