Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-06-07


The commencement exercises OF tn,
Chesapeake Academy for the session
19O0-1s0i are thing Of the past and n,
one has yet been found to say thSt the,
did not surpass any ever held In its twelv,
scholastic years. Beginning with III,
baccalaureate sermon on Sunday nigh
by Rev. G. II. James. who captured hi:
immense audience by his able discourse
to the delightful conclusion on Tuesday
when the distinctions and medals were
delivered amid smiles, bushes, congrat
ulations and clappiug of hands, every
feature was success.
MONDAY RvENINe.
Despite the steady downpour on Mon
day evening the Academy hall was
packed-not even standing room being
svailable-but the perfect rendition of
the program, which appears in full for
both nights on our first page, proved
ample compensation for the slight dis
comforts experienced, as evidenced by
the fact that nearly all present returned
the night following.
We regret that space will not permit
us to give a detailed account of each
piece, but we must mention the drills
Two drills, one by the small girls and the
other by the larger ones. were the order
OF the first evening and were loudly APP
plauded as they went through their
various and difficult figures and the
applause was SO desfening and continued
at the conclusion of the little tots per-
Torrance that they were compelled to
return.
MUSICAL soIREE.
Tuesday morning brought perhaps the
best part of the entertainment TO the
lovers of music, solos and duets being i'm
the asccndent. The audience on this oc-
casion was not quite so large, although
every seat was filed. Choruses by the
Academy Glee Club and recitations in.
tersperseG the vocal and instrumental
pieces and were of high order. The
entire audience on this occasion was
musical one and each one seemed to
think as Browning did when he said "I
always leave Off talking when hear
MASTER play"
TUESDAY EVENING.
The night was clear and the crowd
was much larger than on the preceding
night, many being attracted hither by
the defamation contest, which was the
main feature of the evening. All the
contestants did we'll and reflected great
credit upon themselves. Interest ran
nigh and much speculation ensued as to
who would come out the victor. DIR. r.
f. Burton, of Philadelphia, Wilson ID.
Williams, of Baltimore and w. A.
Cameron, of Weems, were selected as
the judges in this contest. But declama-
tions didnot make up the entire program
as each one was followed by a
vocal or instrumental selection. At the
conclusion OF the exercises the distinc-
tions were delivered and 1t was noticed
that nearly every pupil received destinc-
lions on three or more studies, which
went to show that they lad made great
progress in their classes.
MEDALIsTs.
Scholarship won by Alfred r. James.
of 1rvington, and delivered by f. G..
Newbill.
Music medal won by Miss Pauline c..
Long, Of Irvington, aud delivered by w.
Mcdonald Lee,
Defamation medal, awarded by w.
Med. Lee, was won by Calvin Brewing
ton, Of Irvington.
NOTES.
In his baccalaureate sermon on Sun
day night Rev. @. r. James alluded TO
the kindly hand of Providence in shield
ing the faculty and pupils of the Chesa-
peake Academy from death and sickness.
The health record Of this institution has
been remarkable.
The largest number of vehicles ever
seen In Irvington were lined around the
Academy Monday night. Every fence.
tree and post for a distance OF two
hundred yards was in use.
A number of visitors were present at
the exercises from Fsirfields. Lancaster
Courthouse, Wicomico Church and many
other places at distance.
w. t. Barnett was on hand with a
goodly quantity of city ice cream and
was kept busy dishing out this refresh
ment.
Great rivalry existed among the hos
tiers. Persons coming by vehicles were
met sometimes quarter of mile from
the Academy by those anxious to take