Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-06-02
High School Commencement.
TIE OPERA HOUSE CROWDED TO
WITNESS THE GRADUATING
EXERCISES.
A Most Admirable Literary and
Musical Programme Rendered
Names of Those Who Gradual
ed~-Enioyable Event.

AT an early hour Monday night the
Opera House was packed TO an over
flow. Long before the doors were
opened a crowd of people had assem-
bled in front of the building waiting
for admittance, The occasion was the
sixteenth annual commencement ex'
eroises of the High School, which
proved to he one of the most enjoy
able entertainments of the season
Prof. Grcss' orchestra furnished the
music, and certainly this part deserves
much praise. The orchestra rendered
a number of beautiful selections,
among which was Prof. Treloar's
"Tambourine March," a very pretty
piece and which was one of the most
entertaining features of the occasion,
The programme opened with three
selections by the orchestra, each OF
which was loudly applauded.
Then came the invocation by Rev.
N. r. Pittman.
The orchestra then played 'The
Tempest" a beautiful march by
| Clarke.
The graduates opened their part of
the programme with an essay, ga
| Picture Gallery" written by Miss
Bertalie Evans. Miss Evans has the
honor of being the best essay writer
in the High School this year, and her
effort in the production of "A Picture
Gallery cannot be criticised. The
young lady read in q strong, clear
| voice, enabling everyone in the large
house to hear every word she said,
Next, ana probably the best feature
| of the entertainment, was Henry
| L~lewellyn'B "Chronieler and Seer" a
very interesting paper on the mem
bers of the seniors and the sage-heads
| of the school and written in the form
| of poetry. Mr.. LIewellyn is certainly
a literary genius, as was shown by his
production last night.
Next was recitation by Miss Mabel
Jesse, "The American Flag Mics
Jesse has the name of being n of the
best speakers of the High School and
| she certainly did herself justice last
| night.
After Miss Jesse's recital MI. Cross
ley entertained with the vocal solo,
"ChangeleIss," aud in response to the
hearty applause sang "The Irish Girl"
| He was accompanied on the piano by
MFR. 81. Phillip.
One OF the most Interesting features
of the entertainment was Miss Alma
| Williams monologue entitled, 'What,
and you should have heard it. Miss
| Alma is one of the mostoriginal mem-
| beers of the school, and last evening
she seemed on telling everything
| she knew on the Seniors. All the little
love scrapes and feasts the boys had
in the school basement, which had
been kept secret, were brought to
light by Miss Alma. She was careful
not to tel anything on the pupils who
are to return next year.
When The audience read the name
of Frank Gibson on the programme
they expected something unusually
good and truly they were not Gisap'
pointed. "Is This the End?" was
the subject of Mr.. Gibson's Grafton
and his effort last night was a high
honor to the school as well as to him
self.
Then Miss Carhart rendered a beau
tiful soprano solo, "Slumbering Sea-
and as en- encore sang "The Broker
Pitcher" The young vocalist was &C
companisd by Miss Byrd Sproul OF
the piano.
The recitation, "How Dot Heard the
Messiah" by Miss Lena Wright, was
very interesting and impressive story
delivered in Miss Lena's own origina
and charming manner. Those wht
heard her will long remember how i
came about that "Dot Heard the Mes
siah."
In the awarding of prizes by Reason
Baker he took occasion to deliver
spirited address to the successful con
testants. Mr.. Baker awarded medals
as follows:
Declaration, Excelsior Society
Frank Everett.
Recitation Excelsior Society, Deedi,
Sallee.
Defamation, Union Literary Socie'
ty, Claud Fo WIes.
Recitation, Union Literary Society
Frances Cook.
Grafton, Union Literary Society
Stephen Rodgers.
First Honor, Union Literary Society
Alma Louella Williams.
Miss Helena Class read a very inter
esting essay and valedictory In he
usual Charming way and received
hearty applause when she finished
Miss Helena certainly deserves tn
honor Of being valedictorian, as eh'
distinguished herself in nine studies
The orchestra then rendered a medic.
overture, Southern Plantation Songs
which aroused the enthusiasm of tn
!, audience beyond control and Whel
|, they commenced playing "Dixie" tn
music was almost drowned with th,
loud applause.
The address by Prof. @. NJ. Wood
ward, OF st. Louis, was n of tn
finest ever delivered in connection
with the Mexico High School. "Sen'
the Whole Pupil to School" was tn
subject Of his speech and we'll did h
handle his subject. Mr.. Woodwar'
showed decidedly by his discours
that he believed in manual training
schools and expressed a desire to Sc
a mechanical department added to on
schools. The professor delivered tn
!, diplomas to the graduates.
The programme closed with Gamer
lea" played by the orchestra an
everybody, audience and all, singing
The young ladies were all dressed il
white and carried some very fin