The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1899-07-01
FORTY FOURTH ANNUAL CON-
MENCEMENT EXERCISES AT
ST. STANiSLAUS.

pomp and impresslveness peculiar
| to commencement days, the ven-
cradle and historic St. Stanislaus
College offered an elaborate set OF
programmes to vast assembly OF
cultured and refined people. Our
little though lovely Bay St. louis
demonstrated that when things are
| properly and carefully managed it
can attract a good crowd of adj
mirers. For some time previous
the hotels were rapidly filing up
with anxious guests, and as the
days rolled on the front street of
charming Bay st. Louis presented
a vivid, picturesque scene. This
generous outpouring of guests, all
we'll wishers, was handsome tes-
timonial of the high favor and
appreciation in which st. Stania-
laus College is held and an evi-
Edence of the fair reputation IN
| the intellectual field. From al
most all of our Southern States
were gathered worthy representa-
! tives. all anxious to lend by their
presence additional charm to the
| flow of art and music, and TO visit
again the endearing spot towards
which memory turns with the
most pleasant remembrances and
the happiest associations; St.
Stanialaus during its we'll nigh
ifty years record has turned out,
equipped and ready large mum :
Der of sons, who, at each recurring
commencement, are cheerfully in
vited and entertained in the most
generous and hospitable manner.
On Tuesday night of last week
Bay St. Louis harbored more than
her registered quota of people.
ALI generously patronizing the va
rious stores as the day slowly
creeped along. Old Sol was out
in full force throughout the day,
but did not deter the public from
witnessing the forty-fourth an
nual commencement of St. Stan
islaus College. Still as night
came on a slight, refreshing breeze
set in from the east and dissapated
in q measure the otherwise close,
sultry weather. Dame moon shone
in all her gorgeous splendor, and
mother earth seemed brilliant
from the ravishing rays beaming
from on high. Though day held
back its best gifts, night robed it
self in all its brilliancy to throw
around the occasion its mantle of
beauty and smile of approval.
The large commencement hall
was taxed to It's utmost with an
admiring, friendly and refined So
ciety. A fair estimate would fig
ure near the thousand mark. At
8 o'clock there was no room left
and all hearts beat in suspense,
anxious, awaiting the first number
of the well-arranged programme.
As the curtain arose the large,
new and complete stage of St.
StanisIaus Hall presented itself
to the expectant gaze Of a waving
sea Of happy faces. The scene, to
say the least, was indeed inspiring
and we'll calculated to impress the
Young dramatists with the deter
mlnation to throw around their
every act the magic spell of gen
uine art and aesthetic taste.
The first number was a beautl.
full one-act comedy in French,
"Medecin Malgre Lui." This
piece, though short, was we'll re.
ceived and generously applaudeo
by the large French element in the
gathering. The comedy clearly
showed that St. Stanislaus was as
qualified to play the comedian :
rloe as to Impersonate the difficult
role of the dramatist.
i However one may have liked the
| different numbers it would not be
exaggerating to say that all inter
est seemed centred on the three
act tragedy, The Last of the 81
ironidae. This drama abound>
in pathetic scenes and language
affording ample opportunity t.
| the player to give free scope to his
dramatic talent. The tale tell,
tne cruel story Of intrigue, hypo
crisy and thirst for human blood
y, particularly that of the youne
! Elmer, an orphan, but Chris
tian to the very depths of hi:
heart. This youthful martyr /:
| finally led to the altar of sacrifice
and renders unto his Maker hl:
spotIess soul, with the last word:
II am a Christian on his lips
The brilllaet acting, of Gerald }
Mur,s;;ll..JJ as Eliaer made a deep i'm:
preston upon7the audience, ano
everyone would expect a bright
future for him were he to take to
the stage. Master Thomas W.
| Brown, protector of Elmer's life.
and ayenger of his protege's cruel
death, showed great taste and eX-
quisite training in his difficult role,
while Master hhn E. Farrell and
Louis A. GuidrS clearly manifest
ed their capabilits to perform even
more difficult parts. 1t was q
common remark that the phrasing
and articulation Throughout was
| perfect to detail. Mach word
seemed to echo ronAd the hall
and catch all ears. 4 The play
clearly showed the framing and
drill of a master hand, and the
critic could have found little rea-
son to make any adverse criticism.
The drama was thus upAto the
high standard of all past lslays.
The costuming was rich and elab-
crate and showed to beautiful hef.
fects as the calcium colored lighs.
fell upon the stage,