The Forrest City times., 1899-06-09
Closing Exercises.

' Ridge Institute took place at the court house last Friday night. At an early hour the crowd began to assemble, and by the time announced for the con- meneement the courtroom was crowded to its utmost capacity. with the in- | telligenee and beauty of the city and county. The ladies were largely in the majority and the array of hower-be- | decked hats made the audience re- semble huge boquet, the bright eyes of the wearers sparkling like drops of of dew among the roses.
 At s:45 Prof. J. B. Williams an nounced the first number of the pro- gramme consisting of instrumental and vocal music arranged by Miss Alice Rollwage for her pupils, and was carried out to the credit of both teach CT and pupils, and delight of the au- dience. manifested by encores.
 The fifth number, however, was the pleasure of the evening-songs by the primary class, Miss Norma Rollwage, teacher. The first rung on tile ladder of life is the primary class, and great care is taken in the selection of the teacher. The impressions made in this department on the minds of the little ones are lasting through life-- men and women are made there. How we'll has been the selection at Crowley Ridge Institute was evidenced as the little ones crowded around Miss Nor ma like brood of chicks. their little faces beaming with love and confidence. No birds were ever prouder of their first notes than were these lltte ones, as their throats swelled with the melo- dy of :: George Washington and His Hatchet," and lad the old general been alive to listen to the chorus it would have been worth more to him than all the cold marble and granite erected to his memory:
 "Georgie. Georgie, honest child,
 Honest little chopper,
 | He may have been d little wild
 But he did not tell 2 whopper, :"
 This song was followed by "The Clock, and Little Frogges " and when with a" kerchug" the frogs took to water and with bow the little ones took their seats d well.merited round Of applause greated them.
 After the conclusion of the musical program Hon. Otto B. Rollwage de- livered one of his characteristic ad- dresses. He began with an apologetc introduction, brought about by the recollection of one year ago when on a similar occasion he was solicited to sing a solo. They asked him to sit down. He hesitated about accepting this invita- ton, for if he was not more successful with his eloquence in bringing the turthermost planet to the earth than he did in reaching for his harp on the willow tree" he feared the result. However he had faced more danger. ous crowds than this lovely assemblage. and he hoped if he fell below their ex- pectations they would "let him down easy The speaker then drifted into that easy and beautiful flow of Ian. guage so familiar with him, and pict. ured life in it's four stages-infancy. youth, maturity and old age-teaching a valuable lesson in all of them as he traced the child, the youth, the man, and the beauties of old age, after d well spent life. The star spanoled banner came in for it's share of praise ana rebuke. He said it was no longer the emblem of freedom, liberty and independence, but in the Philipipe. waves as an emblem of tyranny and slaughter, but the honorable speaker could not help letting it creep out, that he lndorsed the words of that gallant ex-Confederate general, Joe Wheeler. when he said: Right or wrong, my country forever. :" The speaker then addressed the graduating class, every word like seed falling on the rich soil, VIII bring forth a bounteous yield.
 The address was happy effort. and We are sorry we are unable to give it in full.
 After the conclusion of the address. Rev. w. Jas Robinson, stepped for. ward and in a brief but appropriate speech, presented Ashbell Neil, one ot the graduating class. with magnifi. cent diamond ring, gift from his friends.
 The first graduating class of Crow. ley Ridge lnstitute-Miss Olive Cat. ling, Messrs. WilDer Alley, Ashbell Neil, Tom Davis and Ted Norton then stepped forward and were ore. sented with diplomas by President l.. Rollwage. made more sweet by pro. fusion of magno.as presented by Prof Williams.