Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-26
FAIR MONT.
The Annual Commencement Of the
High School Held Last Night---A
Most Successful Entertainment.
Nine Graduates.
Snecial 10 the REGISTER.

FAIRMONT, W. Va. May 25.-To-n!sht
at the opera House the fifteenth annual
commencement of the Fairmont high
school was held. The class was composed
OF eight young ladies and a single young
gentleman, Mr. John J. McCool, Jr. The
race for honors has been warmly contested
and the result was rot announced until
Monday, when it was found Miss Madge
La Mar Sample, daughter Of Editor Ii. c.
Sample, of the Free Press, had been the
successful one. Miss Madge is but six
teen years old, ana is not only the young
est member Of the class but is the youngest
person that has ever graduated at this
school.
The exercises were opened by an over
ture by Prof. J. A. Lyons orchestra, and
after prayer by Rev. y. B. Johnson, of the
VI. L. church, the salutatorian, Miss Clara
Valinda Boydston, began her Grafton on
Pencils and Pencilinss." 1t was rather
unique subject. but Miss Boydston dealt
with it in an interesting manner and drew
many lessons from the pencil and its work
which at once attracted the attention Of
her hearers. The lead pencil, according to
Miss Boydston. is a necessary equipment
for business life. She pointed out how,
long ago, the simple lead pencil was an
emblem of aristocracy," and how civiliza-
ton had brought us pencils of great
variety and at little expense, and how i'm
por;ant she considers them IS shown when
she classes them as the symbols of INTEL
lisence." Miss Boydston's Grafton was
well received clear through.
Miss Mary Mcdonald followed with the
beautiful recitation so dear TO the inhabi-
tan;s Of this State Van Bibber's Rock
Miss McDoaald is a talented olocuticnist.
and her recitation was even above her
usual work in this line.
After a selection by the orchestra. Miss
Jeanette Lee Bright recited The Wife of
Asdrubal," winning much applause, and
was followed by an essay, Famous a.d
Fair" b. Miss Rosa Atchie Prickett. The
subject of her Grafton was the short story
writer's of America, and her hearers deep
" regretted that the essay was so short
that but few of the writer's Of the day re-
ceived her attention. Her manner Of deal
ing with Miss Mary +. wilkins, Rosa
Carey, Winnie Davis ana a few others
pleased her hearers very much, ard her
original way of expressing literary merit
at once appealed TO the audience.
After another selection by the orchestra
MIR. John J. 8IcCool discussed The Power
of Art" IN a pleasing manner, calling forth
frequent applause. His clever descriptions
and his observances on architecture were
voted extremely interesting by all who
heard him. The range ct the artist was
broadered a great deal by the speaker,
who drew into artistic lines many things
of which the average person seldom thinks
Of i'm this connection. Art has according
TO his Grafton. inspiration for all who lean
toward It. and he cleverly judges Of
mans mind powers and manner Of Think
ing by the subjects that interest him. \
nice point which he dwelt upon was the
amount Of history which is retained by
artists making pictures of the scenes.
Miss Edith Hortense Pickett followed
and in her recital zion, The Tears Of Tul-
liza. there were so many good points wor-
thy of notice that it is difficult TO speak of
the most meritable portions Of her recital.
Her delivery. Of which so much has osen
said I'm previous entertainments in which
she figured. was considered the -2cre pleas
ing from the fact thai her selection was
one in which it took a master hand 10
give the right impression Of the subject.
The poem Is in itself most beautiful series
of contendlng thoughts. and Miss Pickett
missed no opportunities in making il
clearer in her gestures.
The Key of Know edge" was then dis
cussed by Miss Marion Prickett in pleas
ing manner. after which Mss Nola Blanch
Meredith recited Miss Mary n. Fisk's
best production, "Tice- Lily's Race. The
poem is a beautiful one ard all the op-
por;unities FOR ire results from an elocu-
tionary standpoint were brought out by
Miss Meredith in a manner which delight
ed her hearers. Her description of the
race. with the piano accompaniment by
Miss Capito.a Laynan. won the audience
completely and she was heartily applaud
ed.
The orchestra then gave selection. and
Miss Madge Sample followed with an ora
lion. The Rubicon-" Her Grafton. al
though not so long as some Of the pre-
ceding ores. was equally interesting. and.
as might be supposed. she dwelt with the
successful man and showed the steps by
which success was gained. She'was well
received.
After she closed the president Of the
Board OF Education. Ell Musgraye. Esq.
presented the diplomas. and after bene-
dic,ion 10y Rev. Barr. the exercises came
20 a close.
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