The Opelousas courier., 1901-06-22
High School Commencement.

dS uuH0fOuSly dICSlluCu Us Oue
would have supposed they would
be on the occasion of the dedica-
ton of the recently completed
annex, for there was not only
considerable standing room left
but number Of seats were vacant
"a very unsual thing on such oc-
casions. However, there was Il
very fine attendance of interested
listeners and an excellent program
was successfully carried out.
After an eloquent and fitting
invocation by Rev. 7. X. Faunt
Leroy, Prof. Gayle introduced
Mayor Littell, who, after congrat-
ulating his hearers upon this inn
portant addition to the educa-
tional facilities of the town and
parish, gave a brief history of the
foundation of the school, built
entirely with Opelousas money:
adding that the annex cost $2295.
1925 of which was paid by the
town through It's Board of Alder
men and the balance by its citi-
zens, by individal subscriptions
and entertainments. The Police
Jury having contributed $3.50,
however, the amount to be cred
tied to the latter source is $3.50.
making the towns contribution
for the annex $2045.
Mr.. G. Singletary, one of the
HigRSchool students, who moved
from his country home a few
years ago to attend this fine insti'
tuition, was the next speaker. He
delivered, on behalf of the stu.
dents, a most excellent address,
making the best and most elabo.
rate presentation of the question
of the establishment of high
schools as a branch of popular
education that has ever come
under our notice, and logically
demonstrating the wisdom aud
justice of their maintenance out
of the general school fund
Young Singletary's diction wa;
clear and forcible, and his ges
lures, despite his empty right
sleeve, were pleasant and graceful
He,is a promising boy, and besides
that he is q fine boy, and we trust
that in the coming years he viii
reap the largest benefits from tht
system which he on this occasion
so ably advocated and defended
Prof. Gayle next introduced tt
the audience one of st. Landry
most distinguished sons, Col. A
T. Prescott, late president of th'
State Industrial School at Ruston
and now a professor in the State
University at Baton Rouge, hi
alma raater. Though a native o:
st. Landry, being a scion of on'
of our oldest and most worth,
families, most of his time for th'
part twenty years has been spen
outside of our parish; and while
we may regret this we still rejoic'
to know that his lines have beer
cast in pleasant places and tha
more than an average share O.
success has rewarded his earnes
and persistent (and mayhap diff
cult and toilsome) efforts to prop
erly qualify himself for the specia
field which he now adorns. Col
Prescott made a strong AM
forcible plea for higher education
illustrating and emphasizing th'
present and future necessit
therefor b. referring to OH
changed and constantly changin'
conditions, brought about by tn
rapid strides of science, and show
ing the imperative need of traine'
hands and educated brains il
every field of human effort.
District Attorney Garland
"whom not to know is to argu
yourself unknown was the mex
speaker. He congratulated tn
people of Opelousas upon thei
appreciation Of the advantages O
education, of which this spaeiou
annex was striking testimonial
extolled the educational system 0
| the State, which he declared Aa
| of late years become second t.
none; and referred with becomin
pride and graduation to the i'm
mense impetus which, within til
last decade or two, primary edr
cation had received even in tn
most remote sections of st. Lar
dry's broad domain. He close
by bestowing unstinted praise o
Prof. Gayle, the principal, for hi
untiring efforts and unflaggin
zeal in securing the necessar
funds for the erection Of the al
mex, and had a good word to sa
for the Board of Aldermen, wh
had taken the enlightened vie
that the people $ money could &c
be spent in better cause tha
for the education of the people
children.
After Prof. Gayle had in grace
full phrase modestly disclaime
the high honors lavished upo
him, generously giving the lion
share of the credit to the membel
Of the faculty who had assiste
] him. the chairs were removed an