The leader., 1901-05-29
BROOKHAvEN GRADED SCHOOL,
Closing Exercises which Took Place, May
22, 23 and "a, 1901.

I
by the high class entertainments here
tofore given during its closing exer
cises and the opinion has been express
ed that there could be no improvement
on these exercises; but this has beer
disproved by the commencement exer
cises which closed last Friday evening
1t is generally conceded now, that
these exercises have eclipsed anything
ever before given by the school, lin
deed it is stated by those who seem tc
know, that they have not been equaled
by any other public school in the State
On Wednesday evening the Com.
mencement began with the annual
meeting Of the two literary societies of
the school, the Olympian and the
Athenian. The program consisted of
three medal contests, interspersed with
instrumental music, including a de,
lightful violin solo by Miss Sarah Love.
The contest was for a gold medal Of
fered by the Board of Control. The
contestants were Misses Sammie Ma
gee, Kathleen Chrisman, Mamie Hos
kins, Sara Stern, and Ella Stringer, all
of whom displayed talent and training.
The medal was won by Sara Storm.
The medal for defamation was also
offered by the Board of Control, and
was won by Abye Cohn. The other
contestants were Hugh Germany, Dan
iel Cameron, and Sherman McNair, all
of whom did splendidly and deserve
great credit for the efforts made.
The debate was on the subject,
"Resolved, That White Mans Prop
erty Should Not Be Taxed to Help Sup
port Negro Schools" The affirmative
was championed by the Olympian So
ciety, which was represented by Joe
Chrisman and Miss Ella Stringer; the
negative was supported by the Athen
ian Society, represented by Misses Rose
Burns and Jessie Womack. All the
speakers did we'll, but the de-
cision was rendered in favor of the
Athenian Society, while the gold med
al was won by Miss Rose Burns. This
medal was given by the societies,
jointly.
Those who performed on the piano
on this occasion were Misses Jessie
Adams, Minnie Davis, Meta Smith,
and Beulah Parsons, and their efforts
reflected great credit on their teacher,
Miss Edith Sherman.
The Primary and Elocution enter
tainment was held Thursday evening
and was success in the fullest sense
of the word. There were six pieces of
instrumental music which were we'll
rendered by pupils of the music de-
partment. There was little play in,
two acts entitled, "Three Little Kittens
from the Land of Pie" by pupils of the
elocution department. This was we'll
received.
The Zobo Patriotic Drill was quite a
novel number and won the hearty ap-
plause of the vast audience. This was
a beautiful flag drill which was timed
to the music of zobo brass band. All
were delighted with this number.
A pantomime drill entitled, Come
Play With Me" was one of the cutest
aud sweetest parts of the whole com
mencement. The little boys and girls
engaged in this acted their parts to
perfection. and won the hearts of all
beholders. The teacher who had spe-
cial charge of this number is Miss
Burns, of the second grade.
The chief event of the evening was
Cradle Songs of Many Nations" in
which there were eleven nations, each
represented by band of six or more
girls dressed in representative cos
tunes. These groups came forward in
turn and sang the characteristic cradle
songs of the nations which they repre-
sented. "The Night Gown Babies"
captivated the audience, but the ne
groes and members of the Blackville
Club simply drought down the house"
Miss Snowdrop Sara Storm was the
leading character in this and won great
applause by her solo, but the others
did their respective parts to perfection
and all deserve great credit for the ex-
cellent manner in which they enter
tanned the spectators.
We would be glad to mention each
individual taking part in the exercises
of this evening, but as there were fully
one hundred and seventy five of them,
it would not be practicable to take up
space for all their names. Miss Atkins
and Mrs. McNair deserve special praise
for the excellent taste displayed in
planning this entertainment and the
hard work done in drilling the pnpils
for it. They we're ably assisted by
Miss Annie Burns, Miss Leona Eitel
and Miss Cassidy. Miss Cassidy labor
ed undera great disadvantage all
through the session, in not having a
room in which to teach elocution; she
was obliged to use the Principals Office
and had access to that only one or two
periods during the day, She deserves
great credit for her perseverance under
these difficulties.
The annual meeting Of the Alumni
of the school was held Friday morn
ing, and was very interesting. The
program consisted of violin solo by
Miss Lottie Magee, recitations by Misses
Susye Cox and May Sherman, addresses
by Messrs Lewis Wood and Chas. But
ler, instrumental music by Misses Mary
Byrd, Launa Strother, and Maggie Ma