The age-herald., 1899-05-16
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL
 COMMENCEMENT Twenty Pupils Graduate from
 High School. THE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES Of the Young Men and Women Packed Seals Hall-Colonel Altman Deliv- cred Address Imparting Good
 Advice to the Glass
THE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES

l uc lllSeIllu dnlludA commencement Ol
 the Birmingham High school took place l last night at Seals music hall in First | avenue, where large audience composed 1 of friends and relatives of the pupils oi l that splendid institution gathered, to wit 1 ness the graduating exercises of the class | of 1899.
 l The occasion marked a happy moment in the lives of the bright students who. after | years of patient study and earnest applica- tion had reached the highest goal to be l obtained in the splendid public schools of ] Birmingham.
 l The bright faces of the graduates reflect | ed their worthiness to be vested with the | certificates of graduation, and beamed l forth in smiles at the evidences of appre-
 ciation which were lavishly bestowed. Composed of Twenty Members The class was composed of twenty mem- bers. fourteen young women and six young men, each of whom bore modestly the hon. ors which they had attained. The motto, "Neeit Reverti," and the class organiza- was as follows.
 President, Benjamin Hawkins Smith;
 vice, president, Edna Earle Moore; record
 ing secretary, Estelle McGehee; correspond ing secretary, Eloise Marie Jackson treas urer, Thomas Moore Bradley; historian, Jesse Howard Shearer; staustican, Kate Lyle Simpson; orator, Edward Philip Solo mon; prophecies, Eva Mae Hays; Adelaide Beatrice Altman, Mary Faith Johnson, Carrie Lola Love- Emmie Holmes John ston, Ella Lee Smith, Clarence Bingham Ballard, Rosa Mayer, Julia Hume Rumph, Emil Meyer Loveman, Mamie Pauline Lee,
 Daisy Belle Wyatt
 The custom of awarding class honors was discontinued this year on account of the jealousies usually aroused by such awards and will be made permanent. The
 stage was tastfully decorated with palms and flowers Superintendent Phillips, Pro-
 lessor Cunningham and other members of
 the faculty occupied seats the stage.
 The exercises were opened at S:45 o'clock
 with Tannhausers march, by Miss Belle Mccoy, to which the class slowly filed in
 and took their seats in the center of the stage.
 The announcements were made by Pro- lessor J. B. Cunningham, principal of the high school and the following order of exercises were carried out: Invocation-Rev. G. c. Kelly. | Music: Chorus C'Gloria' )-Graduating class.
 Augmentation: Resolved, That We No Longer Have Need of Poetry" Affirma- | tive.-Adelaide Beatrice Altman. Negative-Edna Earle Moore
 Expostion: "The Child in Art and Lit erature. Ella Lee Smith. Description: Waldo" = Julia Hume Rumph.
 Narration: "song 6f the westwind,'- Rosa Mayer.
 Music: Vocal Solo, ("Love Token" Thome)-Miss Lena Sophia Jackson. C97) Argumentation: Compulsory Military
 Education Not Needed in the United States. ."-Clarence Bingham Ballard Narration: "A Lump of Coal. al."-Emmla Holmes Johnston.
 Music: Vocal Solo, ("serenade, Tosti) Miss Aileen Gotten C99. Argumentation "The Fine Arts vs Man uel Train; ;ng. Mary Faith Johnson. Argumentation: Resolved, That the Czars Disarmament Plan Should Be Adopted" Afflrmative-Thomas Moore Bradley.
 Negative-Benjamin Hawkins Smith. l. Music: Vocal Solo, Selected. Miss Leah Ullman, C91)
 The Annual Address The annual address to the class was de- livered by Col. J. J. Altman, who was at his best He expressed his appreciation of the invitation extended him by the board of education and stated that in the face of the individual benefits which he had re- ceived from the Birmingham public school and other evidences of their worth, he felt it his duty and gladly accepted. He congratulated the members of the class on having successfully completed the course of study prescribed by the public schools and upon the broad religious and moral atmosphere with which they had been surrounded in their studies and with out which no education was complete. nprixr 1t the commencemnt of actual life, leaving behind the school days that will ever lin- ger as pleasant memories of childhood. Each of you have your aspirations and ambitions, and I would advise you to pick out some particular line, by which you can make yourselves independent young women as well as young men. Don't lean on anybody, become sef-reliant and equip | yourselves for the battles of life. Having selected your calling. pursue it with a | steadfastness of purpose and you will | surely win.''
 He admonished each graduate to ever re- | member the teachers who have so faith l fully discharged their duty, and the su- perintendent and board of education for | having established such a splendid system of education.
 Tribute to Ullman | Colonel Altman paid a high tribute to | President Ullman, of the board of educa- | ton Tor ms untlrlng euOrtS In Denalf or the | public schools of the city and to the prin- 1 ciDals and teachers of the schools whom | he said had each contributed their part | to the present splendid proficiency l In closing his address he said that the l citizens of Birmingham should show their | appreciation by demanding of the mayor | and board of aldermen that more school | houses be built, and especially a new high | school building worthy of the institution. | The foundation of this building, he said, | should be deep in exempliication of learn | ing; broad like the principles and methods l nIvogue, and like the aspirations of teach er and pupil, the entire structure to be 1 surmounted with life-siZe bust of Super | intendent Phillips in recognition of his ability as an educator and a man.
 Superintendent Phillips, on behalf of the board of education, then presented each l graduate with diploma, taking occasion | to say few parting words to the class.
 | which were beautifully and feelingy ex-
 pressed.
 The class song was then sung, after | which Rev. John G. Murray pronounced
 the benediction and the audience was dis