The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-29

nGCllOn ne Sdlu IIlc ldu Oeen IN
many ways misrepresented. but not
more so on any subject than that of
her educational history and conditions.
He denounced as false the charge gem
orally made that this state is at the
bottom of the ladder in educational
work. He referred to a statement made
some time since in the Review OF Re-
views to the effect that there We're no
public schools in the south prior to the
civil war and said that he prepared a
reply to this falsehood and submitted
ii to Mr.. James H. Chadbourn. Sr..
who for fifty years has been in the
harness as a most Jealous worker In
the cause of the public schools, and
that he endorsed it thoroughly. In this
reply he quoted IS follows from an ad-
dress delivered by himself (Col. wad-
delD December I'd, 1871, on the occa-
sion of the laying of the cornerstone of
Tileston Normal school, this city. a
splendid institution established by a
noble New England lady Miss Hem
enway) n for many years most adj
mirably- conducted by another New
England lady (Miss Amy Bradley
who, Colonel Waddell happily remark
ed, was in the assembly hall as an
honored visitor last night. The extract
from Col. Waddelrs 1871 address was
as follows:
1T is at this time particularly de-
sirable that private charity should be
directed towards the establishment of
schools, the public school sys-
tenn OF the state, once so fourishing,
now languishes under the common
calamity which has fallen upon all
classes and every interest of our peo-
pie. 1t is a fact not generally known
even among our own people, that pre-
vious to the war North Carolina had
the best public school system south of
Mason and Dixon's line, and a better
one than many of the states north of
it. By reference to a published address
which 1 had the honor to deliver in this
city in February, 1859, at a meeting of
the citizens called for the purpose of
establishing a high school, 1 find the
following statement of facts gathered
from official sources, viz: That in the
nineteen years which had then elapsed
since the common school system was
established Gin 1S4O) the colleges had
increased in number from 2 to Is, the
academies from 140 to $50, the primary
schools from 632 to $500 and the num-
Der of scholars from 300 o to $50, 900. or
two-thirds Of the white children Of the
state between the ages of 5 and q 1
find further that the productive school
fund a increased to more than ST.
000, 900, exclusive of swamp lands. and
was yearly increasing, and that it was
larger than the school FUND of Mas
~sachusetts by $500, 900; larger that the
school fund of New Jersey by three
times that amount (S1, 500, OO0); larger
h that Of Georgia-the Empire
State of the South, as she was called
by 1,6oO, 600; larger that that of Vir-
ginia by $500, 900, and much larger than
the school fund of Maine, or New
Hampshire and Maryland"
After this reference to North Caro-
lima educational matters Colonel Wad-
dell proceeded with his formal address
which was beautiful, instructive and
eloquently delivered.
THE DIPLOMAS AWARDED
At the conclusion of Colonel Wad-
delPs address, the diplomas were pre-
sented to h graduates by Superin-
tendent John j. Blair.
The graduates her rendered their
class song, which was heartily ap-
plauded, and thereafter the benedic-
ton was pronounced by Rev. MI. Cole.
The graduates were the recipients of
many handsome bouquets and baskets
of flowers.
The marshals for the
Gch1ef), p. p. Bailey, Jr., Osborne
Foard, Gilbert Foard, C. S. Blackwell.
Jr., and George Lynch.
The High school faculty who are de-
serving of the most hearty congratu-
lat1ons for the splendid success of the
PoSl acliool year are Miss WORTH,
Cpr1ncipaD, Miss Waite, Miss Bagby.
Miss Mabry and Miss McNary.
THE UNION SCHOOL EXERCISES
AS noted above, the exhibits and ex-
erclses at Union school yesterday
morning were Of an especially credit
able character. The programme OBJ
served was a. follows:
Come Away-Song by school.
Instrumental Solo-Lizzie irkham
Merry Milkmaids-Girls of eighth
grade. i
Our ~Baby-Emily Westbrook.
Sailor Song-Sixteen boys.
instrumental Solo-Pearl Montgom-
cry.
Buy My Apples-Nellie Reaves.
Over the Hills-Song by school.
How to ~Cook-Estelle Skies.
A Big Wax Doll-Mary Black and
Louis Orrell.
Mother Goose-Pupils of fifth grade.
The following pupils took part in the
Mother Goose number
Pearl McEntee. Alice Wright, Grace
Craig, Isabel MacRae, Marie Hopkins,
Harry Allen, Eta Flick, Leon Jewell,
Hattie Gardner, Ida Taylor. Helen
Hopewell, Willie Komminsky, elem
Brown. Oscar Kennedy, Fleet Will
liams, Charles Greenblott, Duncan
Bornemann. Chares Davis, Freeman
Yopp, Claude Hewlett, Blanche Pars-
~ Lucy NlClihllTe, Anne Brdncn.
Edith Butler.
In the milkmaid drill were the fol-
lowing little folks:
Madeline DeRosset, Isabel Belden,
Loulah Finch Oracle Craig, Alice
Wright, Lille Bornemann, Ella Brady
Mary Taylor, Annie Ramsey, Jane
Green. Amoret Wootten. Virginia Bal
ley, Nellie Durham, Carlotta Fleet.
Jennie Murchison, Jennie Jackson and
Lizzie Kirkham.
The names of the sailor boys were:
Joe Britain, Hiram King, David
Murchison, August Maryland, Clayton
Smith, Charlie Hall, Herndon Jewell.
Leon Jewell Robert Strange, William
Stemmerman, Robert Strange, Robert
Johnson, Bruce Cameron, Julius Par
ker, Cleveland Reaves, James Nc
Clammy and Porter Davis.
AT the conclusion of the programme
Superintendent Blair presented, on be-
half of the teachers Of the school, a
handsome gold beaded cane to
James H Chadb 3urn ST., paying a
high tribute to Mr.. Chadbourn's long
and faithful service as a public school
committeeman. And Colonel W. A.
Johnson, as chairman of the county