Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-04-13
CLOSING rssrslss. q aIsAland Aeadsmy.


Richland, s. O., April le.-vThe closin,
. exercises of Riohland school took plac.
at the large academy hall on Friday
night last. Prof. Arthur M. Erwin
principal, and Miss Mariah Dendy, assist
ant, hed arranged y well selected pro
gram.
j After prayer, by Rev. r. L. Rogers, tb,
school Of fifty bright and intelligent
pupils marched to music upon the large
stage and sang Flag OF the Free" AZ
the close OF the song the D.age was
cleared and little Bell Stribling, prime
little lass OF only six summers, came for
ward and with clear voice and plain ar
ticulation gave US GOOD Measure" She
certainly handled the negro dialect well
for her tender years.
Next came tho dialogue, "Choosing
Vooations," by half dozen smaller boys
and girls. Grand and noble aspirations
fntnra did they p picture in the "siewless fated
Soon the curtain fell on these little
ones and their fancies for the future, and
as 1t rose again Master Monroe McDon-
oid donned the role of the Palmetto ora
tor and had for his subject South Caro-
lina" One couldn't help but feel patri-
otto and proud of our grand old State
and her noble young son as he showed
her rapid strides in material prosperity
i ''Ne As''oON h0b hiSh othhuUIub duu COUl-
pared her favorably with her sister
States.
Next came "Playful Little Ones" A
score or more of little ones had an all
round good time on the stage for a few
moments as they played 'leap-frog,"
turned summer-sets," played stag"
&c., Go.
"Frog Hollow Lyceum" came noxt and
the leading characters were represented
by Misses Cora Wyly and Pauline Hughs,
who tried to impress the subject OF
'Woman's Rights on their gentlemen
hearers, but the young men or boys of
Richland, very much like their fathers,
had no time nor inclination to listen to
such harangues, and the meeting broke
up In great confusion.
After slight pause the curtain rose
again and we were presented with the
beautiful, solemn and sacred tableau,
"Rock of Ages" Miss Annie McMahan
posed in this scene as she kneels half re-
clining, with her face pressed against
and her snow-whito arms clinging to tho
cross, and her heavy head of long, dark
brown hair, loose and hanging we'll on
to the floor. While we gazed upon this
picture and as the white flash light was
thrown upon it, giving statuatory Of
feet, we could truthfully say with the
poet, Scott:
''Ne'er did Grecian chizel trace
n nymph, q nelad, or grace
OF lovelier form or fairer face"
But from the sublime TO the ridiculous.
AS the curtain rose again, out stepped
Bruce Stritling, in his lovely suit of blue
overalls and began "Managing Mule"
He reasoned wild dc mule and plowed
him, but suddenly dot mule did kick
amazing and knock him summersault
and by the time he gained his equilib-
rum dot mule was grain on the udder
side dc creek.
Mother goose then came out with her
numerous family, appropriately cos
TUNED and gave us nice little medley.
Just here we paused to hear soul
stirring vocal duet by Misses Pearle and
Lalla Ballenger.
Next was the recitation, "Jimmie
Butler and the OWL" by Miss Emily
Dendy,. Miss Emily was robed in spot
less white, made lovely appearance, was
at her best and is possessed of rare elocu-
tionary powers and controls her voice
we'll. AS she made the owl to sing out
his weird and lonesome notes it fairly |
made the hair rise on tho head of a bald |
headed man.
Master Stiles Stribling came next with
the recitation, "The Night Winds" We
drew our robes about us and actually |
shivered as he voiced the moaning and |
bowling of the lonesome night winds
Next came the Japanese Lantern |
Drill" This certainly was q thing of
beauty-sixteen girls-each one bearing
staff with large loop at the top and |
three to five lighted lanterns artistically
arranged in the loop. These girls gave
us ten minutes drill, completing
several different formations, a large star
and others, with the ease and precision
of military cadets of several years. train
ing.
Then came the "Wonderful Dreams
of two boys. Their dreams were large, |
up and high around.
Miss Lalla Ballengcr came next with
the recitation, "a Narrow Escape"
Miss Lalla began in her timid, self.com-
posed and queenly manner and at once
entered into the spirit of her piece and
pictured the narrow escape of the early |
settlers in the frontier life with the In
dians. To be brief, we will just say, we
have heard number of recitations in |
the halls of higher learning and elo-
cutlon, but we have never heard this |
recitation excelled anywhere.
The take-off of the evening came next
in "The Old Maids Association" Four
teen of our grown-up girls formed an
association of old maids and dressed in |
the costumes of the long ago when some
OF them were sweet sixteen. They made |
a crusade on the young and old bache-
lors and widowers around Richlaud and |
their local hits just simply brought down |
the house and bachelors didn't dare to |
raise their voices or heads. Just here |
the French Professor, Arthur Nj. Erwin, |
appeared with new process and appa.
ratus and made old maids young and |
attractive again, and it was a novel sight |
to see these elderly maidens, so anxious |
to sacrifice themselves, be ground up
and made over into fresh and blooming |
youth. Mr.. Erwin's French dialect and |
ms nbina yua insf OF nj oh ,,,l 4.
ing, that was all.
''Haunted House" was nicely gotten
off by two boys.
The "ren Virgins" was lovely scene.
"a Highly Respected Debatn' Saciety'
was well carried out by several of the
Older boys of the burnt cork persuasion
and did fair credit to our brothers in
black
a pretty song, "Twilight," was nicely
sung by eight lovely girls. But just here
Rev. r. l.. Rogers came on the stage and
said he had a secret to mako known to
the audience and school. Ia his hand
he held beautiful solid gold prize to be
awarded to the pupil who had not missed
day during the six months term of
school. Miss Annie McMahan came for
ward and received this prize. Stiles
Stribling received honorable mention, he
having not missed day since he entered
school five months ago.
This closed the exercises, and we
think the Richland school should be
proud of their efforts, and too much
praise will hardly be given our teachers
for their maiden efforts in the closing
exercises. Mr.. Erwin, as master of exer-
cises, certainly showed himself equal t.
the occasion. Thus closed another very
successful year at Richland academy.
The school is greatly indebted to Miss
Marion Coe for her valuable assistance
and the use of her piano in the music.
Prof. A. M. Erwin leaves this morning
for Columbia to stand the competitive
examination for the Cecil Rodes scholar
ship in Oxford University, England. He
w % aalnctnd h, his q l,,aa Tor INnsl.;..a