Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-05
BESSEMER BUDGET.
The Public Schools Close With an Excellent Programme of Exercises Its Lead
 ing Features.

three public schools yesterday nofnlHB to attend the beginning of the commence -ment exercises under the auspices of Prof. G, M. Lovejoy. The special feature of the morning was the debate. Re solved That Woman Should Be Allowed to Vote.R The affirmative was taken by. Master John Perry and Miss Minnie Jenkins .and the negative by Master Bryan Waller and Miss Elise Bruns. The judges were Messrs M. J. MeAdory, H. NJ. McNutt and Claude Nedeler. Despite the eloquent efforts of the af- firmative the decision was rendered in favor of the negative, though the eK- cellent argument of Miss Jenkins won for her the gold medal. Music was ren- dered by Miss Perkins
 The Night Session.
 At the night session the large hall was packed almost to suffOcation Fans ami straw hats were kept in constant mo ton and ice water was at premium. At S:30 the exercises began with prayer by Rev. H. W. Flynn, of the Presbyte- rian church, who invoked the divine blessing on the audience and thanEed God for throwing their lives In such pleasant places. At the sound of the piano, touched by the skilful hands of Miss J. w. Perkins, a group of merry boys and girls from the first grade came on the platform and went through the evolutions of the Motion Song" their little voices and gestures in perfect har- mony with each other,
 'Il Trovatore'' was executed in mas terly manner by Miss Perkins, who was the presiding genius of harmony for the evening.
 Miss Georgia Lipscomb sang that beautiful song, somebody's Secret which eaptivated the immense audience and was heartily cheered. Miss Lips comb is charming little lady, the daughter of L. Y. Lipscomb Esq. She was dressed in pure white null, With satin bows and lace, white satin slip pers and silver buckles. The white ani red roses in her black hair and the sparkling of her necklace made picture of beauty and simplicity.
 The school festival was beautifully illustrated by the representation or the queen and her coterie. Little Minnie Wright as the queen with the crown or flowers on her head was a perfect pie ture of dignity and department. The en- tire cast acted with talent much above their years. The dialogue was prompt and spirited, and the solos by the little ones were marvellous to the audience.
 To Miss Lizzie Henderson. their teacher, much credit is due for their per feet training and prompt execution of the tableaux.
 "Nobody's Child" by Miss Ella Sapp, won the hearty applause of the audi ence.
  Who Apologized" in a most Imaginable way, and the infection of her happy recitation carried the audience with her until they laughed in earnest as much as she did in manner.
 Dream of Love-" by Miss Eva Harri- son, received with such hearty cheers that she was recalled. She responded with verse; of Little Bo Peep"
 Miss Daisy Marbut rendered "Caleb's Courtship" in a manner that, had not the audience seen her. they would have thought they were listening to an origi- nal courting scene
 Brier Rose-AIiss Katie Gerst This part of the pfogramme wasf eagerly watched for by the entire audience, who anticipated a rare treat, and their fond est expectations were more than realized. Her sweet voice. charming poises, dances, songs, her sudden transitions from the sublime to the ridiculous from the gay to the pathetic, were as instantaneous as flashes of lightning and as brilliant as sparks from Vulcan's forge
 Miss Mabel Rogers recited The Ride of Jennie McNear' to a perfect torrent of applause. sA
 'Learning to Pray" by little Minnie Wright, was beautiful in it's simplicity. The artlessnesS of the little reciter and her departure was the signal of much applause
 Messrs. George Houston and George Babcock interspersed excellent music on  gramme, which were very effective and pleasing. and fixed the young men as experts in their line.
 Master L. Y. Lipscomb, Jr., chip of the old block, in an original essay, Boys Will Be Boys in BeSsemer and Else where" brought down the house. \ How Ruby Played the Piano" was a most vivid description of novice lis tening to Rubenstein while performing on the piano, by Miss Ruby Kellar This tot i1t, xt-ne n ncfo ocy1fp md oh after cheer followed every movement of the little lady, and at the close she re- ceived an ovation that Patti would be proud of.
 Mrs Robert Ransom sang My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice. Mrs. Ransom is a vocal teacher and is famous for her sweet voice and charming manner.
 Miss Pearl Saxon. a charming little lady. dressed in blue challies and lace reclted College oil Cans" which was fully appreciated by those who have been through or heard of college pranks.
 The feature of the evening was the pantomime by sixteen young ladies' all in white, going through the tragic mo- tions to the reading of the Charge of the Light Brigade"
 This was a splendid piece of acting and called for round after round of applause The following young ladies participated
 Misses Katie Gerst, Minnie Wright. Pearl Saxon. Edna King. Isla Myers, Mary Hard, Lottie McArthur. LaValle Perry Irene Harvell Ollie Golston, Lot tie Hurd, Nell Hard, Queenie Stubbs, Alice Sanders Celia Ably. Evie Frierson.
 The judges of award. of whom MT William K. Brown of Birmingham was chairman then made their awards. MT. Brown. in few appropriate words. pre- scented the medals as follows:
 For the best recitation, Miss Willie Kellar; for best argument, Miss Minnie Jennings These medals are solid gold, of handsome design, one being pre-