Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-06-23
AT WEST LIBERTY.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF TIE STATE
NORMAL SCHOOL YESTERDAY.
The Class Composed Of 0as Gentleman AID
Ni1s Young Ladiss-A Prosperous Year
Other Exercises Of tia Day.

made Commencement week this year
notable period 10 the history Of the
West Liberty Normal School, were
brought to a successful close yesterday
when ten graduates were sent forth
from the institution. No school in the
State has more warm and jealous friends
The commendabIe interest in the insti-
tuition on the part Of the people OF the
Panhandle counties was never more
plainly manifested than yesterday. The
morning dawned beautifully, aud before
the rays Of the sun became so warm as
10 be uucOm Portable the population OF
the liltle town on the hilltop was aug
mented by constant arrivals from all
parts of Ohio and adjoining counties.
The commodious grounds about the
school were filed with COnVeyanceS OF
every description, and the three hotels
were TANNED full.
It was nearly ten o'clock when the
doors Of the Commencement hall were
thrown open. The insufficient capacity
or the hall was never more clearly man
fest Every seat and all the available
standing room was used, and many
stood fn the windows and about toe
door eager 70 catch glimpse OF the
class or hear the OratiOns.
The Opera House Orchestra furnished
the music. It's selections were all OF a
light and popular character, aud on the
whole proved very enjoyable feature
of the exercises. The playing OF the
orchestra was frequently applauded.
THE EXERCISES.
At ten o'clock, the members Of the
class fled into the hall, and took posi-
lions upon the stage. The decorations
were tasteful and very pretty. On the
wall, framed In evergreen, hung the
class motto Success Crowns Effort,
and excellent portraits OF Washington
Irving and William Cullen Bryant. On
the left Of the class were seated Prof.
D.ehI, principal Of the school; State
Superintendent Virgil A. Lewis; Prof.
John A. Myers, director OF the State
Experimental Station at Morgantown;
Attorney General Th0s ). Reilly, men,
Der of the Board OF Regents; Hon. NJ,
ID. Post, Of Wheeling, and others.
The exercises were opened with a
lsrvant prayer by Rev. Trippett, OF
West Liberty. Miss Estelle C!enden-
Mn, OF Wel.sbUrg, was indispOsed and
was excused FROM delivering the first
GRAFTON upon ;he programme, Miss
Ida smith, OF West Liberty, chose Tor
her subject We Live Not For Our
selves Alone, and delivered an excel
lent Grafton. She condemned seIiShneSs
and portrayed the beauties OF deeds or
kindness, however small.
Miss Fannie Gardner, OF West Lib
erty, spoke of Heroic Deaths" She
took uD some Of the noted characters
OF history, Joan of Arc, LincUln and
others, and gave a graphic description
OF their conduct during tueir last hours.
Miss Smith received merited applause.
success Crowns Merit" the motto
OF the class, was the theme discussed by
Miss Bertha Reich, OF this city, in one
of the most interesting OratiOns OF the
day. She dwelt briefly upon honesty,
industry, patience and other attributes
OF success, aud gave many practical
hints as 10 the general means Of TO &C
cOmD.ish anything which IS undertaken.
SEARCHING FOR TREASURES
was the subject of an Grafton by Miss
Mary Il. Atkinson Of West Alexander,
Pa. She compared the energy anu de-
termination of some people, in their
efforts 10 acquire worldly goods, to the
diugent search Of parents and friends
for lost child. She mentioned some
fields IN which there should be a more
diugent search for treasures.
Miss Maude Wharton, Of Elm Grove,
spoke Of the fall Of Pompeii snd Rome,
the burning OF Miscow after NapOleon's
invasion, and the destruction Of the
great White City. All played their
part in the Enlightenment and better
ment OF the world, aud are now silent
Cities, " but the lessons which are taught
bv their fate are not lost.
Miss Olive Dunlap, of West Alex
der, ui-uer of the recent Demorest
gllu medal contest at the Fourth Street
church, in this city, sustained her rep
utation as a declaimer, in her pleasing
Grafton upon the subject, The Day
Breaks" The birth Of Christ; the work
of Martin Luther; the abolition OF
slavery were mentioned as daybreaks in
the worlds history. She concluded that
a new dav is now breaking and il will
usher in the age OF Reason. Among
the achievements Of the age Of en-
i.ghtenmenj will be arbitration IS a
means of settling disputes, aud the
em1nC ipatiou OF woman.
Miss Mary Straub, OF Clinton, select
ed IS her subject "Ciimb though the
rocks be rugged She asserted that no
good thing can be enjoyed until we
have paid a price for il; there IS no