The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-07-13
Closing Exercises of the Pollock
Institute.
Editor coyan Chronicle:

Friday night, June %, 1895, being the
time appointed for the sgrand exhibition"
and closing exercises of the Pollock In
stitute. the town put on her best bib and
tucker, and for time duh care was
thrown off and joy reigned unconfined.
We have only on one occasion before
witnessed SO many people assembled for
any purpose as were present on this oc-
casion. Many of our oldest and most re-
spected citizens were there to enjoy the
good things said and done. The great IA
cility, composure and enchanting style
with which the pupils acted their various
parts, gave proof of the superior ability
OF Prof. Johnston and his valuable assist
ant, Miss Maggie Kelly, as instructors Of
youths, and showed that they are richly
endowed with the faculty of imparting
knowledge.
Long before the time appointed for the
curtain to be raised the grounds, on the
outside OF the school building, where the
programme was to take place, was one
mass of human beings, and to the sweet
strains OF music which was furnished by
Prof. s. F. Gossens, leader Of the Alexan-
! dria string band, ably assisted by Messrs
Corbin, Taylor, Richardson and Budden-
brock, the immense crowd of several hun
bred people who were present were held
in sway as melody after melody was play
ed by this first-class band.
At 8:45 the curtain was raised and the
song "America" was sung by the whole
school. A Salutatory by Master Ode
| Hastings was well delivered, considering
his age. examination Day" was next
on the programme. This dialogue was
we'll performed. Then came recitation
by little Miss Ora Belle Payton, sweet
little tot Of five years of age, well did she
deserve the encore that was given her by
the audience.
The Drama, aMany Slip 'Twixt Cup
aud Lip" was then given with the follow
ing characters: Father Joe Aaron; in
love with each other. Miss Ollie Buck
elew, and Mr.. Allen Adams; Hotel pro-
prietor, Wm. Willett; and his daughter,
Miss Bette Willett. All showed their
qualities as amateurs. Mr.. Adams smil-
ed, and bowed, and scraped the floor with
his shoes, or boots, We know not which,
and Of course all had to smile. We can
never forget the words of music which so
softly fell on our ears from this polite and
affable gentleman. And, Mr.. Aaron; we'll,
we would never attempt to describe the
meekness and modesty of this girlish soul
on this occasion. The grace with which
he skipped, and that perpetual smile, &C
peculiar to himself, were never so richly
appreciated as on this occasion; and If he
did loose his loved one, we suppose be
made up for the loss in the supper that
was served. The young ladies' who wert
connected with the piece ably performed
their parts, and well merited the ap
plause they received.
| 'Grand-Pa's Song" by Misses Lolas
and Sallie Walker, was we'll rendered bJ
these young girls. "Three Enigmas" wa
also we'll performed by Misses Adelis
Walker, Maud Harvey, Cora Walker and
the fairies. In the dramatic dialogue, BY
Mathew Estes, Jessie Bonnette, Mary
Drake. James Chandler, and Nettie Bell
all did well, and especially Miss Mary
Drake.
A dialogue, entitled 1.-THE Train t.
Mauro," was one OF the most entertaining
peices acted during the night. Mis-
George Wilmut, the old lady to take tn,
train; Master Andrew Reeves, her con
and Lawrence Doughty, station agent
were the actors, and we'll did they meri
the applause they received. The tab
lean, "Rock of Ages" by Miss Cricke
Bell. was also one Of the most attractive
peices of the evening, and, as this fair AND
beautiful young lady was clinging to tn,
cross, and to the slow strains of tina
beautiful hymn, "Nearer my God t
Thee,"' which was played by the band
the picture was one to be long remem
bered.
Love Sick" dialouge, was creditabl
performed by Gus Cobb, Miss Min
Browning, Mrs. A. v. Price and Jessi
Bonnette. In this, as we'll as other Low
affairs, every thing turned out all RICH
. in the end.
The valedictory was delivered by Mis-
Georgia Buckelew, and, as the youn
lady bid her schoolmates and the audi
ence farewell for this term. the effect G
her words upon them was marvellous, o
she held them spell bound. As the las
words were spoken, and the curtain SLOW
" dropped at the ring of the prompter
bell, it was then that the audience realiz
} ed that the end bad come, and that th
9 Pollock Institute was closed.
Prizes were awarded to Miss Georgi
Wilmut, Master Ode Hastings and Ton
9 mie Foster, for attendance. Miss Georgi
: Wilmut and Master John Chandler II
( ceived prizes for department, which wer
:. voted to them by the pupils; also to Mis-
: Pauline Williford, for scholarship, give
by Miss Maggie Kelly, assistant teacher
Prof. Johnston then gave short az
dress on education, in which he briefi,
but forcibly and eloquently, showed tn
necessity and numerous advantages {
an education. He was listened (
throughout with much attention.
This institution OF learning will agni
: open its doors Sept 2, 1895, and we onl
2 trust that the good work in the cause I
!, education that this school has started
Q our midst will meet with the success it I
8 richly deserves, in the beginning of its So
ond session, by having its large buildir
filed with pupils from Grant as well |
surrounding parishes.
T. Mr.. Editor, as the programme was vel