Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-28
THIRD EDITION. IN BUSTL|NG BESSEMER Public Schools Were the Center
 of Attraction. SIX OF HER BEAUTIFUL GIRLS Graduated With High Honors Interesting Ex- ercises of Yesterday and the Attract
 i've Programme for Today.
SIX OF HER BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

The commencement exercises of the BeS- semer city schools begun yesterday morning. The exercises were held in Rebie hall. For some time the interest of the Bessemer public has been centered on the commencement of 1896 owing to the fact that six beautiful girls were to graduate.
 By 10 o'clock a large and intelligent audience had collected, which fact clear ly showed the interest Bessemer is taking in her public schools. At 1O:15 o'clock Superintendent Lovejoy, followed by the graduating class and members of the board of education, took seats upon the stage.
 Rev. W. R. Ivey opened the exercises with an appropriate prayer. Misses Houston and McArthur followed with an instrumental duet, which was heartily eneored. Miss Ada Ware read the prize essay. which was entitled Slavery of Fashion" Every year the mayor of the city of Bessemer gives a medal for the best English essay on any given subject. This medal has been appropriately nam ed the R. E. Lee medal. It was given this year by the Hon. John T. McEniry. Among the six contestants Miss Ware carried off the prize. The paper was an exceedingly strong one, showing much
 
 The instrumental solo by Miss Bessie Cockrell was beautifully rendered. Miss Fedora Marks, beautiful little brunette of the sixth grade sang with exquisite expression 70, Promise Me-" and fololwed an encore with Ben Bolt" Rev. E. H. Hawkins, in delivering the medal to Miss Ware, was very felicitious in the manner in which he expressed him. self His ideas were clothed in excellent language and his remarks in reference to the production of good English were excellent and timely.
 Misses May and Marbut, with guitar and mandolin, rendered a beautiful duet. The most interesting part of the pro- 5.amme was the delivery of the diplomas by MT. M. J. McAdory. Mr. McAdory was graceful and happy in his remarks and sssw eloquent when he touched upon the su oject of woman.
 The names of the graduates are: Misses Bessie Cockrell, Lucy Guin, Ruby Grif- fin, Minnie Jenkins, Elsie Bruns and Ada Ware.
 Miss Cockrell carried off the honors of her class in mathematics, Miss Bruns in English and Miss Jenkins in Latin. The following is the programme of yes terday's exercises and those of today:
 Wednesday Morning.
 Prayer-Rev w. R. Ivey.
 Music-Misses Houston and McArthur. Reading of prize essay.
 Music-Miss Bessie Cockrell.
 Song-Miss Fedora Marks.
 Delivery of medal-Rev. E. H. Haw- kins.
 Music-Misses May and Marbut. Delivery of diplomas-Mr. M. J. Mo- Adory.
 Wednesday Night-Primary and Grammar
 Grades.
 Instrumental solo-Mrs Wells
 Katydid's song, (Karts' new lullaby)- w. Baptiste.
 Recitation-Wil]ie Kellar.
 La Paloma-Mando1in and piano. Shaking Quakers-Third grade. Song, 70 Promise Me'-Edith West Color drill-Sixth grade.
 Thursday Morning.
 Prayer-Rev H. W. Finn.
 Music-LaValle Perry. Song, fEvangeline"-W. Baptiste Modern Belle"-Willie Kellar. Music-Miss Houston.
 Lecture-Ex-Superinte John H. Harris.
 Thursday Night-zetasophian Society. Duet, "One Heart One Soul''-Mr. and Miss Houston.
 Recitation. How Rube Played'-willie Kellar.
 Vision of fair woman-Zetasophia Duet-Misses May and Houston. Golden link-Seventh grade.
 Recitation-Katie Gerst. Song, "Cousins"-Mary Hard and Lot tie McArthur.
 MISS MINNIE JENKINS, President. MISS ELISE RRT1NS Seerefarv