The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-06-02
TIE GRADED SCHOOL COM
MENcEMENT.
With house crowded to its utmost, with

-tdIuUXGOQt atic cStUI6G III tSS OfdUO > uuS
touch could be recognized On the piano.
The opening prayer was ms6e by Rev. T.
g. 1erbert, who invoked Divine blessings on
the school, and prayed, Ter It's teachers end
pupils
II was afse. the introductory remarks OF
Superintendent Edmunds that the Salutato-
riaa, Miss Ciemmie Fuller, arose. In clear
yeice that reached every corner OF the ball
Miss Fuller spoke hearty welcome to all.
She spoke Of The opening life of the class afier
so many years Of study under faithful teach
ers. '.The opportunities Of our past life are
past, but let tie future prove that we have
learned many lessons of wisdom. Let the
richness of our lives 6nd expression in kindly
words and loving acts /" An essay prepared
with so much ability and read with SO much
clearness was a pleasure TO bear
tsMoral Culture wss tee title of Miss
Anna Darid's essay The ahsepce of neral
cultuIe is not;eeabse in this age. Miss David
said: SIT seems TO se universal fanI, Of
which the parent and the, teacher are both
responsible. II the formative period this cul-
ture should be i,nplapted 10 make lives re-
splendent with noble actions . The Essay
was we'll written, and equally as we'll spoken,
and deserved the applause that ii received.
No wonder that the EEK; number was we'll
applsuded. For that most charming piece of
all music, the Iotermezzo rom the italian
opera, vas played By Que who could wake up
the real soul Of the mandolin-Mr. John
Moran Il was soft aud we'll played piano
that accompanied the mandolin.
To Miss Alice Stnhb's essay. the subject Of
which was ssAdvice to These Who May
Stand Where we do Tonight" she reviewed
the school life of a scholar up to Or gradua-
ton. She sher spoke feeiingly AID sensibly
TO the undergraduates, aud closed her we'll
spoke1 essay with wish Of God-speed to
them al.
Aessrs. Rambo, Flowers, Spann and Will
der formed a qoaIfette that rendered in well
aecprdant voices one of tboae never tiresoUe
negro uslodies which all who heard it, en-
joyed.
Miss Mary Brunsoo Was the clsss historian
Il wac i'm 1889, the historian said, that the
nov araduatinR class commenced is lsbors
sslt was with big A, B, G that our lsbors
started. !" shesaid, "while now to look back
on those gone by days is pleasure of the
never-to-be forgotten kird." The days of
dement's, the days of stolen lunches, which
Miss Brnnson said were similar to stolen
kisses, which rceis, and those not poets, say
are the sweetest kind "All those days are
passed, and the history of the class is now
written " II was written we'll, too.
Miss Gertie Epperson came next on the rro-
gramme Being indispoeed, Col. R. D Lee
read IN his graceful maoner the Glass Pro-
phecy. 1t was when Miss Epperson was
twenty -three years older that she recalled
the memories Of the class Of '97. With
uniqueuess Of high imaginative orcer. Miss
2ppers6n recalled the lives and the conquests
100, that her classmates had made Each OF
tbe graduates we're found in happy lot. 1t
is needless to ssy that her essay was we'll
written, and Miss Eppersoo 10 having to
choose one to read 1t, was most happy in the
seiecfio. Of Col. Lee.
II was n.l907 tbas Miss Belle Dipkios us.
tied Sumter again, aud she recoun,ed her
visit In charming manner last night in her
Glass Prophecy She found many changes
some fortrnaieSumter hoy hsd married one
of her classmates Others she found in New
York. and In many different portions Of our
country. II the future Of the classmates
comes out as we'll as Miss Dinkins spoke her
essay last olght, it will be most fortunate
class,
Iiiwss an inspiring sound to hear coming
from $50 voices OF the scholars that ragged
in age from the Observation-Disclosures up TO
the gay-hearted graduates. .Hey no, Merry
June, Eey ho May," was the name Of the
clever song which showed that Prof Rambo
was most thorough musician, and that he
could impart TO the veriest youoes,er the true
musieai emphasis and idea.
to<o hos Aiso
bessie Richardson was the class poe, and
everybody in the house felt that she was
real poet when she finished her poem, which
which was ouly too short for the audience.
The 6rst defamation Of the evening was
given by Mr. Charles Ryttenberg. "Oor
Coonsrs." was the subject With true de-
claimer's spirit,A Mr. Ry,ienberg spoke in
clear penetrating voice, and With az ease that
bespoke for hip future donors as speaker.
The second defamation was delivered by Mr.
Crossweli Ragin With fuency and grace,
NJ. Ragin handled his subject, "The Coofeo-
eracy."
To pine gentlemen was left the har1 task
Of deciding who of these declaimers should
wear the medal. TIE names OF The judges
were: Hon Al,amont Moses, Col. R. D.
Lee, Msjor H. F. Wilson, Dr.. Joo. S. hugh
son, d.ssrs R o Purdy, W. F. Rbame, D.
" Cu,,irc, E. P. Kicker, W. 81. Graham.
Later iu the evening MAJOR q. F. Wilson
stepped upon the Stage ana delivered after
pleasing address, ihe medal 10 Nj. Crosswell
aagin,
It took Miss Maggie Smith to be a
mode. cl4ss critic. She turned on tie x Rays
on Der classmates in an uaia liable manner
And ftieIdly thrust was rever given from
q more kiediier hand o: with more gooo
humor.
TIE soft echoes of the Sailors Lollaby"
had just died away in breath Of sweetnfss
whea Mss Emnie Whi,iemore, The Yaiedic-
torian, arose. To the valedictoriap is left the
las, aod ye: that always sad "Good-bys."
In feeling manner Miss Whi,temore address
ed her mcch loved iostructors and then said
yood-aye TO he friends that have always
proved her dear and always TO be remember
"a friends, ner classmates. The mellow
7o;ces of the quar,ette were again heard in
that merry stirring ballad "DoWn on the
Farm
Supt Edmoods then presented the diplo-
mas to:
Misses Mary Bruoson, Anpa David. Belle
oDar,op EplIor