The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-17

Yesterday afternoon at the state fa!,
grounds, the annual commencement ex>
ercises Of the Llnsly Institute were
held. Almost 1000 people attended. and
the performances were the best fol
several years. Notwithstanding the fact
that the attendance at this famous old
institution Of learning has declined,
owing to the existence Of the Wheeling
and Cathedral high schools. The merit
OF the performances reflected the highest
credit on Principal John NJ. Birch and
assistants, and demonstrated that Lin
sly stands without peer.
The orations showed painstaking
preparation and thoughtful research
and were delivered with force and fin
ish, eclpsing many heard from college
rostrums. The large audience In the
grand stand frequently burst forth In
enthusiastic approval. Without dis
paragement to the other graduates
whose work individually was treat
without exception. Allyn Cecil Mcneil
carried off the pain and few college
commencements have ever contained q
better valedictory. Linsly spirit was
much In evidence and the commence
ments gratifying success betolsens an
increased enrolment and further bene-
fetal results for the school next year.
The graduates were Walter Hudson
Mcclure. Joseph F. PAUL. jr., Harry
Kitchener Kirk, Edwin +. Kline, Frank
Louis Schmidt. Arthur Clarence Stifel.
Grafton Asbury Beall, Alfred Singleton
PAUL, Allen Walker Hamilton and
Allyn Cecil Mcneil.
At ! o'clock the battalion formed at
the school and marched to the fair
grounds in charge Of Lieut.. B. C. Dent
U. S. n, commandment. and Major Graf
ton A. Bcall. The Wheeling Opera
House Military Band led the column.
, After arriving at the fair grounds
the battalion marched through the
quarter stretch to the track In front OF
the grand stand. where they stacked
arms and broke ranks. The Opera
House band then took It's station In the
grand stand and opened the exercises
with patriotic selection. Rev. Jacob
Birmingham, rector Of St. Lukes P. E
church. and 4 member Of the board OF
trustees. made Il fervent and eloquent
invocation for the class which was to
depart from old Linsly's halls. The
band followed with another selection.
The speaking occurred from the
Judges stand which was tastefully dec
oratcl In the class coors, green and
white. Above the stand was suspend
ed miniature sign board. containing
in gold letters on field OF green and
white this Inscription. Glass Of '99.
Always on Top" A large American
ilas and the battalion colors were con-
spicuous features. Principal Birch in
troduced the speakers.
Tho SnlutAtory.
Walter Hudson Mcclure was the
class salutornn. His theme was AL
exander Hamilton" and the great
statesman received eloquent eulogies.
Mr.. McClurc's delivery was splendid
and his voice rung out clear far over
the heads Of the crowd. He treated his
theme logically and entertniningly and
his effort was q treat. In bidding well
come TO the exercises on behalf OF the
class, Mr.. Mcclure said: 1--WE tender
you, one and all. the metnphorical
hand The valedIctorian was the
recipient OF enthusiastic applause.
The next Grafton was "a Plea for the
Student" by Joseph +. PAUL, jr. The
students path was not Il bed Of roses
although 1t was looked back on with
hours were shorter than those Of the
day laborers. MIR. PAUL humorously
described the pensve students porting
over musty books In the dreamy twl-
light, while sounds Of joyousness
came from other regions. The student
realized, however. the need Of It all,
and the graduate stood ready for the
battle Of life. ready TO fight ana ready
to conquer. Mr.. PAUL was rendered
apprcciatIve compliments.
Harry Kitchener Kinks theme was
1.-THE Use OF Ambition" and like the
preceding speakers his performance
was we'll composed and splcndldly de-
lIvered. The germ OF ambition was
ever present In the child. though undc-
vcloped. and It needed the stimulation
OF the school room. American history
was rcplete with examples Of ambition.
Saratoga, Valley Forge. Gettysburg,
Manila and Santiago, were synonyms
for patriotic Impulses Of ambition-the
desire to uphold the honor of the land
of the free and the home OF the brave
II ambition caused pain or sorrow, re-
proach should fall on the ambitious, not
ambition, which was n virtue. Mr.
Kirk urged the student to realize his
ideal. Applause OF q liberal quantity
marked his close.
The bnnd varied the programme
with "Kcntucky Home" varied. and
the selection was rendered to the evil
dent appreciation OF the audience.
1.-The Influence Of the Individual"
was the keystone around which Edwin
+. Kline constructed u network OF cl-
oqIcncc. and his cnunciation could not
have been improved on, while II per-
sonal magnetism held his hearers In n
ihrall Of Intense attention. In war and
In Iilernturc he sketchcl the Individual