The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-31
Public Schools Close.

The public schools of Selma wound up
the year tonight at the Dallas Academy
in a blaze of glory The Academy was
packed and damned with those who take
an interest in the public schools of the
city. Several hundred of the pupils of
the school were ranged on the stage on
seats that rose gradually one above the
other, like stair steps, and the iutter OF
fans and the happy expressions on the
faces showed how pleasant the occasion
was to all.
The e. ercises were opened with prayer
by Rev. A. A. Little, pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church. Mayor Mcleod, rep
resenting the city of Selma. then intro
duced Captain r. D. Sanford Of Opelika,
whom Professor Thach had designated to
take his place as orator of the occasion.
During the life of Governor Sanford the
orator of the evening had acted as his
private secretary. and the people Of Selma
were not disappointed in what the gifted
son of an illustrious father had to say
on this occasion. The last speech that
his distinguished father, Governor Sam
ford ever made. was at the laying OF
the corner stone of the court house here
1t was magnificent effort, and those
who heard it will never forget how he
thrilled and electrified his hearers.
Captain Sanford has inherited great
many of his fathers gifts as an orator
and during the time that he spoke to-
night his auditors were charmed with his
grace of manner and the ease with which
| the words of eloquence poured from MS
| lips.
| The next thing on the program was
the awarding of the medal offered by the
Colonial Danes of Alabama. for the best
essay on some colonial subject The
Mobile, Selma. Birmingham and Tusca-
| loosa public schools contested FOR the
medal Miss Julia Barnwell won the
| medal last year. and tonight Selma cap
tured 1t again, and there was great en-
| thusiasm in the audience when Hon. j.
| E. Jeffries handed the medal. In lew
| we'll chosen words to Miss Nina Lamar.
The Baker medals and Latin schoiar
ships were next awarded. There are hve
of these medals, and two 70 Latin scholar
shin contested for The Baker medals
are awarded to those students who have
| the highest average during the session
and who make the best mark on the
final examinations. in their respective
grades The Latin scholarships are
awarded to the two students making the
highest average in Latin. The second
and first grades and first high schooi
grade contend for one of the Latin
scbolarships. while the remaining three
| GRADES of the high school contend for the
other Latin scholarship.
| The following won the fiye Baker
| Medals: Miss Overton Ward. MISS
Eunice Varnon, Miss Thorne Nelson, MISS
Virginia Hardaway and Miss Sailie Har-
daway and the two Latin scholarships
were av arded to Miss Ethel Stearns and
Miss Sallie Hardaway. Colonel ii. >. ~.
Mallory presented the medals ana
scholarships.
The Lucy Nelson Memorial medal was
won by Malcolm Lockhart, who maze
his speech to the vast audience, ana they
were charmed not only with the SUD-
stance of his Grafton, but with the man.
ner in which 1t was delivered. He took
for his theme the Right of Labor TO
Organize to Protest Itself from the OPP
preston of Cooperative Capital, ana the
working man had a strong champion
and eloquent defender. Young Lockhart
has a brilliant future before him, II his
effort on this occasion Is any criterion.
The medal was awarded by Colonel w.
r. Nelson.
The browning event Of the evening, the
! awarding of diplomas. then took place.
r. e. Hardaway. principal of the pubic
schools of tie city, awarded diplomas TO
the following: Misses Nina Lamar
Norma Ward, jamie Portis, Ada Jarvis,
Mary Hull. Sallie Hardaway. Virginia
smith. Erustein Erwin and Mr.. Manuel
Topper 80,
The entire audience was delighted with
the evenings performance and although
the services were little long no one
seemed to tire and the occasion was one
of the most pleasant and profitable that
ever took place in connection with the
closing of Selmas public schools.