Smyrna times., 1893-07-05
Commencement of High School.

Another school year has rolled |
around; now, all over our land the gai-
ties and festivities of commencement
are taking place. The young men
graduates are stepping upon the thresh-
old of sterner life, connecting link
between the theoretical and practical.
The sweet girl graduate, bright and
VivaciOus, with no other thought but
of her own true happiness is contem-
plating the higher duties and nObler
aspirations of this great ''Life's School"
about which they are to enter. Thus
it was that the Smyrna High School
celebrated its ninth annual Commence
ment in the Opera House last Wednes-
day evening before large gathering.
The steaming, sWeltering thrOng,
during such Oppressively hot weather,
so typical of Commencement gather
ings, was greeted this season by a cool,
! delightful evening. The program,
short and spicy, was opened by an in.
vocation by the Rev. Adam Stengle,
after which Manfred Lyonel Lower,
delivered the salutatory, Electricity
in thoughtful manner, covering as
we'll as possible the rapid strides made
in Electrical science.
Miss Kate Warren Beckett. in a
bright, cool and composed manner, so
characteristic of her stage experience,
told in her essay, Looking Backward
and Forward" the different steps of a
school girls life; how she startsout with
good intentions and firm resolutions
but is captivated ere her course is we'll
begun by the social conditions in which
she is surrounded, and drew a beauti-
fol picture of the future life school.
The only defamation of the evening
was rendered by William Bell Jones,
who took for his subject "The MUIR
derer Cannot Keep His Secret" by
Daniel Webster. "The Duty of the
Hour" by Florence Gildea Hazell
contained many beautiful and impress
sive thoughts, which she delivered in a
clear and graceful style.
Howard Roberts Jones, treated
Americas Progress" in scholarly
manner, which would have been credit
to older heads. lie noted the impor.
tant steps Of our Republic from the
landing of Columbus to the present
Day
After few remarks and the presen.
tation of diplomas by the Principal,
Prof. YOcum, the valedictory, Mans
Rights" was excellently rendered BY
Lavinia Turner. She confined her sub
ject to the domestic part of life, mans
rights in the home, now and then add
ing bit of humoP.
The orator for the evening Hugh G
: Browne. Esq, Of Wilmington, was
then introduced by the president O.
| hs Gab I'll IN
( He limited his remarks to the Pub
lie School system, and started by say
ing that these institutions were th,
bulwarks of our nation. The nine
teenth century has revealed to Amer
q ioa profound wonders in the adyantag
of an education and the twentietI
> century has in store greater faoil
tiles. The times demand educate,
= men and women; from them are t.
!. come the bone and sinew of on
great government. He went on t,
! say, that he who is true to his Go,
= and to himself makes the best citizen
\ If he Is true to himself he will bette
4 his condltlonsj the public school sys
q tenn will have greater impetus edu
cation will be more pronounced.
4 Educated women she the queen Q
q the hearth sways the sceptre. CO.
never made nobler thing that woman
: A good woman makes good mother
4 a good mother makes a strong man,
i strong man weaves the fabric of ou
i great government. What we need an,
: we must have is educated women.
Itis to the public school and the ex
= cellent training achieved therefrom
= that the young blood of to-day, fire.
. with energy aud enthusi iasm, is play
! ing such an important role In the mu
: : picipal and governmental affairs. H,
: takes the place to-day where our fore
fathers were years in accomplishing
- The speaker went on TO say that h
4 didn't wish TO reflect any dlscredi
e upon the older head, who by their el
I forts had brought this grand system Il
it's present worth, that after ell thougl
: the young element was very pFogreG
" sive it was to them, the silver haire
men, to whom we look for keene
judgement.
l. With the present advantages of to
) day every boy however humble hi
3 circumstances may be, is placed in th
1. reach of good common school edupa
4 ton. The son Of the Governor and th
nooresf novartv. .gtriCken bOV In th