Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-07-06

The great annual school occasion of the
year, the commencement exercises of the
high school, took place last Wednesday
night.
Ror the first time for many year the
big gathering was held i'll another place
than the Opera House. The new Audi.
toriuLn was the location selected. 1t fitted
the necessities of the evening exactly.
The stage was prettily decorated with
palms and plants, the place of honor
among the greenery being occupied by
handsome national flag. 1t was long
time before all the audience got settled iii
their seats. Meanwhile high school juniors
were fitting around on the platform and
about the aisles Dusily aiding visitors to
find their places. The lads were distin-
guishable in the red and whitelapel ribbon,
the high school colors. The chief business
of the 10 minutes after the clock had
struck S, which was the time to open the
exercises, seemed to be the handing up to
the stage of ceaseless contribution OF
bouquets and packages. Then the Stueb-
gen orchestra commenced selection from
II Trovatore.
The so graduates, % girls and q boys,
marched in and faced the audience. Then
the members of the Board of Education
marched in also and stood up, showing
themselves to the audience also, a black
clothed line of white fronted officials.
The middle aisle of the Auditorium was
mass of standing, pressing and chattering
human beings as the Rev. w. Z. SwartZ
Oh the invitation of President Charles
Baird of the Board of Edncation offered
the Introductory prayer. The eloquent
invocation was only, however, for those
seated atthe upper part of the Auditorium,
for although the minister's words were
loudly spoken they were met and echoed
by the louder hum from the immense
mass still pouring up through the wide
central aisle. Then as the platform people
feseated themselves high school lad
brought around boutonnieres of pinks and
roses, presenting one to each of the MEM
bers OF the Board of Education. The boy
forgot to provide pins, so the little
bouquets did not in every case result in
dressy appearance.
After more music Chairman Baird arose
and said: ''There is SO much confusion in
the hall that we cannot get along with
the exercises and / will ask the musicians
to give us little more music"
IL was now half an hour after the ap-
pointed time for commencement of the
exercises. The band was playing and bou-
quets and packages still poured in on to
the platform and hundreds of belated yisi-
tors were still pouring up the central aisle.
The side walls were lined with numbers
who could not find seats and the big gal
lery at the end was packed.
In explanation of this rush and confu-
states that for awhile matters were pro-
crossing in good shape about 1000 per-
sons having been seated in 20 minutes.
Naturally there was a crush at the single
entrance, the bulk Of the people having
reached there at the same time, but his u
ushers were handling them in excellent
shape, and seating them without confu-
sion. Then DR.. Shortlidge of the Board
of Education, Manager Benson says,
thinking there should be enlarged facili-
ties for iugress, threw open the front doors,
allowing the crowd to sweep in. 1t was
impossible for the ushers to do their work
properly under these circumstances, and
hence the confusion that marred the open
ing exercises.
Chairman Baird introduced Miss Isabella
Macallister as the first to read an essay.
The subject was 1.-THE Poets Mission"
The essay was read in excellent manner
and the thoughts, as expressed, showed a
cultured ideal of the poets mission among
humanity. Hearty applause and hand.
some bouquet were won by the essayist.
Next followed debate upon the tonic
Would the annexation of Canada be a
benefit to the United States Pr
James Il. Mahaffy spoke for the affirma-
tive. He was clear and distinct. Every
word was heard. Some remarkable state
ments were made. For instance, that the
commerce of Canadas maritime provinces
is more valuable than the trade of New
York and Pennsylvania combined. He
asserted under present conditions the
whole, northern boundary. line of the
United States is open to foreign aggression.
He claimed that the great majority of
Canadians desired annexation. Applause. |
Herbert l.. Rice then took the negative
The desire for Canadian annexation in the
United States, he said, is based on preiu-
dice and ignorance of facts. Our territory
is large enough Our nation is too dear to
its people to experiment in territorial ag-
grandizement. Again, the people Of
Canada do not desire annexation. Il is
foreign to the genious of the nation to
encourage annexation. The feelings of
Great Britain, friendly nation, should be
considered. Even if she would be willing
think Of the sum she would ask for part.
ing with IL Then, we should have to take
on our shoulders Canada's immense debt
Loud applause.
The points raised by both speakers
demonstrated plentiful and extremely
interesting array of facts on either side, in
GLIDING historical information aud politi-
cal and geographical argument,
Following a, selection from ''Robin
Hood" the city superintendent OF schools
ID. w. Harlan, distributed the 10 honor
prizes. The two best scholars were Miss
Jean i. Arnott of the girls high school and
Harvey L.. Vansant. These received the
most valuable prizes. The next the Mofn-
ing Neps prizes, presented by George W.
Roberts, were awarded to Miss Mary G.
Zebley and George w. X. Forrest. The
Alumni prizes were presented by Dr.
Ewithin Chandler, in an eloquent address.
The winner was George w. Mccartney.
The Alumne prize was presented by Miss
Elizabeth Carlisle. Miss Bessie II. Plat
was the recipient. This young lady ac-
quired the highest average in the regular
school studies of the term, j. Il. King
gave the J. X. King prize. In making the
presentation he said an opportune word
for the Y. M. q. A. This was taken in
good part and the reference roundly
cheered. S. t. Green received the prize of
an admission to the Y. NJ. O. a. The
Institute prizes were presented by the
president of the Institute, William II.
Taylor. Those receiving the honor OF
membership were Bertha Burke, Anna
Att, Regina Donohoe, Willard Sweetman,
Arlington Sutton and Albert Pierce.
entitled Song and Its Influence" II was
listened 10 with deal of evident pleasure
Albert w. Foreman then spoke on "The
Struggles Of the Discoyerer." He showed
a peculiarly sonorous voice, which was
most effectively used in describing Chris
topher Columbus. He gave . most pic
turesque history of the mystic mariner"
The essay was warmly applauded.
The address to the graduates was de-
liyered by the Rev. Merritt Hulburd,
ID. d., of Philadelphia. He congratulated
the prize winners and the prize giyers on
their mutual feeling of patriotic sympathy
for the great institution of American COM
mon schools. 1t has been said that the
German educational system. which at
times has been compared IN advantage to