Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-18

optimistic views. Her delivery was grace
full and pleasing, and her subject matter
was handled in very credtable manner.
Miss Hail is a recent graduate of the
Wheeling public schools from Richie dis
trict, and is ore of the brightest young
ladies VINO have finished the course at the
Normal school.
MY Country IT'S OF Thee" was the sub
ject Of a patriotic Grafton by Miss Alice
Ridgely, of West Liberty. She referred
to the triple song of the ages as ''patri-
otism. liberty, freedom" and she dweit
briefly upon each division of her subject.
The Grafton upon Cold by Miss Mag
gle Vaughan Curtis. Of Potomac. W. Va.
was the last and one of the best upon the
programme She said that knowledge is
the gold of life; ignorance curse and the
cause of most of the immortality in the
world She made a strong plea for edu-
cation.
The remaining three graduates prepared
papers, but did ret read them. All took
part in the previous exercises during the
week, and in accordance with a custom OF
the school. did not participate in the com
mencement exercises. Their names and
papers follow: Miss Minnie Ilga Shorts,
of West Liberty, "Our District Schools ;
Mr.. George c. Hunt, West Liberty, anglo
Saxon Freedom; Mr.. VIM. II. Whitman,
of Valley Grove, W. Va, "A Lion in the
Path"
The diplomas were presented by State
Superintendent Virgil A. Lewis, who made
a brief address of a congratulatory nature.
MANY POLITICIANS.
a feature of the commencement day this
year, was the presence of an unusually
large number of Ohio county politicians.
Nearly all the candidates were on hand,
aud they worked campaign of literature,
portraits, and the inevitable hand shaking
and inquiry about things down on the
farm" Every male of the requisite age
was buttonholed at least dozen times by
the candidates or their friends the outside
of the commencement hall resembling the
scenes enacted at the polling places in the
late primaries. Among the candidates
present were ". w Irwin, John A. White,
W P. Robinson, Geo. S. Otte. II. C. Rich
ards, Richard Robertson, c. Fl. Henning,
Addison Israel, W. P. Myers and Robert
Anderson.
Among the other visitors from Wheeling
and vicinity were II. c. Caldwell, VIII
Ball, Henry Shafer. Miss Marsh. Miss
Genevieve Irwin. Gala Mitchell, Mrs Carl
Shorts, Mr.. and Mrs VIM. Mitchell, Mrs.
Robert Anderson, Miss Anna Kennedy, Mr..
and Mrs. T. Montgomery. Miss Mamie
Montgomery, Mrs. John Dunkle, Mr.. Nc
Griggen, Joseph EllswEth. John Wallace,
Allen Robinson. George Hell. James Dy-
son, Clyde Trippett, A. l.. Sawtele. Miss
jeanette Baird. Miss Laura Serig, Miss
Kirchner and others. Also Mr.. and Mrs
Samuel Busbey, and Misses Della and
Mary Busbey, of Washington, Pa, for
merly of Ohio county. and Mrs. Emma
Wilson, nee Oker, Of Virginia, formerly Of
Wheeling.
MIDDLE CLASS EXERCISES.
The middle class exercises took place at
two o'clock in Commencement Hall. which
was again crowded TO its capacity. The
programme follows:
Music
Essay-Youth or the Prov and Pleas
ure at the Helm. Katie Hall
ReeItation-The Death Bridge Of Of the
lay ''''''''' Music ;i,i;.'''''''''i$A huN''i
Rssay-What Is the Matter?
Recitation-The Rivals......Lulu Hartley
Music
oratlon-Our National Relations.
George Korre
Minnie McCulloch
Study in Expression.
Music
OratiOn-Our HOnOrad Dead Mary Lewis
J. ". Whitman
Recitstion-Mrs. McWilMams and the
Lightning 49,. ~; - Mayme 'Bucher
Pantomime.... The Star Spanged Banner
Music.
Lack OF space for5ids extended mention
of these performances. as all were deserv
ing. The Alumni meeting was held at four
O'Clock. and last night an elocutionary
recital was given in Academy Hall by
Miss Jean Bergland.
SOCIETY CONTEST.
One of the most interesting features of
commencement week was the annual con-
test between the Bryant and Irving literary
societies, which was not published in yes
terday's Register on account of an acct
dent to the long distance telephone lire.
Inc contest attracted tne usual tnrOng OF
partisans to the exercises. The programme
follows:
Music. Prayer. Music.
Debate:
Questiou-Resolved. That the Republican
Form Of Government mas proven sue
cessful in South America.
A1nrn9IlNe ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. OOTNelld OfF
Mega tive ............. William II. Whitman
Oration-Shall We Abandon the Mon
roe Doctrine? George c. Hunt
Columbia, My Home.
Elizabeth McCammon
Essay-The Anchor of the Republic,
Bertha Mae Fette
BattleneldS $500. Hillary Whitman
eclamaficn-Francesca So. Alice Ridgley
Nydfa. the Blind Girl of PCmpeil.
Lille B. King
Music.
The judges were Profs. Mitchell, Of
Wellsburg; Carrigan. Of Benwood and Re-
gent Johnson, of Martinshurg. The de-
cision was rendered in favor Of Mr.. Whit
ham and Miss Whitman, Representatives
Of the Bryant society, and Misses Nc
Cannon and King, representatives of the