The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-29
THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES,
Continued from Tenth Page.
ar he'd been brought on by the Beers


war he'd been brought on by the Beers
themselves.
Miss Woodberry took sentimental
rather than legal view of the question
and held that the Beers had only sought
10 enjoy that inalienable night 10 life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness TO which
the people of this country so proudly lay
claim. rs untrammeed civil and religious
liberty too high a standard in this COM
mercial se?" she inquired. The English
men in the Transvaal were not there with
the view of becoming citizens, she declar
ed Five years residence may some times
make a fortune without making a citi-
zen" she declared referring to the I'M
happy experience of the South with the
carpetbagcers. The principles of human
liberty are involved" she declared. Let
the whole world pronounce the war un-
justifable," These sentiments were receiv-
ed with hearty applause Master Meldrim
also received very liberal applause.
The valedctories were next on the pro-
gramme. That TO the school authorities
was delivered by Master Carl Stern.
Master stern Is small and quite youthful
in appearance, but what he lacks in size
he maks up in wit. His Valedictory was
bright and pointed and was delivered
with much spirit His words of thanks
to the school authorities and teachers
were very well chosen. The address made
an excellent impression, and Master Stern
received very hearty applause.
The valedctiry TO the schoolmates was
delivered by Miss Florence Schaeffer. 1t
was charmngly simple and appropriate,
and included "reminiscences and illusions
to the incidents of school life. The class
of 1900 she stated. had the advantage of
looking back upon departing
century and forward 10 new
century. AS great things are expected
of the coming century so the same may
IL II, Il
wishes of the graduates for their sue
cessors of 1901 were fttingly expressed In
conclusion the graduates were urged to
be true 70 themselves, and to those who
had labored that they might be properly
equipped for the struggle of life. The
vaedictorian made very pleasant i'm
preston, and was rewarded with liberal
applause.
The response for the pupils Of the sec
ond grade made by Miss Caroline
Miller, who very pleasantly expressed the
good wishes of the junior class for the
future happiness and success of the grad
yates.
Col Mercer, in Introducing Mr. P. A.
Stovall, who delivered the address TO the
graduates, said that he needed not intro
duction, Mr. Stovall told the graduates
that their diplomas were tokens of con-
hdenee in their ability and integrity aud
credentials which would prove of value
to them in the various paths of life which
they might pursue Success in every
line of life was to be desired and for them
he predicted a full share, but it was chief
ly In the domestic affairs of home that
they would obtain the greatest honor for
themselves and bring the greatest credit
upon their alma mater. The importance
of happiness in the home was dwelt upon
with much stress. Southern homes and
especially Savannah homes, were exalted
above all others by the speaker, and he
excited the laughter and applause of the
crowd when he declared that he had
rather be sphinx in Forsyth Park than
the Dewey arch in New York or the Elf
fel Tower in Paris"
Speaking of homes, Mr.. StovalI said, he
was reminded of that intellectual home of
so many Savannahians, which all would
like 10 see rebuilt, the Chatham Academy
which was destroyed by fire Sept. Is last
There was demand from every corner of
the city, he said, that there be erected
there promptly and symmetrically, a
building that should be a credit to our
children and to our children's children
The building should be one approaching
the beautiful lines of the government
building near by; solid and substantial.
but beautiful If the people of Savannah
were consulted, he said. the new building
would be one commensurate in character
WITH the splendid house of worship lust
across the way Mr.. Stovall closed by
drawing a smile between the temples
which the Greeks erected to their gods
and those which the moderns erect for the
education of their children. His address
was well received and drew frequent ap-
plause.
Principal Train said that High
School commencement would not be COM
piete without few words from Col Mer-
Ger, the president of the board. In be-
ginning his remarks Col Mercer an
nounced the presentation to the High
Schol, through Rev DR.. schaerrer
OF permanent free scholarship in Eliz-
abeth College n. c., the conditions of
tne scholarship being that it should be
awarded 10 the young lady graduate OBJ
tanning the highest average, and in case
OF a dechnation, to the next highest and
80 on until one should be found who
would avail herself of the opportunity
Inc gift of similar scholarship in
shorter College, at Rome, to be awarded
oy the principal. was also announced
Col Mere is never happier than when
addressing an audience upon school topics
especially If the audience b largely COM
posed of school children. He was thor
oughly in his element last night. and
spoke with all his accustomed flow of
thought and imagery of words and IDEAS
fhere are few if any spe akers in Savan-
nan who can clothe beautiful idea more
beautlfully than Col. Mercer, and his au-
diences never tire of hearing him The top
&c OF his address last night might be
termed THE Value of the Beautiful in
Life. He sought to instill into the minds
of the graduates and the children gener-
ally the value of beautiful things, music
pictures, poetry and above ALL beautiful
flowers. He alluded with approval how
ever, to the abs nee of floral greetings to
the graduates and said that The Only
effect of their absence on me is to make
the living flowers l see around me far
more beautiful" He inculcai ed the love
of flowers and urged their study and con-
temptation, quoting the beautiful words
of Cen Hamilton of Detroit, that Flow
ers are the angels of the vegetable world
that convey our love to the dead"
He also urged the study and love of art
and beauty generally, and in this con-
nection depored the lack of public taste
IN Savannah. AS an Illustration of the
almost absolute lack of taste upon the par
OF the general public, Col Mercer al
auded to the incident of the hue and cry
which followed the removal of the park
sphinxes and which resulted in their res
toration. He excited the laughter Of the
audience by his rdicue of the sphinxes
as utterly unsuitable objects for park
ornaments, and said there had evidently
been some slight improvement in pubic