Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-16
DAYS0F STUDY OVER.
HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT AT
The ACADEMY LAST NIGHT.
Scores of Pretty Graduates-Beautlf
oratlon by Rev. DIR. Evnns--Essays
by Several Scholars.

Ny Seberal SchOlars.
If ever the Academy of Music presented
beautiful scene, 1t was last night
From pit to dome the large building was
Literally packed and iammed, and on every
side the faces of fresh, pretty girls ap-
peared, while the cir was fragrant with
flowers. Fully two thousand people were
present.
The occasion for this rather unusual
demonstration was the seventeenth an-
nual commencement of the Richmond
High School, and as the number of gradu-
ates surpassed that OF any preceding year
the audience was also proportionately
large. Ninety-one diplomas were given to
those who had completed the prescribed
courses, and the Joy depicted upon their
features plainly indicated that they laid
aside their studies with no reluctance.
THE GRADUATES ENTER.
About quarter past 8 o'clock the Blues
Band. which furnished music for the occa-
sion, struck up a lively air and shortly
afterwards the graduating senior, and in
termediate classes filed in upon the stage,
presenting beautiful scene.
The girls, and there were scores of them,
were largely in the majority over the boys,
and each of them looked her prettiest.
They formed one long, winding line as
they took their seats, and never was there
lovelier sight witnessed in Nirginla's capt
tai.
WHAT IS LIFE?
The exercises of the evening were opened
by Professor Thomas introducing Miss
Alma Lindner, the essayist of the occa-
sion, who had chosen as her subject, What
is Life?"
She is pretty little brunette and COM
mands an excellent delivery. When she
bowed before the tremendous audience she
was met with enthusiastic applause, but
this ovation did not so embarrass her that
she failed to read her essay in the most eX-
cellent manner. II showed the most care
ful preparation and thorough knowledge
of literature, while her command of lau-
guage was excellent. One Of her refer
onces to General Robert T.. Lee produced
hearty and prolonged applause.
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF LEE.
Professor Thomas then appeared before
the audience again, and stated that the
next speaker was Fenton McBain, who
would deliver the Grafton upon the " Life
and Character OF General r. T.. Lee He
luIlutT duutu ltldl lHf etHl'lI WIS ilt VIII
ner Of the medal which had been offered
for the best Grafton upon this subject.
Mr.. McBain was introduced and greeted
by the audience with considerable ap-
plause. His subject was one ever popular,
and he showed in his address that he was
thoroughly acquainted with the incidents
connected with the life of the Confederate
hero.
MISS HARTMaN's ESSAY.
After the close of the Grafton and some
very sweet music by the band, Miss Lottie
Hartman was introduced. IL was an
nOunced that her subject was the ship Of
Faith" and the audience doubtless antici-
pated something Of a sober and rather
sombre nature, but in this they were plea
sanity surprised.
In the first place Miss Hartman is her
self as bright and pretty as possible. with
a piquante, merry air, and then her selec-
tion was an exceedingly comic story in the
negro dialect. She delivered 1t in excel
lent style and brought down the house
with laughter. Perhaps she made the Int
OF the evening, certainly she acquitted her
self beautifully. Miss Hartman possesses
o decided dramatic talent and clear musl-
cal voice over which she has excellent
command.
THE BUGIE SONG.
Several Of the young ladies' from the
senior class were then introduced and rem
dered that beautiful poem of Tennyson,
"Bugle Song" which has been set TO
mu . Their names we're: Dlcksy Bagby,
Nellie Birdsong, Eva Willis, Nellie Gary,
Bessie Martin. Darlington Jones, Estelle
Kelley, Mabel McBain, Bessie Nowlin.
My Old Kentucky Home" was then
sung by a quartette consisting OF Jester
Jones. Frank Cunningham, Willie Ball,
IA An.r~a 10 Il AnNN
Jester Jones. who led. has a beautiful
voice, while Frank Cunningham also
shows that he has inherited his worthy
fathers vocal powers.
THE GRAFTON OF DR.. EVANS.
The orator of the evening, Rev. W. T.
Evans, ID. d., was then introduced IN ap-
propriate language.
He stated that the subject of his address
was the Peerage of America" and after
referring in graceful and complimentary
language to the pretty graduates upon the
stage. he said:
Each young lady of you has thirteen
suitors | know. The deep interest of the
evening centres here in these graduates,
for tonight the school books will be Iald
aside, and tomorrow you will go out INTO
the world to apply the lesson learned and
10 learn still harder lessons in the school Of
actual, practical life. There have been
graduates and graduates, those who have
been lost 10 the world, but | am certain
that we shall hear from these farther on IN
the pathway of life"
THE PRERAGE OF AMERICA.
Commencing then upon his original sub
iect the orator said that America-dls-
covered by poor man-was pre-emlnently
the place for the poor. 1T has been SAID,
added he, that we have no nobility in
America. II Is untrue; we have a
nobility-a nobility independent of pur-
pie pomp and the glitterlng sheen OF
the cloth of gold-independen of especial
skill in baccarat. IApdlausel We hyye a
nobility and we have peerage IN America,
but our peerage is the peerage of merit
and courage and WORTH. Our men hgure
where character is weighed and where
merit is encased in an armour more pre-
cious than gold, and our women are
adorned with the grace that makes up the
perfections of womanhood.
NOBLE ANCESTORS NOT NECESSITY.
The speaker then said that while it was
well to have a noble line of ancestors, such
a thing was not essential in America. lie
related an auecdote about DIR. Johnson,
who when quite advanced IN years, com
menced sparkling" a certain lady. Sne
tried to dampen his ardOr by saving: Il
Doctor replied: That don't make any
difference, have five that ought TO be
hanged Immediately" He did not care
for aristocTatic lineage.
DR.. Evans gave the girls slight, warn
ing about marrying for money and said:
MANY ladies marry for gold and their
parents discriminate against poor young
men and then the farce of marriage takes
place and they enter the mansOlemn called
"home." There is something better than
gold-it is love"
At this sentimental iuncture of the ads