The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-03
COMMENCEMENT At
JEFFERSON THEATRE
ck-Stephens Institute Pre-
SentS Thirteen Diplomas
SWEET GIRL GRADUATES
Large Audience Assembled to Witness
Exercises, and Young Ladies' Show
cred With Fowers-Literary
Address BY DR.. Petrle.

A large audience of Birmingham's rep
resentative people gathered last night in
the Jefferson Theater to witness the
graduating exercises of the Pollock
Stephens institute.
Promptly at $3.50 o'clock the curtain
was raised and discovered a scene of
commencement beauty. The thirteen
young ladies who were to receive diplo-
mas were seated in a half circle behind
bank of flowers extending across the
stage with potted palms in the back
ground. The principal, Mrs. Taliaferro,
and the distinguished gentlemen who
were to take part, were seated in the
rear.
The exercises were opened with prayer
by Rev. U. D. Mooney. Prof. Henry T.
Stats then rendered brilliant piano
solo-the spinning Song from the Fly
ing Dutchman.
DR.. George Petrle.
The literary address to the graduates
was delivered by DIR. George Petrie. pro-
lessor of history and philosophy In the
Alabama Polytechnic institute. DR.. Petrie
Rev. j. Sterling Foster, pastor of the
South Highland Presbyterian church.
The address was regarded as an able
effort and elected much applause. DR..
Petrie dwelt largely on the many advan-
tages offered in the business and pro-
fessional world to young womanhood He
urged the priceless value of work both
among men and women, and pointed out
many Of the fields of usefulness which
the young graduates might enter, such
as skilful stenography, teaching of all
kinds, literature and the work OF the
trained nurse. The speaker also touched
upon the question of matrimony, saying
that he was not believer In race suicide,
but on the other hand that double har-
ness did not make a matrimonial team.
In the course of his remarks DR.. Petrie
took occasion to score the young lady
who is always angling for an eligible
young man, saying: THE girl who is
constantly laying traps to catch some
eligible young man who will take care OF
her is as much a gambler as the young
man who stakes his money in the stock
market"
At the conclusion Of the address a
vocal solo, Love Ceaseth Never" from
Eckerts civilian of Orange" was sung
most effectively by Miss Bessie Cunning
ham. accompanied by Miss Gockel.
The diplomas were presented to the
graduates by DR.. A. P. Montague, presi-
dent of Howard college. DR.. Montague
prefaced the presentation by an eloquent
tribute to woman, In which he showed by
examples from ancient history the lofty
acts of which woman is capable.
After the delivery of the diplomas an
attendant brought In armfuls Of floral
gifts for the young ladies which COM
pletely covered the front of the stage
sion of this part of the programme, which
evoked much applause the benediction
was pronounced by Rev. L. s. Handley.
The Graduates.
The young ladies who received diplomas
last night were as follows:
Miss Beatrice Hamilton Bryan, Miss
Bessie Cunningham. Miss Sarah Inez
Crittenden, Miss Gertrude Ellen Dexter,
Miss Irene Wheeler Denny. Miss Caroline
Ida Ingram, Miss Jennie Burney Hand
ley. Miss Myrtle May Hood. Miss Minnie
Bell Lazarus, Miss Bessie Wadsworth
Ware, Miss May Butterield, Miss Lottie
Wren Warner, Miss Florence Ellen
Youngblood