The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-21
SCHOOL OF SPLENDID
PROGRESS.
The Final Days at Graham
Academy.
Close Of Commencament---So Something Of VIVA
This School is Doirg---A Visit to Leck-
ler'S Island,
(Staff Correspondence.)

Marshallburg, N. c., May 20.-Com-
mencement at Graham Academy is over.
The exercises began Thursday night and
continued till noon yesterday.
They consisted of musical renditions,
dramatic presentations, drill work, tab
leaux, Rotations, essays, lectures, sermon,
awards OF diplomas and medals. Deserving
special mention was the impersonation OF
Samantha, Josiah Aliens wife, by Miss
Annie Lee Price, of Elizabeth City; rem
dition of Hello Central" by Mrs c. M.
! Levister, of Marshallburg; piano duet,
''The Race Course" by Misses Ella Jones,
of Portsmouth, Va, and Geneva Levister,
of Marshalburg; instrumental duet, by
Misses Nellie Davis and -4ddie Moore, led
by Miss Estelle Smith, of Bellhaven; the
! tableaux scene, Might and Morning,
| Miss bIanch Jacobs, of Wilkesbarre, Pa,
! the guardian angel; recitation "Spartacus'
appeal to the Thracians," by Miss Helen
| G, Ditmars, of Railway, New Jersey; es-
say, Opportunity" by Carl Nyman, of
| Ojebyn, Swenden.
Miss Jacobs is a bright and beautiful
character. BY her winsome ways she
won the heart of pupil and faculty and
| tbs said certain of the neighbOrhood as
well. She is a born actress and a teach
er of merit She is of the blonde type
Miss Ditmars is a teacher of splendid
parts. She is a musician of decided
merit and possesses superb alto voice.
| Her recital of "Spartacus Appeal to the
Thracians" was the effort of star She
is a most charming young woman of the
brunette type.
Mr.. Nyman is a frank young Swede, a
most worthy young man, determined to
have an English education. He is work
| ing his way through school Requested
on the eve of the commencement to pre-
| pare an essay on Opportunity" he gave
| it his best thought and the production
was good. He deserves success.
Mr.. Stacey E. Nelson, of Marshallburg,
the only graduate, was given the academy
diploma. President LeYister presented
the diploma in a model speech.
Annie Moore, a bright sweet n,tle Miss,
captured the Little Medal" for pro-
| ficIency in music.
The lecture, Forces that VIM" by
Rev. John Hamilton Howard, D. D., of
Railway, New Jersey, was a rare treat.
Dr. Howard is a man of striking personal
Iiy--udA JOAldi, plS -hSdltCu e0L10
brainy He is a speaker of fuency and
force and makes you laugh and cry at
will He would do well in comedy, better
in tragedy, but is perhaps. doing bet
ter still as an ambassador for Christ. He
says he is Virginian born out of his
native State and explains In this way.
Some forty years ago there arose trou-
blous times and his parents moved from
Virginia to Pennsylvania between two
days where they remained for fourteen
months and during this time he was
born. His parents returned to Virginia
where he grew from childhood to man
hoods estate and where he began his min
isterial labors, circuit rider in the Val
ley of Virginia" Later he removed to
Jersey.
On Saturday the trustees met and re-
ceived the report of President Levister
from which is culled the statement that
the past was the most successful year in
the history of the academy. The en-
rolment was 253 and shows an increase
of 500 per cent in four years. Branch
schools were established and maintained
at North River and on Harkcr's Island,
with school buildings 2Sx40 feet at both
places Within the year the Board of
Education appropriated $1,000 and there
was donated by individuals $500 Besides
this thirteen students have received aid
from scholarships and work at the acad
envy. In the fourteen years lie of the
school there has been but one death
among the student body and physician
called but to two OF the students. This
speaks volumes for the location as to
health.
President Levister is bringing the
school up to a high standard. He has the
confidence of the people and the work
under his wise management Is advancing
along all lines. The facilities Tor extend
ing aid to worthy students have been ma
terially increased The coming year prom
Uses to be the greatest in the history of
the school, There is pressing need for
more commodious school building to meet
increasing demands. The academy wlll
soon be connected by telephone with the
towns UP the State, and in the near tu-
ture a railroad touching near the campus
is assured.
On Saturday a party, including myself,
were given a sail down Core Sound to
Fl. b. Leckler's island. The trip was OF
interest. On our arrival at the island Mr..
LBCklPr received US at lHC P'Oi' anu " y
we're shown over the island There are
an hundred acres in the tract AS land
off and buiIded up it is most attractive
The Leckler home is situated on a bluff
to the south end in grove Of beautl-
full live oaks The whole-wlth clstern,
dairy, refrigerator, flower and vegetable
garden, farm and meadow land, barn and
| out houses is a veritable Eden home.
The farm is stocked with horses, cattle,
| hogs chicken, ducks and geese, the latter
of the wild species. The garden and farm
| land has been made very productive.
Once upon the island Mr.. Leckler was
master of the situation. TO the eastward
lay the lowland. Some tweke thousand
/ loads Of this black soil we're carted to the
| high land
Beside the grass of the meadow, where
the stock graes, grasses are grown on the
upland. A beautiful field of this IS rpen-
ing unto harvest. Indeed the blade of the
reaper is sharpened and the cutting be-
| gins this week This coast country is
beautiful and invigorating When the
reader visits Morehead and Beaufort
shortly let him also take trip down the
sound and touch at Marshalburg hld
Leckler's island. There are string of