Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-06-29
shepherd College Commencement.

Last week was commencement week a
Shepherd College State Normal School, SheP
herdstown, and more interest was shown II
the exercises this year than for n long time
The programme of the week began Tuesday
with an interesting contest between the Par
thenian and Ciceronian Literary Societies o
the college. There were ten contestants fol
the different honors:: five from each society
The programme consisted of defamation
from the first-year class, one from the sec
ond, and an Grafton and debate from the
third. The contestants of the Cieeroniar
Society were B. F. Sperow, first year, de
claimer; Miss Katie Lucas second year; a
0. AIbin, orator; 1. C. Thompson, principal
and Miss Agnes Hess, assistant, on the neg
atiye of the debate. The question was: Re
solved, that the Indian should be granted
the right of suffrage"
The contestants for the Parthenian Society
were Miss Laura Butler, first year, declaimer
Miss Elba Hoffman. second year; w. L.
Dunkle orator; Miss Clara Greenwood, prin-
cipal, andsRalph Border, assistant, on the
affirmative of the debate. The judges in the
contest were Profs. Wright Denny, of Charles
Town, John ?. Smith, of Sharpsburg, and
C. Edwin Carl, of Hagerstown. They award
ed the honors as follows: First year decla-
nation to Miss Laura Butler, second to Miss
Elba Hoffman, Grafton to A. o. Albin, and
debate-to the negative, I. c. Thompson and
Agnes Hess, making 20 points for the Cice-
romans to 80 for the Parthenians. There
was large crowd present and great interest
was manifested in the result.
Tuesday night an eloquent and entertain
ing address was delivered before the Parthe-
nian and Ciceronian Literary Societies by
Hon. U. S. G. Pitzer, of Martinburg. His
subject was "Drifting, but Not Hopelessly.'
Gold medals were awarded in the music
classes to Miss Nellie Butler, Miss Lalla
Maddox, Mr.. B. f. Sperow and Mr.. George
C. Hill.
The exercises of the Alumni Ass ocia ton
of Shepherd College in connection with the
annual commencement were held in the
town hall Thursday night. Mr.. William J.
Knott presided. The annual oration was
delivered by Mr.. w. {. Osbourne, the essay
Miss Essie Knott, and the history of the class
of SO was delivered by Mr.. n. NJ. Hendricks,
of Keedysville, Md. The feature of the ev-
ening was the presentation to the college
trustees of splendid oil painting of Prof.
Joseph McAIurran the founder of the in
stitution. 1t was contributed by those OF the
Alumni Association who graduated under
Professor McN1urran and will be hung in
the college hall.
The presentation speech was an earnest
and impressive one and was delivered by
Rev. John o. Knott, of Washington City
The picture was received for the college
trustees by Hon. George NJ. Beltzhoover,
who made graceful speech in acceptingthi
evidence of devotion and love for their old
preceptor. Professor 8IcMurran was called
for and spoke feelngly in appreciation of
the gift and the kindness that inspired it
The exercises were made the more enjoya-
BILE by several excellen mt vocal selections, in
cluding solos by Miss Sallie III. Miller and
Miss Mary Myers. A banquet at the Entler
Hotel followed the public exercises, when
number of toasts were responded to by MEM
bers of the Alumni Association.