The age-herald., 1898-05-20
REWARDED FOR
 THEIR DILIGENCE Graduating Class Of the Birmingham
 High School RECEIVED THEIR DIPLOMAS Fourteenth Annual Exercises Held Last
 Eight. THE OPERA HOUSE WAS CROWDED Thirty-Four Bright Students Complete the Course and Are Ready to Enter Life Upon Their Own Resources Some Absent
 Ones in the War.
THE OPERA HOUSE WAS CROWDED

oBrlens opera house was last night relatives and friends of the Birmingham High school pupils to witness the four teenth annual commencement exercises of that splendid institution, and the graduat- ing exercises of the class of 1898.
 The occasion was a fitting climax to the earnest labor of the students, who, through years of patient study, have striven to reach the highest goal to be attained in the Birmingham public schools.
 As a fitting tribute to the patriotism and glory of American institutions at this par ticular time, two large United States flags were gracefully draped across the stage, boys and girls who were ready to take up the battles of fife beneath the protecting folds of the banner of freedom.
 The class was composed of twenty-four members, two of whom, Messrs Thomas Whitwell Bowron, and Benjamin s. Catch- ings, withdrew three weeks ago to enlist in the volunteer army.
 The motto of the class was ''The learned eye Is still the loving one" The colors, red. white and blue, and the class flower, red carnations, were much in evidence, each sweet girl graduate carrying beau- tiful bunch of them tied with the colors, while the handsome boys wore boutonairs of the same.
 Class Organization
 The class organization was as follows: President-Maud Davis.
 Vice-President-Pope Bates Smith,
 Secretary and Treasurer-Stella Boyd Spiva.
 Historian-Annie Pearson.
 tatistician-Carrie Ernestine, Frank Ull- man.
 Poet-Tennie Ethel Erwin. Prophet-Fannie Ethel Harrison.
 Orator-Alexander West Rittenberry.
 Mary Winfre Afford, Della Thornton Bouchelle, Thomas Whitwell Bowron, Hem ry Gait Braxton, Benjamin S. Catchings, Gertrude Hamill, Annelie Jernigan, Minnie Merle Lane, Sydnie Anne McDaniel, Be- atrice Adora Robinson, Ida Zucalia Star buck, May Carleton Ward, Aurora Elmore Armstrong, Maria Minor Bouchelle, Eu- genia Gertrude Braun, Minnie Ava Browne, Clara May Kaufman, Elizabeth Turney Kelley, lyon Kirkley, Annie Vernon Lynch, Leila Henry Mcdonald, Rittenhouse Moore Smith, Joseph Ernest Thompson, Bertha Wellman.
 Commercial Graduates-May Elizabeth Fowler, Adele Fies Hochstadter.
 The class honors were awarded as fol- lows:
 valedictory-Leila Henry Mcdonald.
 Salutatory-May Carleton Ward.
 English-Leila Henry Mcdonald.
 Mathematics-May Carleton Ward.
 Latin-Annie Pearson.
 The entire front of the stage was cover ed with flowers which had been brought by the admiring friends of the students, and offered as tributes of honor to the cOnOuOring heroes of the school days Jeff behind
 Seated upon the stage were the members of the board of education; the mayor and board of aldermen; Dr. J. H. Phillips. prin- ciple of the Birmingham public school; Prof. A. c. Moore, Miss B. A. Allen, Miss w. M. Allen, Miss H. R. Thornton, Miss A. Ria Klos. Miss Bertha H. Gelders and Miss R. c. Hamilton comprising the able corps of teachers of the high school; Mrs. Geo. c. Ball; Rev G. c. Kelly, Rev. D. B. Gray and the principals of the .Grammer schools.
 The Exercises
 The exercises were opened at S:30 o'clock with prayer by Rev. G. c. Kelly of the First Methodist church.
 Prof. A. C. Moore made the announce ments, and in a brief address called atten- tion to an innovation in the exercises, in which regulation graduating essays had been relegated to the rear, and where the practical class work of the students had been substituted The following order of exercises were carried out:
 Salutatory-May Carleton Ward.
 Sketches.
 II. acterization-.Annals of Quiet Neighborhood," Fannie Ethel Harrison.
 "Character Sketch," Della Thornton Bouchelle,
 Music-Grambs Orchestra.
 II. Exposition-'A Study in Villainy, Aurora Elmore Armstrong.
 (EnprgOn'S says)-Does 1t Find Me?' Eugenia Ger trude Braun. "Words as Fossils"-Maud Davis.
 Vocal Solo-"Serenade," (vietor Herbert) Miss Aileen Cotton (96).
 III. Reportorial-"A Visit to Pratt Mines"-Annie Pearson.
 Suburban Sketches''-Stella Boyd Spiva. Music--Grambs' Orchestra.
 ". Description, Etc.-"My Old Missis- sippi Home,' Carrie Ernestine, Frank Ullman.
 "A Journey Around My Chamber'-An- nelie Jernigan.
 (a) Translation from Ovid; (b) A Mod ern Echo-Sydnie Anne McDaniel
 Cornet Solo-AIr. George P. Jackson (95 V. Debate. Resolved, That the World s Greatest Men Have Come From Humble Homes." Gertrude Hamill.
 Resolved, That All International Dis putes Should Be Settled by Arbitration Affirmative, Henry Galt Braxton; nega- tive, Pope Bates Smith.
 Were Excused From Reading
 The following members of the class were excused from reading: Misses Minnie Alva Browne Ivan Kirkley, Beatrice Adora Rob- lnson, Mary Winfrey Afford, Bertha We'll man, Annie Vernon Lynch. Maria Minor Bouchelle Tennie Ethel Erwin, Minnie Merle Lane. Clara May Kaufman. Eliza beth Turney Kelly, Ida Z2calia Starbuck. and Messrs, Rittenhouse. Moore, Smith. Alexander, West, Rlttenberry and Joseph Earnest Thompson.
 The valedictory was delivered by Miss Leila Henry Mcdonald, who touchingly ad-