The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-29
THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.
THEIR CLOSING EXERCISES Sue
CESSFUL IN EVERY WAY.

lent One and the Manner of Its
Rendition Very Creditable to the
Participants-The Success of Their
Efforts Enjoyed by n Very Large
Audieuce-Nr. StovaII's Address to
the Graduates Happy Effort.
Col. Mercer. in His Closing Re-
marks. IncuIcated the Love OF
Beauty in Art, Music and Flowers
and DepIored Savnnnah'S Lack of
Public Taste.
OF the many annual commencements
10 the history of the Savannah High
School. none have been more pleasant or
were more successfully carried out than
that of the class of 1900. which took place
at the Theater last night.
AS usual in these affairs, the public in
terest was very fully manifested by the
large attendance. The Theater was filed
to its utmost capacity. Before the doors
were opened the crowds were gathered
awaiting admission. The pupils of the
school. of the first and second grades, as
wen as the graduate class, together with
their parents, had been provided with
cards of admission, which gave them the
right of entry ahead of the general public.
The doors were thrown open at S15
O'Clock, and within ten minutes every
available seat, both in the parquette and
balcony was filled, and five minutes later,
even standing room was at premium.
The gallery was the only portion of the
house not filled, though a good number
availed themselves of the seats there.
On the stage, even all the space not re-
uuired for the graduates and school au-
thorities. was occupied by friends of the
school. ~
The expression, a sea of faces, was never
more fully justified than by the sight from
the stage. 1t was a comparatively youth
full audience, the two lower grades of the
school occupying the front rows of seats
contributing to this effect. The female
sex predominated decidedly, and the
aadies, young and old, were mostly clad
in light and f1lmy summer garments, the
effect was very pleasing one. Notwith-
standing the discomfort from which many
must have suffered from being crowded
together on such a hot night the best
of order was preserved, and the graduates
and other speakers received the most re-
spectful attention throughout. An enter
prising clothing house had furnished
liberal supply of palm leaf fans, which
contributed very materially 10 the COM
fort of the audience. Icons Orchestra
furnished excellent music throughout, and
added greatly to the pleasure of the even
ing.
The fifty-six graduates were seated on
the stage in semi-crcle. the young Ia
dies occupied the front row with the
young gentlemen in the rear, the school
authorities occupying the center of the
semi-circle. 1t was a very attractive lot
of young ladies, which the audience had
the privilege of gazing upon, and in this
particular, as we'll others, the class of
$500 does credit 40 the institution.
Those seated in the semi-circle were Col.
George A. Mercer. president of the Board
of Education; Commissioner Lee Roy
Myers, of the board; Supt. Otis Ashmore,
Principal H. F. Train and Prof. John NJ .
Cannon, of the High School, Rev. w. ..
Schaeffer. D. D., and Mr.. c. B. King of
Elizabeth College, North Carolina, and
MIR. Pleasant A. StovalI, who was 40 de-
aver tnG commencement aQOIGSS.
At $50 O'Clock Supt. Ashmore called
upon Rev. DR.. Schaeffer to pronounce the
Invocation. DR.. Schaeffer returned thanks
for the blessings of education and civiliza-
tion, and invoked the favor of the AL
mighty for the young graduates that they
y might dead useful and upright lives, re-
Naiecting credit upon the institution and
proving of benefit to others as well as 10
themselves.
Master Harry Truchelut, who had the
honor of delivering the salutatory. extend
ed a cordial and happily expressed well
come to the friends of the school. and
begged their patient attention for the eff
forts of his classmates.
After an overture by the orchestra Miss
Katie Dillon presented an excellent argu-
ment upon the subject of Public VS.. Pri-
vate Schools" furnishing many good rea-
sons in favor of the public school system,
which were very happily expressed.
Consolation VS.. Coercion" was the title
of essay to have been read by Miss
Nellie Mulligan. AS Miss Mulligan was
unfortunately suffering from a sore throat
the paper was read at her request by Mas
ter Frederick Doyle, who made an excel
lent substitute. Master Doyle's reception
by his schoolmates evidenced his popular
ity with them.
THE Importance of Trifes," showing
what great consequences have re-
tn6 STUDY Oh apparently I'M
important things. was subject discussed
in a very interesting manner by Miss
Emma Truslow.
There were two debative subjects on the
programme. The first of these was Com
pusory Education" which was discussed
by Master Harold Prayer in the affirm
ative and Miss Estelle Gutman in the mega
tive. Both the young contestants acquit-
ted themselves with credit, Master Prayer
pointing to the great results achieved by
Germany with her system of universal
education and contending that the adoption
of a similar system in this country would
prove very beneficial in uplifting the mass
es and especially in raising the average
of intelligence among the voters
Miss Gutman maintained the negative
position with much spirit. and offered
numerous objections TO the compulsory
system, the main objection being that ia
was not in keeping with the American idea
of liberty. Many children receive no ben
eft from the schools anyway, she con-
tended, and their parents are the best
judges as TO whether or not they should
be kept at home. Again il would be "a
great hardship upon many poor parents
especially mothers. TO deprive them Of
the services of their children The paper
was well rendered, and the applause show
ed that the audience thought Miss Gut
man had the better of the argument
"A Plea For the Squares" 10y Miss