The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-05-20

mencement, ID last Friday and
Saturday, was he most interesting
and important event that has ever
occurred in the history OF our beau-
tiful little town. The exercises
were held in the courthouse, and
were opened at IL O'Clock Friday
morning with the annual address
by Hon. j. G. Hardy, of jackson.
Mr.. Hardy is polished gentleman
and a distinguished educator, and
his address was eloquent and in
structive, and highly appreciated
by the audience. The celebration
OF the literary societies took place
at night, aud although tho exercises
lasted from eight o'clock until after
twelve, the immense audience was
so spell-bound that the fight of
time passed uunoted. The gradu.
atlng class of seven Except Mr..
Theo. G.. Bilbo, who was unavoid.
ably absent), delivered pleasing sd-
dresses and were presented with
diplomas at IL a. M, Saturday.
The address Of Miss Willie Moore,
valedictorian, and the closing re.
marks of Prof. W. I. Thames, were
80 feellDgly expressed as to cause
sympathetic tears to bedew many
fair cheeks among the students and
their friends. But as partiDgs must
come, they should be bravely borne;
and, remember, that sweet Hope
whispers: can may meet again."
A splendid concert at night con-
cluded the commencement program.
As all the participants performed
their respective roles so creditably,
we think 1t best not to personalize.
We will say, however, that We were
particularly charmed with the rem
dition of the vocal solo by Misses
Lula Hunnicutt and Mittie Carroll,
and the performance of "Snow-
White" Several other plays also
deserve special mention. The at
tendance Saturday night was estla
mated at over 400, and the court.
house proved too small to accoms
modats the gathering. This fact
demonstrated the urgent necessity
of building
obMMoDIoUs PUBLIC HALL.
At II o'clock Sunday morning
Rev. w. y. Black, of New Orleans,
preached the annual sermon at the
Baptist church. Mr.. Blacks dis
course was deep, grand and elos
quent and was listened to with
rapt attention by one of the largest
congregations that ever assembled
il a Poplarville house of worship.
The church was crowded beyond
its seating capacity-plainly illuss
trating the great need Of
LARGER CHURCH BUILDINGS.
Comments highly complimentary
to the teachers aud the school were
heard on all sides-from Poplar
vile citizens, county visitors and
transient strangers. II is regretted
that we cannot devote all the read
ing space of the FREE PRESS to a
description Of the commencement,
as it would require that amount of
room to do full Justice to the sub
ject. Suffice 1t to say, that the
faculty and the school convenien-
cies will compare favorably with
any and all institutions of the kind
in the State. May the school cons
tinue to prosper and progress un'
til 1t shall become known and noted
/, throughout the length and breadth
Of our fair Southland, is our hearts
ardent desire and hope.
Our readers will remember that
we published, last week, what we
termed q Poplsrville yarn, taken
from the "By The By" column Of
the Times Democrat. We made q
few inquiries, ia quiet way, re'
gsrdlng the story, and ascertained
that the reporters account of the
mother, the baby and the goat was
founded upon facts. The incident,
however, occurred fifteen or six
In so