The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-05
Commencement Exercises Of
Birmingham High School
THEATRE WAS WELL FILLED
Diplomas We're Presented BY Or. J. Il.
Phillips, Superintendent lnstrue-
tion-Floral Decorations Were
Prominent Feature.

t1VeS or the graduating CLASS.
Palms, handsome dresses. blushing
graduates and an endless profusion OF
red carnations and maidenhair ferns the
class flowers, made the stage a scene of
exceptional beauty.
When the curtain rose the High School
Euterpean club was grouped at the front
of the platform and opened the exercises
by singing Union and Liberty" from
"Tannhauser The invocation was pro-
nounced by Rabbi Morris Newfield OF
Temple Emanuel, after which the Eu-
terpean club sang ''He, Watching over
Israel" from Mendelssohn's 'Elljah"
The graduating class came on the stage
to the strains OF a march and each of
the young ladies carried a large bouquet
of red carnations and maidenhalr ferns.
Rev. Or. Stages.
The annual commencement address was
delivered by the Rev. DR.. ]. w. Stage,
pastor OF the First Presbyterian church,
and was of such nature as to be inter-
esting to the class from beginning to end.
He dwelt on the power of youth, and
especially trained youth, giving examples
from every age OF the world to show
what great things had been accom-
plished by the vigor and determination
of youth. He told some good stories that
were thoroughly to the point and in
every way made an eminently suitable
address for the occasion. After some
humorous remarks made at the beginning
he said In part:
at always hate to abuse an occasion,
and there is nothing more solemn than
the embarklng of young souls on the sea
of life. In the first place I want to en-
phasize the power of youth. Some one
has said, old men for council and young
men for action Burke said, Tell me how
the young men of your land think and
will tell you the future history of the
land
Power Of Young Men.
1.-THE greatest things or this world have
been brought about by the vigor and
power OF young men. Heroditus had writ
ten his nine books of history before he
was twenty-eight; Demosthenes plead at
the bar at seventeen vergil laid the basis
of his Aeneid when sixteen; Bacon laid
the foundation OF his inductive method at
sixteen; Shakespeare had written the Sec
ond part OF King Henry VI before he
was twenty-five; the Corsican conqueror
was at the head OF the French army at
twenty-nine, and Byran had finished
Childe Harold at twenty-three.
There are numerous other examples,
but these are enough to show that great
things are accomplished in youth.
ITO be young means much, and added
to the something we call youth is the
something we call training. The time is
gone. and gone forever, when youth with
all its power can solve the great prob
lens that confront the people of this ma
ton. Youth must be trained. Man after
all is fierce and savage until he is soothed
and controlled by training and educa-
tion."
High School Training.
DR.. Stage at this point gave statistics
from the United States census showing
that a man with high school training had
81 chances to succeed over the unframed
youth.
And yet" he continued, there are
people In this town who will vote against
cation of the youth of this municipality!
my friends, it is becoming true that
Ignorance is criminal. Things are not go
ing to turn up for you. In life there Ia
something always going wrong. TO shed
blood to prevent having ones liberties
curtailed is easy. The hardest problem a
youth has to deal with Is himself"
DR.. Stagg ended the address with
blessing and hearty godspeed to the whole
of the class, and was followed by se-
lection Fairy Song" by the girls chorus
of the high school.
The Diplomas.
DIR. j. H. Phillips, superintendent of in
struction, presented the diplomas, after
some appropriate remarks.
The last number on the programme was
a rowing song by the boys chorus, which
was rendered exceptionally well, and the
young men were compelled to respond to
an encore.
The benediction was pronounced by the
Rev. DIR. Stage. An Informal reception
was then held, at which the fidowers and
presents were distributed to the gradu-
ates and they listened to the congratu-
lations of friends and relatives.
The Graduates.
The graduating class of 1903 consists of
thirty-one members, as follows Chester
Gabriel Bandman, Miss Ida Grace Har
rell, Joseph Hudson Barker, Merlin Cliff
ford Harzfeld, Miss Alma Beaune, Miss
Alice Phillips Hirsh, Miss Sarah Louise
Beggs, Miss Elizabeth Meade Jones Dem
mis- Rogers Bell, Miss Mary Banister La
nier, Miss Maude Josephine Boyle. Miss
Lena Edward Lansford, Miss Amy West
brook Burney. Miss Nellie Eva Leath,
Miss Ruby Butler, Miss Martha Caroline
McAdory Jelks Henry Cabaniss, John
Paul McCartin Miss Irma Fannie Calmus,
Miss Emily May MacEvoy William
Ransom Johnson Dunn, Miss Abbie Mary
Murphy, Miss Bertha Marion Eatherley,
Miss Augusta Randolph Reid, Miss Vivian
Beatrice Gardner, Miss Bessie Claudia
Scholar Miss Daisy Glass Miss Eula
Davis Starbuck, Miss Martha Gardner
Gwoltney, Miss Jennie Lee Wick, Miss
Gertrude Well.
The class organization is as follows:
President-Jelks Henry Cabanss.
Vice President-Miss Vivian Beatrice
Gardner
Recording secretsry--Miss Amy West
brook Burney.
Corresponding secretary-Chester Ca
briel Bandman.
Treasurer-Miss Maud Josephine BayIe.
Eistorian-Miss Ruby Butler.
Orator-Merlin Clifford Herzfeld.
Essayist-Miss Martha Caroline Nc
Adory.