Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-16

TIE COLLEGE TOWN TO THEIR
UTMOST CAPACITY-THIRTEEN
STUDENTS GRADUATED - THE
GLASS DAY" ExERcISEs-GEN-
ERAL REPORT OF THE LAST
TWO DAYS OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR JUST PASSED.
The past two days have been gala
days in historical old Bethany. Dur
ing this period the famous old college
town has been in an almost continual
uproar. Out of the "hurly burly" of
the busy world the town has been
thronged with crowds Of visitors who
were there to witness the fifty-eighth
annual commencement of that institu-
ton at the end of the school year just
past which has been more or less event.
full. Parents, more or less anxious of
the manner in which the sons ordaugh-
tiers would acquit themselves ON that,
the end of one OF the most principal
periods Of life-the educational period
sisters and brothers and friends of both
the graduate and the institution, all
taxing to their utmost the resources of
the town.
For the past two days the conven-
tional white of the sweet girl graduate
has been seen fitting hither and
thither around the. beautiful grounds
surrounding the college buildings, in
variably accompanied by the young
man graduate in sober black with i'm
maculate white tie, visiting perhaps for
the last time the favorite haunts which
in the past four years of school life
have grown so dear to memory. This
last is one of the sadest scenes of the
close of school life
When at last commencement day
proper comes around, and even the final
hour draws near at which the grad
uate must say good by to school days
with all their happy remembrances, all
are borne up by the excitement of the
moment as they take their places on
the rostrum and gaze out over the sea
OF upturned faces that wait silent and
expectant. 1t is not until the valedic-
torian recalls the tender memories and
bids good by to the school, the trustees,
the faculty and the coming class that
the full Importance of the moment is
realized and suspicious glistening
brightens the eye of every one.
At ten o'clock yesterday the gradu-
ating class, headed by the orchestra
and accompanied by the faculty, board
of trustees and a number of alumni
formed in line on Pendleton Heights
and marched to the chapel, where the
exercises were conducted. Over head
above the platform was a colored can
opy in front of which was the class
motto in black and old gold, the col
ers. The chapel was tastefully adorn-
ed with plants. A large audience
greeted the class going out in this their
last exercises in old Bethany In the
gallery the orchestra was stationed and
from time to time rendered musical
numbers.
Those on the platform other than
the graduating class were President
Emeritus, w. K. Pendleton, of Eustis,
Florida; members of the faculty, Prof.
j. c. Keith, president OF Kentucky
University, at Lexington; w. r. Errett,
of Pittsburg; Oliver Marshall, president
of the West Virginia Senate, of New
Cumberland; Dr. ]. T. Barclay, Colonel
Alexander Campbell and C. B. Scott, of
Bethany; j. E. Curtis and j. L. Darsie,
of Wellsburg; Campbell Jobes, OF
Claysville, Pa, and ]. w. knight, of
Tromley, Ohio, who form the board of
trustees; Rev. C. M. Oliphant, of
Wheeling, and Rev. G.. w. Muckley, of
Kansas City. Mo-; ]. D. Hall, president
of the Fairview Normal school; Rev.
j. f. Williams, of Arkansas alumni.
The commencement exercises were
opened with music by the orchestra.
Prof. Keith invoked the blessing of
God on the assemblage and school.
After another selection by the or
chestra, President Kersey introduced
the salutatorian, Thomas James
White, of Ohio. Mr.. Whites subject
was THE College Man in Active Life"
He handled his subject very well. He
said the Importance of the college life
had never been fully understood. To
him is entrusted the care Of enlighten-
ing the world, fo- he represents the
culture of it. In the college man lies
the hope of the world. His Grafton
was very we'll received.
The next number on the programme
was an Grafton in Greek, Socrates"
by William Loren Fisher, of Missouri.
Mr.. Fishers address and pronunciation
was excellent. He was interrupted
number of times with applause.
The next was an Grafton, Us Poetry
Passing?" by Miss Harrietta Pearl
Morris, of Ohio. Miss Morris said that
poetry had existed since the beginning
of the universe; that poetry was the
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