The Opelousas courier., 1898-06-11
The High School Commencement

t'iAN> GOV AiSHS
Opera House.
The large hall overlooked with
friends and relatives of the brill
liant young graduates, and seats
we're at Il premium long before
the exercises commenced.
The programme opened with
an eloquent prayer by Rev. I. X.
Faunt Leroy, after which music
recitations and essays, together
with some interesting addresses
made up the evenings entertain
mcnt.
Prof. Harris made Il short add
dress, in which he culogized the
ardent Iabfrs throughout the
,ses~- of tie graduates, not for
getting to LAY a just tribute to
his able corps of assistants who
in]dustriousIy labored with him in
the work Of preparing the young
graduates for the viciSsltudes OF
life and finally sending them forth
panoplicd with knowledge, and a
just conception of life's duties.
Those of the graduates who
read essays astonished the audi
ence by the force and eloquence
of their reasoning, and in n in
stance the people shook their
heads obviously; doubling that 4
girl so young could conceive 4
strain of poetical philosophy, so
repletc with wisdom and eviden-
ces of Il high order of intelligence.
The young lady was Miss Mizzi,
and her effort so beautifully in
terwoven in gems of sweetest po-
esy speaks in unmistakable terms
of her genius and the wisdom of
her preceptors.
Another essay that deserves
commendable mention is that of
Miss Eugenia St. Cyr. Her sub
ject was "Onward' and a few
sentences served to convince the
audience that she entertained Il
just and intelligent conception of
her subject, and exercised a com
plete mastery over, its different
aspects.
The only boy graduate was Mr..
Marshall Thompson, who though.
Notwithstanding his striking in
dividuaIism surrounded as he was
by so many beautiful young girls.
seemed perfectly contented with
his position. Marshall delightedthe
audience with Il recitation of the
serio-comic sort; depicting the
infrequentIy occurring incidents
of domestic i%nfelicity.
Hon. John n. Ogden made :
enthusiastically eloquent adj.
dress in delivering the medals to
the class. Among other things
he charged them hat their edu'
cation had just begun, and that
the diplomas that would be pre-.
sented only opened up a wider
vista for the exercise of their
talents. He felicitated the class
upon the successful termination
of their scholastic duties, anC
perforated by paying a just tribute
to their assiduity and ceasless la.
bors in arriving at this milestone
of lifc's journey.
Mr.. Dubuisson next delivered
the Diplomas in a pithy and APP.
propriate address. He said that
he had been requested to fill the
vacancy created by the absence OF
Supt. Guilbeau, but that he felt
honored and pleased at being the
medium through which such g
promising class should receive
their insignias of education. Mr.,
Dubuisson took occasion to com
ment upon the flattering progress
made by our State and Parish ir
the Public School work, at the
same time not forgetting to pay
a passing tribute uponthe women
Of Opelousas who labored so Ions
and earnestly in the work of rails
ing a fund to build the present
magnificent school building.
Rev. Knickerbocker, of Grow.
ley, then delivered the annual adj
dress. His subject was ''lndi
vidualism and Altruism,' and his
eloquence at times stirred the au
dience and evoked applause
Dealing as he did witha profount
and metaphysical subject it be
came necessary to follow closet.
the deep hewed line of reason ant
philosophy and to catch ever.
word that fell from his lips in OF
der to comprehend the magnifi
cence and possibilities of his sub
ject.
Miss Grace Malone, in a fey
we'll selected phrases presented t.
Prof. Harris a gift from the grad
uating class, as an expression o
their high appreciation of his EN-
inent services as their teacher an
guide. Miss Malone's p~resenta
ton address was short and grace
full, and was responded to by tn
worthy Professor in words tia
evidenced deep emotion at TIL
demonstration of esteem from th
class.
Misses Laas, Powers and Zod
furnished thrilling and melodiou
,~~~c In %ho ,y+,.o-,n Io1Irhf r