Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-02
STEP FROM S7AGE ID STAGE!
 
Yesterday in PotentialitH Today
 iiAetuaIity SWEET GIRL GRADUATES
Charmed Cultivated Audience at 0'Brien'' Last Night-The Exercises Out of the
 Groove of TritenesS.

A large and representative audience assembled at O'Brien's last night to wit ness the graduating exercises of the Pollock-Stephens institute.
 The class roll embraced the following:
 Full graduates-Misses Kate Conner, Corrie Handley, Janie McLester, Oracle Smith, May Belle SIoss and Virginia Walker @
 French and English-Misses Clyde Smith and Annie Harbeson.
 Latin and English-Miss Maude Ter rell
 Mathematics and English-Miss Kate Eubank
 English-Misses Isabel Mushat and Mamie May Summers.
 The class had laid aside the time hon ored custom of valedictories and saluta- tions and in their stead presented a beautiful dramatizatfon entitled ''The Perfect Woman" a piece of work origi- nal with the class-and arranged by Miss Summers. asdsas-e -zse
 Dramatis Person@.
 The dramatis personae of the perform ance was as follows:
 Prologue .... ..... Miss Laura Ferguson SSpiiriitt or Present. Miss Jamie McLester SSpiiriit of East: Miss Gracie smith Venus ........,.............M Miss Kate Eubank MneFya snnepU Miss Miss corrie a Handey sTN Joan of Arc. Miss Annie Harbeson The Pricess. ...........s.M Miss Isabel Mushat Enld ................'......,;M Miss Clyde Smith Lucille ....................M Miss Maude Terrell Portia ....... '...............Miss Kate Conner The Southern Woman. ............
 .:................ L.. Miss Virginia Walker
 The fair graduates were bedecked in snowy white robes,. and each was pie ture of lovliness.
 Synopsis.
 The scene Is in the Hall of Fame" The Spirit of the Present disputes the claims of the others in the cast to fame and deplores womans present degraded position. The Past, aroused by the ac- cusations of the Present, call the spirits back to life and Urges them to present. their claims in their own verbiage. Each does as she is bid and claims the wreath of fame" While in the strife Christianity enters and shows that only through her power can woman be per feet. The Southern Woman appears and disclaims coming from the marble of fame" but acknowledges her allegiance to Christianity, and declares this to be the secret of her power. Christianity comments her and shows forth the ideal woman" as clinging ever to the Rock of Ages"
 Then follows some exquisite posing as a male voice, sweet and clear, sings behind the curtain that beautiful hymn, Rock of Ages.'-
 The class then arranged themselves on the stage and, to musical accompaniment, presented the following beautiful poses: "Ganymede, From Earth to Olympus" Sacrifice of Iphigenia," :" "Solace of Paris and Helen," Dance of the Muses," Strife" "Nymphs and Maids"
 After brief intermission the curtain was rung up, and on the stage appeared the graduating class, the principal Miss Summers; Rev. Dr. l.. s. Handley, Rev. pr. H. M. Scudder, Mayor J. A. Van Hoose and Gen. Rufus N. Rhodes
 Rev. Dr. Handley offered an appropri- ate prayer, after which he introduced Rev. Dr. Scudder, who made a few ap- proprlate remarks to the graduates.
 Mayor VanHoose in his own inimitable style, prefaced the presentation of diplo- mas by few witty and at the same time appreciative remarks to the members of the class now stepping from the school room to the stage of life
 As the fair graduates received the.r well-earned diplomas their friends greet ed them with applause.
 General Rhodes was next introduced. and spoke of the Pollock-Stephens insti- tute and its high place among the institu- tons of learning in the city.
 The exercises were concluded with a benedction by Dr. Handley.
 The members of the class were the re- cipients of many beautiful floral offer ings and costly presents from relatives and friends.