The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-30
NEGRO SCHOOL CLOSES]
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF
 STATE NORMAL.
Twenty-two Graduates Received Di- pIOmns in the Open Air--Ad- dresses by pr. Anderson
 and Judge Buckley.

| ment Day exercises held in the open l and under the shade of trees was wit | messed yesterday morning on the cam | pus of the stafe Normal School for Ne Kroes on South Jackson Street when | 500 friends of the institution sat on | rude benches or stood for nearly four hours listening to the reading of es- says and the musical numbers incl dental to the program. Twenty-two young negroes, nineteen girls and three boys, were graduated from this institution. supported by the State of Alabama and directed by a white Southern man, Professor w. B. Paterson The thoroughness of the es- says, the earnestness of the students and the dominating note of enthusias- tic purpose of the young people to go out into the world and help their race. was ia complete refutation of the often- repeated charge of carping critics that Southern States are doing nothing to- ward the education of the negro.
 This holding of the commencement exercises out of doors was remark able thing. It spoke Of the fndomi- table energy of Principal Paterson, of his quality of perseverance over ob- stacles. The main building of the school, which included the auditorium and class rooms. was destroyed by fire during last December Not to be daunted. Professor Paterson had his pupils at work in improvised class rooms the morning following the fire. It was said yesterday that not a school day had been lost during the year.
 Friends of the school thought that owing to the loss of the auditorium by fire, the public commencement exercises should be abandoned. Not so Profess sor Paterson. He would have the ex- ercises after the custom, he said. pn hfFa a Ha would have the exercises in the open on the campus in the shadow of the rooms where the students had labored. He would build a platform under the trees and the exercises would partake of novelty--if there was no rain. Pro- lessor Paterson executed his idea and the weather man was good to him and the students.
 Tie temporary platform was erected in the southeastern corner of the campus. It was carpeted and was tastefully decorated with cut flowers and potted palms. On the platform sat, besides the graduating class, mem- bers of the Board of Trustees and number of the negro preachers of just as though the students and audi ence were in the once spacious audi torium of the building destroyed by fire.
 Numerous references were made to the disastrous fire at the school in De- cember and Rev. Neal l.. Anderson, D. D., as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees was applauded with enthusiasm when he announced in the course of rather paternal address that the board had al- ready closed a contract for fine brick building to replace that one destroyed by fire and that it would be ready for occupancy at the beginning of the next scholastic year.
 Principal Paterson announced that the annual prize of $5 for the best essay on distinguished negro men and women, offered by the Sojourner Truth Club, a literary organization of negro women, had Been won by Pearl Shaw, her essay being on Henry O. Tanner, the negro artist, whose paintings have been re- ceived with favor in the great gal leries of Europe.
 Amid applause slender yellow girl came forward and read a well prepared paper on the life and work of Tanner. At the conclusion of the paper 1t was announced that the subject of the clubs prize essay next year would be 'The Negro in American Civilization"
 The commencement exercises were opened with singing in chorus of Hail 0IlllilHS AAACAh bS NAtN ~ @~~~-f by an invocation.
 Then came the reading of essays and musical numbers in the following or der:
 salutatory and oration--Arthur A.
 Essay. What Can She Do?--Lura c. Arlington.
 Oration, Working Out ones Own Sal- vation-Roman T. Adair.
 Essay, The Collecting Habit--Koxie E. Bledsoe.
 sEssay, The Influence of Music-An- nie Louise Brown.
 Piano Duet. Czardas No. lMichtels) Nellie Clayton and Velma Jones.
 Essay, One Niche the Highest-Er- mine Bly.
 sEssay, chips--Ruby R. Jones.
 sEssay, After Graduation What7- Velma D. Jones.
 Essay. The Training of Children Eulalia A. Lewis.
 sEssay, The New Day Brings New Respon ponsIbilities-Jennie A. Lewis.
 Essay. A Recipe for Beauty-carrie M. Madison.
 --Ehie May Murphy.
 Piano soo. Firehy (DeGrau)-Maggie May simpson.
 Essay, Duty-Josie Cs Murray
 sEssay, Music a Refining Art-Mag- gle M. Simpson.
 Essay. Championship and Example Pearl c. Shaw.
 sEssay, The Advance of Civilization --Gabriella Snow.
 'Essay. Self Culture-Irene s. Wat son.
 Essay, The Development of Art-E. Irene Webb.
 Essay, Common Labor Enuobled-- Rosa May Williams.
 Vocal duet, o That We Two Were Maying-Edgar Harris. Georgia Cor ham.
 Essay. Service the Secret of sover- eignty-Chas. O. Harris, Jr.
 Grafton and Valedictory, Egoism Vs. Altruism--Viola s. Love.
 Piano Duet, Poet and Peasant Over ture (F. Won Suppe)-Lizzie Brown, Queenie Lee.
 Piano Solo, Valse de Concert tWien- awski)-Annie Louis Brown.
 sExcused from reading.
 The essays showed careful prepara- ton and some of them were delivered without reference to the manuscript and with fine effect. Perhaps the most thoughtful paper was that on "The De- velopmeht of Art" by Irene Webb, black girl. The essay on "Service the Secret of Sovereignty" by Charles o. Harris, Jr.. was an appeal for tbe dig nity of service. It showed good train ing and was well delivered. He is a son of Charlie Harris. for twenty or more years mailing clerk at the Mont Romery postoffice.