Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-15

Tho Annual Commencement Exercises
Hold Ytstefday Morning.

Hsld yesterday Morning.
MORE THAN THE USUAL NUMBER
OF VISITORS IN THE LITTLE
TOWN-THE CREATIONS BY THE
GRADUATES = OTHER EXER-
CISES OF HE DAY-ALUMNI EN-
TERTAINMENT LAST EVENING.
MEETING OF THE, BOARD OF
r. G ENT s - IMPROVEMENT
CONTEMPLATED.
The annual commencement exercises
at the West Liberty State Normal
school attracted a larger number of
visitors than usual. but the hotels and
boarding houses gave excellent service.
Hundreds of visitors came in convey
ances Of every description, and during
the noon hour the spacious college
grounds presented the appearance of a
family outing, with luncheon spread
on table cloths under every shade tree
The year was fairly successful, and the
school will open the fall term under
very suspicious circumstances. The
early morning saw a steady procession
of vehicles over all the roads leading
into the town, and soon after the doors
OF the hall were opened, every seat was
occupied, and standing room was at a
premium.
The interior of Academy hall never
presented a more inviting appearance
There was a lavish, yet tasteful, display
Of flags and bunting. There was row
of conservatory blooms across the
trout of the stage. The rear wall was
embellished with streamers of blue and
white, the colors of the Bryant and
Irving societies respectively, and orange
and black. the colors of the school.
They were gracefully draped about sew
eral portraits, and the society mottos
in Latin and Greek. The graduates
were seated in semi-circle. with W.
B. Outright, principal of the school,
and State superintendent ]. r. Trot-
ter in the centre. In the rear were the
members of the State Board of Regents.
The exercises were opened at ten
o'clock, after a patriotic medley had
been eXquisitely rendered by .Meister's
orchestra, with fervent prayer by the
Rev. ]. c. CARRIER. pastor of the Pres
byterian Church of West Liberty.
The salutatorian of the class was
Mr.. William Frederick Sutler. of Tria-
delphia, Ohio county. His theme was
Reason Enthroned." The treatment of
his subject was scholarly and dignified,
his thoughts were excellent, and they
were tersely and vigorously expressed.
His argument showed the various forces
at work during. the past, and the pres
ent triumph of reason. His delivery
was admirable, and his really splendid
effort received the reward of apprecia-
tive applause.
Miss Mary Orr, of Roney's Point, was
to have delivered an grafton upon In
Iegrity of Labor." but she was one of
the contestants in the class exercises,
and was therefore excused from her
commencement performance. The or
chestra rendered a spirited selection,
and Miss Lulu Rebecca McColloch, of
Clinton, Ohio county, delivered an ora
ton on "The Responsibilities of the
Gifted"
Miss McCOlloch took the position
that Gods gifts to man, when they are
bestowed in an unusual degree, carry
with them a corresponding degree of
responsibility. She showed the influ-
ence which accompanies talent or gen.
lus, and emphasized the value of certain
characteristics which she defined and
commended. She deprecated the ten
dency to neglect the responsibility
which was her theme, and closed with
the thought that every man should
so employ the talents which are given
him, as to merit the Heavenly judg-
ment of We'll done. thou good and
faithful servant"
Dangers of immigration" was the
subject of very thoughtful paper pre-
pared by John Elisha Chase, of Cam
eron, Marshall county, but Mr.. Chase
was also a class contestant. and was
excused. Another excused for the same
reason was Nellie BLY, Reddell, Of Ben
wood, subject "Scriptural Story OF
Man"
He most lives who thinks most and
acts BEST" an argument for intellectual
activity and personal probity, was an
excellent address by Miss Julia Eliza
beth Otto, of Triadelphia, Ohio county
She placed stress upon originality in
thought and concluded that higher in