Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-06-16
WOODBURY. IHGH SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT


Amid the strai Is of music, six graduates
Of the Woodbury. High Schools marched
slowing from beneath boughs of laurel
blossoms upon ths stage of Green's Opera
House last Thursday evening and began
the finest Commencement exercises ever
given in Woodbury..
Upon the stage were seated the class, the
members of the Board of Education and
the speakers of tae evening.
The stage was beautifully decorated by
the class of 1905 with potted plants. laurel
blossoms, daisies and magnolias and wrap
ped around the iardineers was crepe paper
of gold and white, the school colors.
Suspended in mid-air above the grad
yates was a hana-painted shield, the form
and color of file school pin, in gold and
white, and, in the centre Of the white band
stood out in f1aring golden letters, ''W.H.S s."
The graduates were: Harrison Paul Liyer-
more, Misses Amelia Bennett Kugler,
Elizabeth Fowler, Blanche Davis Lee, Sarah
w. Richmond and Alice Weatherby.
After the graduates had taken their seats,
Rev. Geo. W. Tomson gave most beauti-
full prayer which was followed by the class
song, "We Gomez Five members of the
high school assisted the class in the singing.
The Orchestra consisting of three pieces,
William e. Duffield, with the cornet, Miss
Elizabeth Hustled, piano, and Miss Leona
Scott, violin then rendered selection.
Miss Kugler followed the selection with
an essay entitled, The Origin and Influence
of National Songs' She spoke of the first
folk songs and ballads of the old English
people, of the rude chants of the barbarians,
the war song and death chant of the Amer
ican Indian and lastly the songs which stir
nations to-day, Die Wacht am Rhein the
Star Spangled Banner, Marching Through
Georgia, John Browns Body, and lastly
the song for all times, America. The essay
was read with spirit and enthusiasm and
its beauty and expressiveness brought great
applause at It's conclusion.
Miss Weatherby then recited Carey's
poem, "An Order for a Picture This
recitation was loudly applauded, for, added
to its original beauty, the speaker added
striking emphasis and spoke with distinct
ness which made it possible for every word
to be heard all over the house.
Miss Fowler completed the class speaking
by delivering an original essay on the class
motto: ssPost Proelium Praemium' after
the battle the reward. The speaker amazed
the audience BY the way in which she
eloquently referred to the Grecian orator,
Demosthenes, how he at his first attempt
at speaking before the populace met failure
and disgrace. he was down-hearted but
not discouraged. For many weary months
he practiced by the seaside with pebbles in
his mouth to overcome impediments in
speech and sound. His voice grew greater
and many difficulties being overcome he
once more faced the audience which had at
one time ridicuIed him. The people were
dumfounded and realized that in Demos
themes their country had new leader. This
was his reward after his solitary battle
Miss Fowler spoke Of many other men-of
Lincoln, Americas uncrowned king, how,
born in log cabin in American forests, he
had overcome difficulty after difficulty and
attained this country's greatest honor.
Carnegie, the English poet Bray and many
others were cited. The oration closed with
an exhortation TO the class to be in meas
ure like these who succeeded so nobly and
well, ''for'' she said, "After the battle, the
reward The oration was made most i'm
pressive by the way in which it was de-
livered, and the audience thought that they
were losing much if one word failed to
reach their ears.
Mr.. Dufield's cornet solo which followed
was excellent.
Rev. George B. Hancher, Phi. D., of
Philadelphia, gave one Of the most humor-
GUS as well as instructive and inspiring
orations ever given before a Woodbury.
audience. The speaker had magnificent,
powerful voice which seemed to drive every
thought keep into ainds of his hearers.
The orchestra rendel, another selection
after which Prot E. J. Frey presented
the class to Mr.. W. Harrison Livermore,
who was chosen TO receive it. Mr.. Frey
said
PROF. FREY's REMARKS.
It is four years since on similar oc-
casion we met IN shis building. Many and
varied have been the questions as to the
reason for not hAying had commencement
exercises in these intervening years. shall
sttempt to answer the questions.
a little more shan three years ago, the
State Board Of Education, the highest edu-
cational executive body Of our State, seeing
the necessity Of higher course Of public
education, increased the course Of approved