The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-26
A GRADUATES WOES.
An Attempt to Keep Miss * sthe from
Speaking at COMMENCEMENT

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News.,l
PHILLIPSBURG, June 26, 1S97-super-
intendent. of Public Schools H. B. Howell
notified Miss Mabel Kothe., a graduate.
Thursday, that she would not be allowed
to appear in the exercises of the High
School commencement because she had
missed two rehearsals to him. She was
the prophecies of the class. The COM
mencement exercises began Thursday
night and concluded last night
There being no school session, Miss
Kothe secured employment at store at
a dollar a day She missed TWO rehears-
ais and the Superintendent said she was
not qualified to take part.
Her classmates were in distress.
Friends advised her to go to the exer-
cises Thursday night and she did SO. Her
classmates gave her most hearty re-
ception. The audience at that time knew
nothing of the incident, and there was
no demonstration But the school COM
missioners had been notified, and there
was a great deal of heated discussion be-
fore and after the exercises.
The School Board held a special meet
ing late at night and Mr. Howell was
the line of discipline, and that Miss
Kothe could not speak. The embers
OF the Board told him that sh should.
and some said that she would 81 ak even
at the cost of electing another superin-
tendent of schools. The meeting was ex-
citing, but nothing was decided, the mat
ter. being held over until Yesterday
The Commissioners, Miss Kothe and
the superintendent met yesterday morning
and the whole question was gone over Mr.
Howell insistd that discipline was neces-
sary and that he had taken the right
course The Commissioners held that
the proposed punishment was too great
They said discipline was necessary, but
that the superintendent was unduly
harsh.
Miss Kothe said that she had erred in
not seeing that the excuses which she
had sent in to one of the High School
teachers had been sent to Superin-
tendent Howell. She said, too, that she
felt some delicacy in telling why she
had been absent from rehearsals but
that she need the money. The board
memebrs said they admired her for her
willingness to assist the family purse,
and finally it was directed by the board
that she should appear after rehearsal
before the superintendent in the after
noon.
came interested in the case. and learning
of the qualification of the young lady
he set on foot plan to have her sent
through the State Normal School. This
is very gratifying to the people, who are
wholly on the side of the young graduate.
Ortygia Hall was packed to suffocation
last night at the commencement exer-
cises. The graduates marched IN and
there was great demonstration as Miss
Kothe appeared. She was neatly attired
in a white dress prettily made and very
becoming She shrank from the pub
licity she was attracting, but the audience
apDiauded all the more 1t was a re-
markable scene. There was considerable
speculation as to whether the superin-
tendent would give in, and finally when
her number of the programme came ex-
citement was at fever heat
When Superintendent Howell arose and
announced that the next performance
would be the class prophecy by Miss
Kothe the audience burst into cheers
and applause which did not subdue for
some time. Miss Kothe delivered her
prophecy with much effect.