Smyrna times., 1899-06-28
GRADUATES RECEIVE HONORS,
THE SMYRNA HIGH SCHOOL HOI DS INTEp.
ESTING COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
Thirteen Candidates Given the Diploma of
graduation By Principal c. II. LeFevre
Before a Crowded Audiance.

oSiOIe crowded Audiance,
Commencement Week Exercises of
the Smyrna High School always an
tlclpated as an important event from
year to year, opened auspiciOusly last
Sunday morning and each day since
then has been marked by program of
special interest. To the High School
and its graduates it means great deal
but to the mass of people, especially
the young folks, it is a social event
that is looked forward to as a week
filled with pleasure from beginning to
end. The town has now it's full COM
pllment of visitors, and with the
enthusiasm given by our town folks, it
is needless to say that the Opera House
is the mecca for all, and indeed no
Commencement Exercises have been
more entertaining than these furnished
by the class of '99 and the Alumni.
The exercises of the week opened on
Sunday morning with the Baccalau-
reate sermon preached by the Rev.
DIR. j. L. Estlin of the Presbyterian
church. By the time the first bell rang
this beautiful little church was filling
up rapidly, and when the sweet organ
voluntary pealed forth under the
touch of Mrs. Frank F. Evans, the
church was crowded from pulpit to
door. There were some tasty decora-
tions displayed in and about the pull
pit recess, and these were made up
mostly of asparagus branches inter
spersed with field daises, potted plants
and June roses.
During the organ voluntary, the
Graduating Glass of '99, with Princi-
pal Charles Howell LeFevre, marched
up the Main aisle and took the seats
allotted them in the front of the
church. They were: Miss Margaret
Walls, Miss Mary E. LeFevre, Miss
Helen Collins, Miss Helen E. Lewis,
Miss Beulah F. HAZEL, Miss Bertha
J. Price, Miss Blanch P. HAZEL, Miss
Alivan r. Severson, Miss Emily Daily,
Miss Adah J. Vickers, Miss Lulu
Beck, Mr.. Charles Turner, Mr.. Harry
Lay feld. After the usual preliminary
churc opening, including a sweet an
them by the choir, the ofertory was
taken and Mr.: w. G. Anthony render
ed fine cornet solo.
DR. EstIin's Sermon.
DIR. Estlin delivered his charge to
the graduating class from a text taken
from the last clause of the 8th verse of
the first chapter of Joshua: "And then
thou shall have good success" He
opened his remarks with greeting to
the candidates for the honor conferred
upon him by them and spoke of the
Smyrna Public Schools, which they
represented, as one of the best institu-
tions of the community. He liked the
non-sectarian idea If the public schools
and considered it a great benefactOr of
our people. He liked its liberal sys-
tenn of education and the results at
tanned in turning out patriotic citizens
for home, for the counting house, for
the legislature, aud even the highest
gifts in the power of the people. After
enjoying the excellent facilities of pub
lie school training, the graduate, as he
or she steps upon the threshold of the
stern duties and realities of life, is con-
fronted with the question: ''What is
expected of me; what can do with my
life?" At this instance DIR. Estlin
opened a strong sermon full of practi-
cal thoughts and suggestions for the
candidates to take with them through
life, or as he termed them, ga number
of bees to place in your bonnets and
caps.''
The first bee was: "Be self-confi-
dent and thou shalt have good sue
cess" Believe in yourself. You have
no longer the guiding hand of your in
structors. They have labored to give
you the tools, and now you are to
make the best of the training you have
received. Study the lives of the best
men; read good literature, and have
the best associations if you would have
good success. Occasions come to test
what is in you, and no more will come
out from you than what you have Sc
cured. Build up a strong character,
and when the opportunity affords,
bring out the reserve force of your ma
ture and training.
"Be honest and thou shalt have good
success" Be scrupulously honest.
Owe no man nothing but love. Don't
pray on your knees one day and prey
on the community the other six.
knowledge is power, but character is
battery in reserve. Book education is
too ethereal; study the practical things
Of life.
D. =. i 1x..IN hox xrn