Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-14

The weather was delightful, but it
followed rain storms, and in conse-
quenee the farmers who are regular
attendants at the West Liberty Nor
NAL School were busily engaged at
home, and the crowd was slightly
smaller than usual. There were fewer
gentlemen in the throng which crowd
ed the little town. The commence
ment was one of the most successful
in the history of the institution In
addition to ma.Ny of the alumni who
came back to manifest their love for
the school, there were present Prof.
J. r. Trotter, Hon. Harvey w. Har-
mar and Col. Robert Carr. of the
Board of Regents. The absentees were
Waitman T. Barhe and Hon. Stuart
H. Bowman.
The experience Of past years prompt
ed those who were in the little town
to assemble early In commencement
hall, and it filled rapidly. At ten
O'Clock, the hour fixed for the exer-
cises to begin, the cOZy auditorium
was filled, many standing in the aisles,
and the ladies predominating in num-
bers as usual. The decorations were
very tasteful The class colors and
notices were conspicuous, and there
was lavish display of flowers and
greenery. At ten o'clock Meister's
orchestra, Of Wheeling, executed
rythmic march, and the members of
the class and the faculty walked out
upon the stage, and seated themselves
in a semi-circle.
The exercises were opened with a
fervent invocation by the Rev. J. C.
Carver, pastor of the Presbyterian
Church OF West Liberty, after which
Meister's band rendered very tuneful
selection.
'The West Virginia Hills" was the
very patriotic theme discussed by Char
les Henry Amber, of St. Mary's, Pleas
ants county. He dwelt upon the min
eral depoits which the Creator placed
within the hills of this State, and he
surrounded them with wealth of sent
iment which should endear them to
every citizen. He touched briefly upon
the historic associations of some local
tiles, and commended the men of 'the
Switzerland of America" for their patri-
otism and sturdy character, the women
for their beauty, intelligence and con-
stancy. 1t was an excellent perform
ance both in its text and delivery.
Ruth Curtis Rice, of Wheeling, chose
as the subject Of her admirable Grafton
From Darkness to Light" She took
the primitive man with his environ
ments and carried him through the diff
ferent stages of evolution to the pres
ent, mentioning the achievements of
science art and civilization, and their
effect upon mankind. Of the future she
took decidedly optimistic view. Her
effort gave evidence of close study and
intelligent application.
Culture and Philistimism" was the
subject of an grafton by Charles Robert
Muloon, Of Potomac, Ohio county. He
contrasted the opposing forces, declar-
ing that one sheds lustre upon the
world while the other casts a shadow.
They are found contending with each
other in all walks of life. In nations,
America is fair type Of the one force,
China Of the other. The cultured man
is characterized by breadth of life; the
horizon of the Philistine is narrow
Mr.. Muldoon took the high ground that
in religion creeds should be eradicated,
in politics partisanship should be for
gotten, in society afiuence and poverty
should be reconciled.
After another selection by the band,
Miss Grace Allene Bruner, of Gregg's,
Ohio county, delivered an Grafton upon
Triumph of Right" She made COM
parison with the metamorphesis of the
chrysallis, of the birth OF right, which
she said could be traced in it's devel-
opment but not to maturity. Her ex-
Rmples from history were most happily
chosen to accentuate the force of the
points which she made. Miss Bruner
possesses a very pleasing address and
her oration in it's delivery as we'll as
the excellence of her thoughts, was one
of the most meritorious upon the pro-
gramme.
Mr. Alva Dayne Kenamond, of Short
Creek, Ohio county, pronounced we'll to
be the Citadel of Character" Con-
Science IS a faithful sentinel. Charac-
ter was lkened to a vineyard. renuir-
Ing constant pruning. care and atten-