Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-06-13
ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT.
Exercises Of the Martinsburg High
School Sweet Graduates.

| IN the central opera House, on frl-
day night, June 5th, and were a
grand success in every particular.
Prof. Carman has every reason to
feel proud of the excellent manner
in which the present scholastic year
closed, and The excellence which the
graduating class attained. There
were nine graduates Lula Estelle
Bowers, Florence May Curtis, Jacob
Franklin Humphrey Kearns, Martha
Elizabeth Keefe, Frank Morgan
Lorena Jane Mason, Dora Matthaei,
Katharine d. Robinson and Stephen
Rawlings Snodgrass, and the young
ladies and gentlemen leave school
days and enter active life with The
best wishes of their many frierds
and acquaintance. The exercises
began shortly after eight O'Clock, and
the Opera House was crowded with
friends and relatives of the gradu-
ates. The best of order prevailed,
| notwithstanding the large crowd.
The stage was beautifully decorated
with palms, plants and cut flowers,
and presented very attractive ap-
| pearance. The class -colors were
black and orange; the clsss-dower,
violet, and their motto: "No one
knows what he can do till he tries.n
The City Band was in attendance,
and had their station in front Of the
stage, to the right and rendered sew
| eral choice selections during the cx-
ereises. The singing Of the class, as
sisted by other local talent, WAS good.
Miss Emma Staley presided at the
piano. The program proper began
with selection by the band, 'sThe
Gallant First" one of Prof. j. o.
BrockeHshire's popular mar ne S.
Rev. d. j. Woods made the opening
prayer, invoking the Divine blessing
on the entertainment and all present.
He was followed with song by the
class, Con the Mountain" which was
pretty selection and we'll rendered
The Junior Glass ofthe Prof.'s room
was present on the stage, and also
assisted in the singing. Prof. Car.
man then made q few Introductory
remarks, after which he introduced
the first speaker of the evening, Mr..
kearns. who was on the affirmative
side of debate, Resolved, "That
Women Should Not Have the Right
of Suffrage" who handled his sub
| ject very well. Miss Bowers sus-
tanned the negative side of the ques-
ton, and from the applause that each
received, it was hard TO tell which
one scored the winning points. Their
arguments were to the point and
some Of them very amusing. This
was followed by an grafton by Miss
Keefe, whose subject was, "Weight
OF Words" rendered in very grace
full and easy manner, and which was
full of good and deep thought. She
was loudly applauded. The band at
this point rendered another selection,
which was followed by an ora
ton, "John Gree leaf Whit
tier" by Mr.. Keyser, who hand.
led his subject very nicely. He
also received large share of APP
plause. "Small Beginnings was the
theme taken by Miss Matthaei. She
is q composed and eloquent speaker
and did credit to her subject. Her
Grafton was lengthy and full of plain
facts. The applause that followed
showed how well her subject had
been rec,l . Hiss Mason, the next
speaker, chose as her Grafton the all.
prevailing theme, "Life." She dwelt
on how we should conduct ourselves
during our lifetime, and to ever walk
in the straight path. Her Grafton
was beautiful one, and we'll render
ed. She received liberal share OIL
applause. She was followed with an
other selection by the band. The
next speaker introduced was Miss
Robinson, who had as her subject
"Wasted Time" and 1T was a good
theme. She is very pleasant speak.
er and knew how to handle her sub.
ject. She was also loudly applauded
She was followed by Mr.. Snodgrass
on the subject character" whose
well-chosen and well-studied theme
was a good one, and was handled in
a creditable manner. The last speak
er was Miss Curtis, who spoke OF tbs
past, present and future of the class
in "Class History and Prophecy =
it was amusing and pleasing. Miss
Curtis is pleasant speaker and hel
handling of the subject brought forth
continued and merited applause. She
based her remarks on the future Of
her classmates, giving her opinion
OF what occupation they would be
holding in years to come. Tt wa:
amusing in the extreme. The band
then followed with a selection, Gloves
Awakening. After this selection
Prof. Carman made an address. His
remarks were beneficial aud instruc.
tive. He stated that the average at
tendance Of pupils enrolled was above
80 per cent. that more teachers
were needed in our schools, and that
an individual Superintendent wa:
needed to make our schools a sue.
cess. He also stated that the grad
uating class of next year would be
conducted on different basis, SO as
to make the graduates better prepar
ed to enter any university. He also
talked on compulsory education an6
showed in many ways how the schools
| OF Martinsburg could be made more
prosperous in the future. His re
marks were plain and foreible anc
well received. Prof. Carman ther
introduced Prof. Kimler, of tht
Shepherdstown Normal School, WHIT
was present, and who delivered +;
short address, congratulating The
schools of Martinsburg upon thu
manner in which they are being con
Quoted. His remarks were loudl,
applauded. He was followed by s
short address by Prof. Kregg, of tht
Hancock School, who also made con
graduating remarks. The next wa.
an address by the Pres. ofthe Boart
of Education, Mr.. q. II. Wolfes ,wht
made short and timely remarks. Ii
his address he also dwelt on til,
crowded condition Of the schools
and stated that the prospects in th,
near future were for more teachers