Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-29
CLASSES OF '91.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF TIE BRIDGE
PORT AND MARTINS FERRY SCHOOLS.
A Large Attendance Of Friends and Parents Of th'
Pupils in Both Cities Programme Of the
Exercises.

Exercises.
The seyententeenth annual Com
mencement of the Bridgeport public
schools was held last night at the XIX
wood Presbyterian church. Despite the
disagreeable weather, the spacious au-
ditorum and Sunday school room adj
Joining were tested to their utmost ca
pacity to accommodate the audience
which was crowded within the walls.
The seating capacity of the church is
eight hundred, and fully two hundred
more were seated on camp chairs or
stood in the aisles. The parents and
friends who attended were amply re-
paid in the pleasure OF listening to the
programme, which for the individual
excellence of its numbers compared
favorably with any similar event
in recent years. The audience
was cultured and appreciative one.
The middle section of seats, directly in
front Of the stage, was reserved for the
members Of the Alumni Association,
who attended in large numbers.
were such that every syllable uttered
could be heard distinctly in all parts Of
the edifce. The ushers were Messrs.
George Turner, Will Scott, James Me-
dill, Floyd Duncan, Chas. Heinlein and
Dr. Lawrence w. Henlein, and they
performed their duties TO the satifac-
tion of all. Owing to the smallness OF
the stage, no elaborate floral display
could be made, but the bouquets and
floral offerings, with which the MEM
bers of the graduating class were kind
ly rendered by their friends, were ar
ranged in front of the stage, giving it
a very pleasing effect.
Precisely at eight o'clock the class of
'91, eleven in number, took their places
upon the stage to the strains of pretty
march, which was rendered by Meister's
orchestra. The young ladies looked
lovely, their pretty costumes OF white
and cream appearing to better advan-
tage, in contrast with the black worn
by the young gentlemen. Each of the
young ladies wore a corsage boquet,
while the gentlemen each carried bou-
tonnierres upon the lapels OF their
coats.
After fervent invocation by Rev. j. M.
Stevens, of the Presbyterian Church,
Mr.. Walter G.. McConnaughy, the
salutatorian OF the class, delivered an
grafton, selecting for his theme DE
lenda est Carthage" He related the
legend of the origin of the city of Car
thage, and told of its growth in power.
He then referred to contemporary
power, Rome. Jealous of the growth OF
Carthage. Rome declared war against
her, and destroyed the city, pronounc-
ing a curse upon whoever attempted to
rebuild it. The Romans hated their
enemies; we have learned the doctrine
of love- If we adhere to our doctrine,
as the Romans did to theirs. we will
reap the benefit here and in that other
world, where sorrow and care are UNI
known.
"Climbng up the Rock" was the sub
ject of an interesting essay by Miss
lizzie C. Davis. She drew Il word pic
ture of man striving to reach the sum
nit of a rock, finally meeting with sue
cess by dint of pluck, determination and
energy. In the new land which he
reaches, all is fair and bright, in com
parison with the world below, but he
notices that the people in the new world
are but few. The happy ones were
those who continued to hold their posi-
ton during life, in the sunny cline OF
ambition attained.
The Music of the Sea She'll" was
the subject of well written, and ad-
mirably rendered essay, by Miss Carrie
Branum. She told OF the finding OF
rare sea shell, by a young sailor upon
an unknown island, and OF the strange
sounds proceeding from the shell, when
held to the eur. The APPLICATION Of the
story to our lives was cleverely por-
trayed.
Miss Bessie Duncan followed in HUI
morous paper on eastern Hlllsides."
She drew an amusing picture OF Wheel
ing hill, surmounted by the crematory
and the water works, which the city so
badly needs, and she also alluded to the
alleged prison in which petty offenders
were confined. 1t was not good rec
ommendation for Wheeling to say that
she lives beneath a hill on which moth
ing will grow. "On this side" she
said, 1--WE see the rays of Old Sol rising
over the hill tops. The sunrise in
Wheeling is two hours later than here.
II is said that the early bird catches the
first worm. If that is true, the worm is
caught before the sunrise strikes Wheel
ing"
Mr.. William Wright, the only colOrcd
member of the slasS, delivered splen-
did Grafton on "Self Reliance" Self
reliance is the keynote to success. Self
reliance and self conceit, although close
" connected, are as different as day
and night. The first is manly virtue;
the second silly vice. God did not
intend a strong and independent being
to cling to another for support. Every
man should help himself. He who be-
gins with crutcheS will generally end
with crutcheS. What we make of our
selves depends upon our own eXertions.
The best capital in life is robust health,
sound morals, determination and energy.
"Thistles" was the theme selected by
Miss Mary L. McAllister for her essay,
and it was handled In splendid manner.
She spoke of the origin and history of
the thistle, and OF the erroneous opinion
that it was absolutely worthless. Some
people resemble the plant, repellent,
disagreeable and not at all handsome:
while others were like its down, bright
and agreeable, carrying cheerfulness
wherever they went.
Mr.. Ira B. Sed wick followed with an
oration-"John and His Grandfather. "