Smyrna times., 1897-07-07
COMMENCEMENT AFTERMATH.
The Inauguration Of a Distinct Commence
ment Week Meets with Hearty Approval.

on every side highest praises OF this
years graduating class and the excel
lent entertainments afford the people of
Smyrna. Never before has there been |
a brighter class, either in averages or
personal appearance, than the fourteen |
who received their diplomas on We'd |
nesday night last, and it speaks we'll |
for the personal training administered |
by Prof. Charles Howell LeFevre and |
his assistants.
The spreading out of the commence
ment program into four distinct ex-
ercises has been such as to make the
annual event one of particular inter
est. The plan was inaugurated by
Principal LeFevre and now promises
to be an important yearly event, not
only anticipated in school circles, but
by the citizens of Smyrna as well. 1t
is an occasion that brings parents and
pupils together in an intermingling of
joys and sorrows so typical to the
ending of school life. Then again it
brings out those talents in pupils that
are every day being fostered by our
splendid public school system. How
fitting it is that their graduation
Should be made one of interest as they
step with their diplomas into lifes
school of experience. 1t is in these ex-
ercises that thoughts are exchanged
from one to another, giving that eleva-
ted tone and moral effect which should
be emulated in a we'll spent life.
They were taught these principles
by the baccalaureate sermon of Rev.
Geo. w. Dame, at st. Peters EpiscO-
pal church. They were pointed to in the
brilliant examples of Delaware's dis
tinguished sons, by William Michael
Byre, Esq, on Monday evening. The
Glass Day exercises, while one dis
tinctly their own, and ludicrous from
beginning to end, was not without its
lessons. The historian, Reuben E.
Denney, related the ups and downs,
the joys and sorrows of his class; the
prophet, Miss Elisabeth p. Curry.
lifted the veil of the future and pic
tured each one of them in the differ
ent walks Of life, not altogether what
she would have them be, for her splen-
did essay was humorous to the ex-
treme. The Presentation Grafton, bv
Miss Gertrude O. Smith, was another
feature that highly amused the audi
ence, even though it was at the ex-
pense of the innocent" members of
the class. Her gifts were peculiarly
applicable, which her classmates alone
could more readily appreciate, mas
much as they had to grin and bear the
Joke The class orator gave them
good thoughts, and with the impress
sive scenes which followed between
the Mantle Orator and the Middler
Respondent, a story of close fellow
ship and devotion was told, which
marked the relationship of the two
classes. 1t was a breaking of school
ties as they surrendered their class
mantle to leave school halls forever
more.
! A thoughtful action incident to the
ending of school days was found in the
address of Col. Geo. H. Raymond
: who has always had the best interes
l of the school so near and dear to hi
heart. AS was his custom in former
9 years, to remember each member O
| the graduating class with some meri
e torious gift, lie asked the same priv
< lege again and in a few fitting remark
presented the ValedictOrian and Salu
tatOrian with a magnificent volume o
s Barnes U. S. History and to each o
. the others a beautifully bound souve
n mir
i The Commencement exercises wer
= healthy and invigorating. A prettie
: class never sat upon stage, especiall
u the girls, all being clad in becomin
+. white gowns. The essays were splen
f didly said and the topics chosen Gov
:. cred broad field, of most every phas
: of life. We congratulate our publ
l. schools and its teachers for the excel
e lent showing manifested We con
e gratulate Principal LeFevre for inaua
:. urating the commencement week exel
cises and we hope that the comm
e classes may be attended with an eve
It more brilliant success than the pre-
:. viOus ones.
II The social side of commencement
y week has not been wanting. Despit
g the tOrrid weather, so typical to con
mencement times, there was a happ
II contingent of visitors. Everybod
e. seemed to be in the spirit of the occ,
4. sion, and what the exercises did NJ
d afford them in one way was made IL
y in another.
l. The Glass Dinner, served in til
r, Masonic Hail, was most pleasant a
fair. They ate, drank, and were merr,
TOast-master Reuben L. Denney, pr,
S. sided and most ever member of IL
graduating class and guest had son
lib kind word to say, of the hospitality
the class. There were So at the tabl,
Mt Caterer Geo. NJ. Stevenson locke
le after their wants and served the fo
ne lowing menu:
t, Potato Salad. Cold TOngu
Cold Ham. Olives.
Id Pickles. Maryland Biscuit
1 Ice Cream.
IL Water Ices. CoF,
IN Another feature this year, which h,
OF never before been inaugurated, was
s. reception to the graduating class |
in the alumni of the Smyrna Hia
ed School. This came off very success
n. fully at the home of Miss Edith Bee
ly an account of which will be found
r. another column.
80 Hon. G. b. Bush, president of Il
VI Gilmer Bounty CIV. Va Court, sa
that he has had three cases of fux
VI his family, during the past summe
y which no cured in less than week wi
- Chamberlain Collie, Cholera and /
- arrhoea Remedy. Mr.. Bush also stat
no that in some instances there we
VI twenty hemorrhages day --Glenvill
w. w. Va. Pathfinder. This remedy h