The Forrest City times., 1900-06-15
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Exercises Last Friday Evening
at the Opera House a High
Compliment to the Facul-
ty-Essays of the
Graduating Class.

uncertainty and doubt. fear and trem- |
bling which preceded commencement
are over, and that restless spirit of
which fills the mind Of every
careful student on such occasions. and
embues them with burning desires for
advancement and honorable achiev-
ment, has given place to a mood Of
tranquility and satisfaction everyone
realizes that the affair was brilliant
success, and all are ready to acknowl-
edge their grateful appreciation of the
program from the timely and appro-
pirate words of invocation by Rev. w.
G. Davidson to the sweet, closing
words of benediction and PRAYER by
Ed. A. n. Couch. 1t was indeed the
most elaborate school closing ever wit
messed in Forrest City from stand
point of thorough preparation, and we
tremble in attempting to dscribe the high
degree of credit which it reflected upon
teachers and pupils and upon the school
board. The most novel and amusing
feature of the evening was the Japan
csc love song and drill by Miss Free
mans pupils.
The night was unusually warm and
oppressive, but despite the unfavora-
BILE conditions of weather the opera
house was filled to its utmost capacity
with friends and patrons of the Insti-
tute, and everyone was agreeably sur
prised, because no one suspected that
such rare intellectual treat was in
store. The discomforts caused BIZ the
excessive heat were soon forgotten in
the pleasures and enjoyments aroused
by the happy rendition of the carefully
arranged program. The spirit of ap.
probation reigned supreme and fire.
quent outbursts of applause attested
that the large audience was being high
| ly entertained DO what it was seeing
and hearing.
The sentiment could not have been
otherwise. The hour was replete with
creditable musical numbers and many
of the recitations were meritorious and
highly deserving of honorable mention.
AS usual, however, on such occasions,
paramount interest centered around
the utterances aud doings of the mem
bers Of the graduating class, whose APP
pearance upon the stage was awaited
with eager expectancy. At last the
curtain rose for the presentation of
the eighth number and seated at the
rear of the beautifully decorated stage
were three of Forrest City's brightest
and most beautiful young ladies in the
persons Of Miss Pearl Crippen, valedic.
torian; Miss Martha Hatcher and
Miss Pearl Anderson-all daintily and
becomingly gowned in white organdie.
The thrill of satisfaction and pleasure
| felt by everyone in contemplating
such handsome scene of grace and
| beauty soon gave place TO feelings of
respect aud admiration for the extra
ordinar, talents and literary ac-
complishments of the finishing pupils
the reading of whose essays was de.
cidedly the feature Of the evening and
praise of their efforts was upon the
| lips of every auditor.
Miss Pearl Anderson was first on
the program and spoke with much feel
ing an article entitled Friendship. .
Miss Martha Hatcher then read ear
nestly and feryently her well written
essay entitled = Selfreliance. y In
a strong well-rOunded voice, Miss Grip.
pen. who was last on the program, de
livered her stirring valedictory entitled
Character. Intermissions between
the speeches were filled with applause
and music.
THE TIMES has secured with much
difficulty the several essays for publ.
cation. We would have considered
this issue incomplete without them
ScrupleS of modesty upon the part OF
the commencement girls made us de-
spair at one time of securing the pa
pers, persuasion, argument and ear
nest entreaty prevailed, however. and
we are proud to present them in full to
our readers.
After the reading Of essays Attor-
ney John Calling made an eloquent
presentation speech in behalf of the
school board and citizens and hi,
sound and logical statement of facts
coupled with impressive fights of ora
tory made the blood run faster in oul
veins and filled US with pride and patri.
otism, in the realization of our rapid
intellectual growth and culture and
our spiritual and social Importance.
Persons listening to his discourse
were made to grasp more firmly and
grimly the purpose and determination
to climb higher and bring their lives
and the lives OF those about them ul
to a plane of higher existence and into
"A sphere of lott.er motives and noblel
achievements.
Following is the address OF Miss
| Anderson
FRIENDSHIP.
Friendship is the abstract of the nobesI
flame;
IT'S love refined and purged from all il.
| dross,
Ills next to angels love, If not the same
| 1t is as strong in passion, tho not SC
/ gross f-Cafhariua Dhilltno