The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-06-18
AT OLD BETHANY.
The Fifty.sixth Annual Com.
mencemeut Held Yesterday.
THE ATTENDANCE wASSNALLER
rhan Usual, Caused By the ThroatsnlnE
weather, witch CuImlnAtSa In a
DrVnpoar Of Rain at NOOn-Ths Conn
amusement nay Programme Carried
OuttO the Satisfaction -Bsthany's
financial Prospects Improylng.

Financial Prospects Improving
UnpropItlous weather affected the
attendance yesterday at the hfty-slxth
annual commencement of Bethany coll
lege; nevertheless a sufficient number
Of people braved the showers that fell
at intervals In the morning, to I'LL the
commodIous chapel, where the exer-
cises were held.
There is a peculiar charm about the
classic walls OF old Bethany that year
ly makes II the scene of reunions OF It's
students in the past. and yesterday
there was present goodly proportion
Of Its Si2 alumni. The financial reefs
that the old college has struck during
the past few years are a further
incentive for rally such as that Of yes
terday. Love OF their alma mater is
deep in the hearts OF Bethany students.
and they are making every effort that
the school may weather the storms.
The clouds are breaking, however, and
the earnest work of Chancellor a. z.
McKeever. the faculty and alumni will
soon be rewarded with an endowment
OF 100000. So far they have met with
good success, and when the fall term
opens their hopes promise to be realiz-
cd. The recent financial depression Is
given as the chief cause for Bethany's
setback. but strong effort which IL
already assured Of success. viii be made
to place the college upon q Armer foot
ing than II ever enjoyed.
A slight friction between some OF the
students and the faculty, over the eX-
pulsion OF three students, members OF
the ball team. had the effect Of detract-
ing somewhat from the exercises Of
the week. Yesterday, though,was COM
mencement day and all Joined in max
the occasion worthy OF is Significance
The showers OF the early morning
BODIED 81 for the usual large crowds, but
later In the forenoon the weather clear
Ell up, giving the visitors an opportu-
nifty TO reach the town. But tremen-
dous jownpour Of rain followed the
conclusion OF the performances, keeping
the audience within the chapel some
little time The afternoon was blessed
with bright sunshine.
The exercises. as stated. occurred in
the chapel. which Is also the commence
ment hall. and they were In keeping
with the high standard OF those OF for
mer commandments.
The Commencement.
At 10 o'clock the graduates marched
into the chapel, and took their seats on
the stage. The faculty and the trus-
tees also seated themselves on the
stage. The decorations in the chapel
were simple. but beautiful. Bunches OF
evergreen hung about the walls, and
back of and above the stage, were
grouped the flags OF the senior, Junior.
sophomore and freshmen classes. There
was an abundance of bunting and fow-
ers around the stage. 4 feature was
the senior class motto. Upward Al
ways" in Greek letters, trimmed out In
evergreen, and occupying d prominent
place above the stage.
President y. C. Hagermln presided.
After a selection by the Wellsburg OPP
era House band. prayer was offered by
Rev. W. II. Hayden, OF the Christian
church, Wheeling. Mr. Hayden inVok-
ed blessings upon the graduates, the
faculty and the institution.
Miss Sara r. Dimond was the class
salutatorlan. She gracefully extended
n cordial welcome TO all present and
throughout her remarks there was a
tinge OF sadness at leaving the college
Miss DImond spoke very earnestly and
the sentiments she expressed evoked
great applause.
f. f. wynne had a Greek Grafton:
HIS subject was Affairs in Greek,
Though II was unintelllgible To the
majority OF his hearers, the novelty OF
the grafton was enjoyed. He was
warmly applauded Mt intervals by the
students and those Of the audience IN
,lerstRndlng Greek. 50 Il was taken for
granted that the Grafton was couched
In good language Mr.. Wynne's dcllv-
cry was oil that could be desired.
The exercises were pleasinuly varied
with music. and the next musical num-
ber was the vocal solo by Miss Ella
Chapman. Her singing was n revelI-
;ion TO many. Miss Chapman has
sweet soprano voice. hute-llke In tone
THE Age of Croncs." was the theme
Of Mr.. v. q. Hostctier's Grafton, IN
which he reviewed the wondrous
changes OF time incidentally lnstancing
the decadence OF Greece from It's proud
position OF 1000 years ago.
The next Grafton was "Sumum Bonum
OF Life" by Mr.. W. b. Mnnsell. II was
an eloquent EFFORT and tended TO prove
that the highest or greatest gift OF life
is to have q pure, spotless character.
Mr.. Mansell scored the present feveTlsh
struggle for wealth. Wealth. he said.
could not give the happiness OF good
character.
Miss Goldle M.Scott spoke on the AL
phabet OF Life" and spoke well. Miss
Scott stated that nature was the al
phabet' OF life. and that NIL great men
had taken lessons from nature. She
Instauced the lives OF many famous
men IN support OF her argument, and
her pleasing personality, combined
with good delivery, caused her to be
followed with close attention.
Individuality" was dwelt upon by
Mr.. George 3. Stewart, and his GRAFTON
was a strong plea for originality. Mr..
Stewart vigorously scored plagiarism,
and said that thoughts were free, but
language should not be stolen. He
protested against the practice OF let
ting the political parties shoulder the
rights or wrongs OF legislation. He
wanted men to think and oct for them
selves in all things. Possessed of good
presence and excellent voice, Mr.. Stew
art threw all his force INTO his ora
ton, and he was llbernllyahplauded as
he closed ~
True National Greatness.
An excellent Grafton. spIcndidly de-
llvered. was "True National Great-