Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-23
WEST LIBERTY NORMAL
TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT
YESTERDAY MORNING.
The Historic Little Town Crowded With Visitors
Eleven Graduates Take Part in The Exer-
eisss-MOsl Prosperous Year in
the History Of The School.

beard the elOQuence OF henry Gay anu
sontemporaneous statesmen, assumed q
holiday air yesterday. Early 10 the
morning streams OF vehicles OF every
description poured into the old town
from all sections of the county. 1t IS
said that each Normal School Com
mencement, in recent years, has proven
more successful than its immediate pre-
decessOr. Yesterdays exercises were
no exception to the rule, Long before
the opening OF Academy Hall, the
campus was filed with people, VINO
stood about the doors eager to gain al
mission. The threatening weather had
no effect upon the attendance, and even
the deluge in the afternoon failed to
dampen the enthusiasm OF the visitors,
who again filed the c0mmodious hall.
There was o marked absence OF deco
rations IN the hall, tut the flowers pre-
sented to students were heaped in front
Of the stage, and gave 1t pleasing ap-
pearance. The graduates, eleven in
number, marched upon the stage TO
the measures OF rythmic march, rem
dered by the Opera House Orchestra
They took seats arranged in semi
circle. On the left were Prof. K. A.
Armstrong, Principal Of the school,
Prof. Virgil A. Lewis, OF Charleston, State
Superintendent of Free Schools, and
the following members OF the Board OF
Regents: L. c. SOmmerville, or Point
Pleasant; M. ID. Post. Of Wheeling,
and II. L. snyder, OF Charleston. The
exercises were opened with fervent
prayer by Rev. c. 5. AllemOng, paSter
of the NJ T. church.
TIE sALUTATORY.
After an inspiring selection was
played by the orchestra, the salutato-
rian Of the class, Geo. E. Lewis, OF
West Alexander, Pa, stepped forward
and neatly babe a welcome 20 the audi
ence, expressing the hope that their
presence evidenced a sympathy with
his tkeme-"Our Common Schools"
He spoke OF the advantages Of popular
education, and advocated making 1t
compulsory, cOntending that free suffer
age, without enlightened knowledge, Is
a mOckery. The erroneous idea that
public schools make lawyers and doc
tors OF all their pupils, and take them
from the farm and mechanical pursuits,
was successfully refuted.
Miss Emma LaZear, OF West Liberty,
delivered a carefully prepared Grafton
upon perseverance ih Life" She held
perseverance, 20 be essential TO success.
Without it nothing can be accomplish
ed. Several examples were given from
history OF great achievements due to
energy and q Fixed determination to at
tain success. Miss LaZear's voice was
clear and we'll mOdulated, and her de-
livery excellent.
"Heroines" was the theme discussed
10 an interesting manner by Miss Della
Maxwell, OF Potomac. She held women
to be capable of as great attachments as
the sterner sex under like conditions,
aud dwelt upon the heroic achievements
Of some Of the women famous In Amer
lean history. Miss MaxwelPs effort was
rewarded with deserved applause.
After a spirited selection by the or
chestra, Mr.. Harry Ridgely, Of West
Liberty, spoke OF Lilies Pictures" his
pleasing, musical voice adding interest
to his beautiful wOrd-painting OF the
lights and shadows 10 human life. The
outlines are formed in youth, he said,
and are deepened and intensified in age,
our habits having an influence upon
their formation.
In her Grafton upon Margaret Full
ler," Miss Annie Finley, Of Clinton,
gave a brief history OF the life and
character of her subject, and her infu-
ence upon the thought OF her time with
reference TO an enlarged conception of
woman'S sphere and rights. She made
an eloquent and interesting plea for
recognition Of the capabilities Of her
sex.
''THE FUTURE OF AMERICA"
was the subject Of the Grafton Of Mr..
Milton Mccullough, OF Clinton, and he
handled 10 10 a masteriul way. He eu-
l0gized American institutions, cOndi-
tions aud progress, and glancing one
hundred years into the future, made
glowing predictions Of the nations
prestige In all the arts and sciences, AZ
that time. The Grafton was very patri-
Otlc IN tone.
The Power OF an Ideal" was grace
fully portrayed by Miss Cora Finler, Of
Elm Grove. She emphasized the neceS-
sity OF an ideal to lead US to higher and
better things, and presented many
thoughtful suggestions rs 10 the means
20 accomplish realization Of youthful
dreams.
Miss Cora Hukill, OF WellSburg, Sc
lected as her theme "The Threshold"
She spoke Of the Importance Of forming
correct early Impressions, aud asserted
that the habits OF youth have a power
ful influence on the character. She re-
ferred to the class of '03, standing upon
the threshold of new life, and offered
words Of advice aud encouragement TO
her classmates.
RThe life Of Thomas Jefferson was dis
cussed in an interesting way by James
Dixon, Of West Liberty, in his Grafton
upon ''An American Statesman" He
dwelt upon q number of interesting
points in his career, and particularly
upon the immortal instrument which,
he said, will stand as an enduring mon
ument to his fame.
A splendid selection by the band pre-
ceded the next number upon the pro-
gramme, an Grafton upon "Innoyators,"
by Miss Minnie Wynthers, Of Sand Hill.
She stated that the diScoVerer and mill
itary genius were always recipients of
the hOnOrs OF nations, while the inno-
vators who sought 10 introduce i'm
proved customs and bettered cOndi-
tions, was treated with scOrn and pun
ishment. She held that customs are
not right because long established.
THE vALEDIcToRY.
The valedictorian was Miss Halle h
Jacobs, Of Clinton. The subject Of her
Grafton was ''Bind in the Midst of
Beauty" A pleasing delivery added
charm to her natural grace of person.
She spoke OF physical blindness, and
neatly made the application to a moral