The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-04
LAST DAY At ELON
Ten in the Graduating
Class. The College
Free of Debt.
Especial to News and observer.)


Elon College, N. c., June 3.-Elon
College closed it's 18th annual COM
mencement Thursday night. The
graduating exercises on Thursday
morning were of a very high order.
There were ten in the graduating
class. The speeches and essays which
they rendered were probably the best
ever delivered at a commencement eX-
ercise since the beginning of the col
lege. The following are the MEM
bers of the class: Miss Mamie Eliza
beth Carlton, Geo. ChamlaSs Davidson,
DeRoy Ransom. Fonyille, Miss Ellie
Isley, Obed Wilbur Johnson, Chas,
Manley Walters, JAS Oscar Cox, Miss
Willie Staley, Geo. Thomas Whitaker,
Miss Annie Mabel Brittle.
The Stanford Grafton medal was
won by d. r. Fonville, of Burlington.
The Moffitt Essayist medal was won
by Miss Willie Staley, of Franklinton.
On Thursday afternoon at 3 O'Clock
the literary societies held their annual
reunion. Quite number of old stu
dents and alumni of the institution
were in attendance and took part in
the reunion exercises.
One special feature of the COM
mencement was the very fine display
of the art department. This depart
ment during the past two years has
been under the direction of Miss Pres
ton, of Virginia. The display of work
in art this year was by far the best
ever exhibited and reflects credit upon
the members of the class department
and the teacher in charge.
The attendance at the graduating
exercises and at the concert on Thurs
day night was considerably larger
than the building would accommo-
date. hundreds could not find seats.
The concert by the music depart
ment on Thursday night was the
climax of the entire commencement
| This department for several years has
been under the direction of Misses
| Wilson and Ramsey, both of whom are
among the leading teachers of music
| in the State. An exquisite program
rendered with much skill and enthus
iasm reflected great credit on botf
| teaher and pupils.
1t was a source of great gratifica
| ton to the friends of the college WheT
| it was announced by President Staley
| that the institution is now free from
! debt and has an endowment of $50,
| 600 For a number of years the in
stitution has been struggling to main
| tain its existence, depending for it
| support dlHlOSl tACluSlNcly upOII IIi'
Christian denomination in North Caro-
lima and Virginia. The board o
| trustees have contracted for the build
ing of large three-story dOrmitOr!
for young ladies, to be built at one
and fitted up with all modern con
veniences. This new building will adj
much to the efficiency of the institu
| ton, as for several years they hav
| been unable to accommodate thos
who have made application for admis
| sion.
The same faculty was reelected 70
the coming year. Prof. w. A. Harper
latin department, was allowed tn
| privilege of remaining one year lon
ger in Yale University, where he i
| doing special work.
Among other things of importance
connected with this commencement
was the action taken by the Alumni
| Association to endow a chair of theol
ogy to be added to the present curri
! cuium of the college.
With this commencement the insti
| tuition enters upon a brighter futur
| iii all of its departments of work.