Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-25
A GREAT SUCCESS.
THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT
EXERCISES,
Of the Bridgspor. High School, Held in the Opera
House., Last Evsning-Fully Nine Hundred
People Pressnt-Ths Programme.

Inc twentieth annual OOm u1cuSonSA'
exercises of the Bridgeport High School
took place at the new Union Opera
House, at that place, last evening.
From the fact that the exercises were
to be held in the new Opera House, the
ushers anticipated an assemblage larger
than usual, and they were not disap-
pointed. From the time the doors were
thrown open until eight o'clock, a con-
tinuous stream of people poured into
the building, until the auditorium,
both upstairs and down, was packed.
A few minutes past eight the curtain
arose and revealed pretty stage'set-
ting OF forest-scene with the class OF
"a seated in front, surrounded by
mass OF evergreen and potted plants.
In the rear of the stage, number OF
the pupils of the High school were
seated, to assist in the chorus singing.
The whole arrangement was suggest
ed by Mr.. James Duke, the efficient
stage.carpenter, and reflected credit
upon him and his assistants.
After an overture by Meister's orches'
ira, the chorus class under the direction
OF Prof. NJ. NJ. Smith rendered selection
from Mozart's Twelfth Mass. Rev. j.
NJ. Stephens made the opening
prayer Superintendent Duncan then
introduced Miss Lizzie Schafer,
whose theme was What Next?"
She said the future was the next thing
to look after, and then carefully
mapped out how a successful life could
be obtained. BY sowing good seed, the
future would reap bounteous harvest
She dwelt on the education and re-
ligion of the future and pointed out
how the best results could be obtained.
The essay throughout was replete with
apt quotations aud was well read.
"Gnadenhutten" was Miss Lois Hen
thorn's subject. She rehesrsed the
story of how the Indians were treated
at this quiet little village. Her enun.
citation was clear and delivery good.
The school followed with a chorus,
"The Huntsmen."
Miss Hattie Scarlott then portrayed
her subject, The Good PART" with a
beautiful Biblical application Of Mary
and Martha at Jesus feet. Her paper
was well written and deserved the APP
plause 1t received.
Trial by Ordeal" was Miss Anna L.
Forsythe's subject, which dealt mainly
with the struggles of young people
starting out in life. She wanted them
to have patience and victory would be
the conquerer in the end.
After an overture by the orchestra
Mr.. Chas. II. Quimby, Jr., the only male
member of the class, delivered an origi-
nal Grafton on THE Benevolence Of
Thought" He said that inventions
were the products OF thought, whore
the benevolence was bestowed. His ex-
amples were the steam engine and its
numerous uses, and electricity.
Miss Edith Z. Lanam told how "Old
People" became sad as old age approach
ed, and thought they should be cheerful
and not allow this burden TO prey upon
them. Her advice to the young people
to act kindly TO those approaching old
age was well werded and delivered.
The school then sang "Hark! Apollo
Strikes the Tyre"
Miss Margaret T. Frasher, the small
est member of the class, told her hear
ers his idea of the "Other Side" OF life.
The essay was we'll written and read in
a clear voice.
"Amusements" was Miss Fannie
Pyle's topic, which was discussed with
ease and ability. She advocated smuse-
ments, holding that human beings
needed relaxation, and that the best
form was amusement. She attributed
our chief amusemsnts TO the Romans
and Greeks.
Miss Alice Cox drew 3 picturesque
"Vision of the Pilgrim" from 1924 to the
present period,
Miss Mamie B. Hayne, the valedic-
torian Of the class, closed the exercises
with an original Grafton, 1.-THE Noun
tain Top" Her delivery was excellent,
and the picture she vivicly drew of how
hard it was to ascend the mountain of
life was perfect in detail. Her closing
words to her classmates and teachers
were beautifully told. She assured her
schoolmates after climbing the ladder
OF learning, the retrospect was de-
cidedly pleasant, and warned them not
to let the wreath thus far made to fall
unfinished, but scale the rugged noun
tain until the top was reached.
Prof. Duncan then made short ad-
dress, thanking the audience for their
attention and commented upon the
good work accomplished during the
past year.
Hon. VIM. Alexander, President OF
the Board of Education, presented the
ten graduates their diplomas with few
remarks which embodied good advice
to the young people enbarking on the
great seal of life.
After a chorus by the sch 'ol the bene-
diction was pronounced ami the audi
ence, numbering over nine hundred.
dispersed.