Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-07
WEST LIBERTY NORMAL.
The Annual Commencement Exercises
Held Yesterday Morning.

The Annual commencement EXERCISES
Held Yesterday Morning.
IA.
The Attendance Would Have Been
Better Upon Any Other Day of
the Week-A Short But Interest
ing Programme - Meeting Of
Alumni in the Afternoon-A Base
Ball Game Other Exercises.
Another successful year at the West
Liberty State Normal School was
brought to close with the commence
ment exercises yesterday morning. The
attendance was good, but was not as
large as last year. This was accounted
for by the unhappy choice of day for
the exercises, and by the dusty condi-
ton of the roads. 1t is the one gala
day Of the year in the little town, and
the community was in holiday attire.
The capacity of the hotels were taxed
by the visitors, and vehicles of every
description crowded the streets.
Commencement hall began to fill up
rapidly as soon as the doors were
thrown open, and it was not long until
standing room was at a premium.
Meister's band went out early in the
morning, and kept the audience in good
humor in spite of the heat. The music
was an excellent feature of the exer-
cises. At 1880 o'clock the hall was
crowded, and half hunred or more
were unable to gain admission.
The decorations were very handsome,
consisting of a blending of patriotic
colors with the colors of the societies
and of the school. The back ground was
embellished with pictures Of Bryant and
Irving, draped with the society colors.
The walls were adorned with tri-color
bunting. The front of the stage was
banked with flowers. The graduates
were seated in a semi-circle, and the ia
Guilty and Regents, Waitman T. .Barbe,
H. w. Harmar and G. w. Johnson, also
OStuPlSd 6CdIo uPOH luC
THE GRADUATES.
The exercises were opened with a se-
lection by Meister's band, after which
Rev. j. c. CARRIER, of West Liberty. Of
fered UP fervent prayer The orches-
ira then rendered another selection.
The graduates in the normal and aca-
demic departments were Mary Luella
Frazer, of Ohio county; Ella Daisy Tim
mons, of Ohio county; William II.
Wayt, of Wetzel county; Katherine Vir-
ginia Roberts, of Writ county; Julia
Helen Epstein, OF Ohio county; George
E. Hubs, of Marshall county; May
Agnes Lewis, of Ohio county; Phraina
link, Of Brooke county, and Marie
Schul, of Ohio county. Miss Bertha
Evangeline Riddelt graduated in the
normal department only.
There were but four papers upon the
programme. The first was upon Ten
denotes in Fiction" by Miss Mary
Luella Frazier. She asserted that the
tendencies Of the times are always por-
trayed in the literature of fiction, and
she gave many examples to sustain this
point. During all time, the characters
Of fiction have been taken from real life
and works of this nature therefore have
a historic value. Her references to the
leading writer's of fiction gave evidence
of much study, and rare familiarity
with the subject of literature. The
tending American literature, she said,
is upward, and she saw in modern no.
wells the promise Of an era of higher ard
better things with the dawn of the new
century. Miss Frazier's delivery was
excellent, and she was rewarded with
appreciative applause.
EXCELLENT PAPERS.
"The Social Phase of Education" was
the subject of an admirable paper by
Miss Ella Daisy Timmons, which evlnc-
ed much careful study and thought. The
old idea concerning education was a
selfish one. Christianity is an influence
which broadens the minds of the peo-
pie with regard to education, and teach
es that the culture of the mind of the
individual tends to the upbu1lding and
development of all. The modern idea
of education, makes it a duty rather
than matter of choice, and nations are
gradually realizing that their perpetu-
ity is in great measure dependent up
on the mental advancement Of the peo-
pie. Absence of education is equiya!-
ent to national debasement. Miss TIM
mons closed with prediction that NOR
al and mental advancement will con-
tinue until in time sit shall fill the en-
tire earth"
William H. Wayt selected as the sub
ject Of his Grafton the favorite Scotch
poet, Robert Burns. He told of his
humble birth and environments, and
traced his life story until he was ac-
corded recognition as one of the greatest
poets that ever lived He paid a glow
ing tribute to the worth of Bobby
Burns, and eulogized his works He
was born a poet. and to his native gen
ius alone is due the perpetuity of his
fame. His companion was nature His