The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-05-30
Splendid Audience at NC
DOnald'S Theatre.
TWELVE GIRL GRADUATES
List of Honor Pupils In Mont
gomery Schools.
Superintendent Floyd Says Barring
Fire at Cottage Hill School
Scholastic Year Has Been
Marked by Great Success
in Work.
TWELVE GIRL GRADUATES

The public schools of Montgomery
closed yesterday and a beautiful scene
was witnessed at McDonaid's Theatre
last night when the final exercises of the
graduating class of the Girls High School
took place, the principal feature of the
exercises being an excellent address to
the class of 1902 by DIR. George Petrie Of
the faculty of the Alabama Polytechnic
Institute at Auburn.
1t was the eighteenth annual commence
ment Of the Girls High School and a
splendid audience gathered to do honor
to the young women, standing midway
between girlhood and womanhood, and to
listen to the address by DIR. Petrie.
The curtain of the stage arose at sis
o'clock and disclosed thirty-tive of the
members of the school in addition to the
twelve who compose the gradua ting class
of 1892. All wore the ideal toilet of the
sweet girl graduate-white orgsndie, lace,
and RI bons. while the class of 1902. which
vas seated near the footlights held arm
clusters of white carnations and plumosa.
The program opened with the Lord =
Prayer, which was said aloud by the
entire graduating class.
A chorus-"In this Hour of Softened
Splendor." followed.
Miss Matilda Meyer recited THE Diver"
in excellent style and was accompanied
by the entire class in pantomime. and
soft music on the plano by Mrs. ]. y.
Carter.
An especially enjoyable number on the
program was the vocal solo--Spring song;
rendered by Miss Grace Poundstone.
DIR. George Petrie of Auburn was pre-
scented to the school and to the audience
by vice-President of the City Board OF
Education c. F. Moritz as one OF
needed no Introduction to Montgomerians
stating that he is a grandson of the late
DR.. Petrie of this city.
Addressed by DR. Petrie.
DR.. Petrie delivered an address to the
graduating class that win dwell with
!. them for many day. 1t was entertain
ing instructive and amusing al times. He
dwelt first on the dark side of the coca
sion--the parting of the band of soldiers
who would fight on In life, but never all
together again referring to the day as one
of parting as well sas one of hope. and
warning them that they could never for
get each other no matter how their ways
parted
He spoke to this class of girls, in favor
Of CO. education, saying that 1t was fine
for~ths hcys IL hard on the girls pointing
out the softenine and civilizing influence
Of the girls He referred to his own school
days when he and his class studied and
were whipped.
DR.. Petrie congratulated the class on
having won the fight against ignorance
He said in answer to his own question.
who Of you win fail and who will not? p
She who attempts to Cheat her way will
fail-counterfeit. Men. like counterfeit
money are soon found out Sham has no
more chance than lead dollar or soap
bubble at a baseball game.
He spoke Of the value Of genius when
combined with a capacity. He warned
against a Sinking Of work and also
against sinking into the mere drudge.
Or. Petrie referred to the modern
wonders in electrical contrivances and
said that with all the wonder of them
nothing fundamental had been altered,
saying, washington and Jefferson are
not vet hack numbers
He earnestly advised reading in spare
moments. Advising history. he spoke of
our own as one most worthy of study.
I'VE have" he said, awakened to the
fact that we have the greatest
country in the world. We will
some day find We have the greatest his
tory in the world.
The reading of good fiction was dwelt
upon.
Shakespeare Thacksry and Scott he
said. ARE good for that tired feeling.
And poetry. too, is good. Read it with
care. for the poetry of n nation is an i'm
portant feature of its history.
Or. Petric spoke of self-culture as the
most important question that confronts
us. 1t will help US solve all other prob
lens. He advocated manual training, and
referred to the fact that this is the day
of the specialist
poverty stal es the unframed in the
face" he declared Practical educa ton
Is what we want Educate should be
education.
He referred to the members of the class
Of 1902 who will he "unappreciated bless
inee"-old maids. as having too much
sense to marry for living and not
knowing how to make one.