The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-05-31
SCHOOL CLOSING.
20 MMENcEMENr ExER OIsEs OF
THE BRANCRVlLLE SCHOOL
The Past Year Has Been HOST euc.
cessful One for Both Teach.
cesshl G
sai5 ,ss,s. & u,
erD and Pupils.

GLIB oAO 0pAAo'
The commencement exercises OF
the Branc1ville graded school were
held week before last. We intended
to publish an account of it last week
but somehow We mislaid the copy we
had and only recovered it this week.
These exercises are always looked for
ward to with much pleasure by the
town and surrounding country, but
the attendants this year exceeded
anything in the past. The exercises
for each evening we're Of very high
or Ter, showing that much work and
effprt had bsen expended by teachers
and pnpils.
The regular commencement sermon
was delivered on Sunday morning
May 20, by the Rev. Peter Stokes, OF
Bamoerg, and was greatly eDj )yed by
the large congregation for its approp.
rlateness, 6eep thought and beautiful
language. TIE theme wss the ID ,sl
lngs of Christ From the Human and
Divine Standpoint" Tee entire
school, consisting OF lis pupils, marcl
ed with their teachers frolu the school
building to the city ball, where reserV.
ed soats we're kept for the school.
The main feature OF the exercises
for Monday evening was debate b7
the graduating class. The query was.
Resolved, that foreign immigration
should be further restricted. Many
good judges have been heard to say
that this debate was the equal Of any.
thing of the kind ever heard in the
ordinary college by pract,csd debators.
From the standpoint OF argument, de
livery and oratory this debate com
pared favorably with any ever heard
certainly In preparatory school, and
id clearly showed the work that had
been done both by students and teach
er
The exercises of Tuesday evening
were by The SIKH and seventh grades
and were also of a very high ordsr.
The operatta entitled, The Eachan-
Ted WLod," deserves special mention
for its high musical rendition.
Wednesday evening was mainly de-
voted to the exercises of the lower
grades. and showed a high order OF
training on the part Of the teachers,
and an ability to be trained on the
part of the pupil. Besides these exar-
cjses the play, Our Awful Aunt"
was presented by the biRhsr grades
and received hearty applause.
On Thursday evening the annual
literary address was delivered by Dt.
S. r, Belk, of Augusta, Co., and 1t
was undoubtedly the greatest orator
ical effort ever heard IL Branchville.
DR.. Belk held his audience sWayed
from laughter to tears for nearly an
hour and half. So delighted were
the people with the address that Dr..
Belk was persuaded, to remain over
and deliver his lectnre, "Ol the Crest
Of the Continent," on Friday even
ing.
At the close of the exercises Dr..
Belk, on behalf of the eighth and
ninth grades. who have been directly
under the charge of Prof. E chiBun,
presented the professor with beauti-
ful cathedral gong clock. Prof. E:ch'
lson could hardly find words to express
his high appreciation Of this gift.
The other teachers, Mrs. Mary
Minus, Miss Nan Nicholson aud Miss
Cora Rigoy, were also presented with
beautiful presents ss token OF the
nigh esteem in which tney ars ha]d
by the pupils and paJrons OF TIE
school.
At the close of the exercises, MI J.
B. Williams. chairman Of the Board
of Trustees Of the school, presented
Miss Marion Heape, who made tire
highest general average this year
with a beautiful gold medal. Miss
Heape was highly complimented for
the record made.
Prot. Etchison, who has been With
the school four years and who, TO a
great extent, Is responsible for the
success sud the thriving condition
Of the school, has rendered his reslg
nation as principal, In far+, will give
up t: aching entirely. Mr.. E:chison
will travel for the State Company
during the summer, and later on will
locate somewhere in this State and
practice law. Mr.. Eschison has been
highly successful In the management
of the school here, and it Is with very
much regret that the trustees and
patrons give him up as teacher.
Friday afternoon Prof. and Mrs
Etchison gave reception at their
home, and invited as their guests the
classes OF M. Etchison. This was a
delightful affair and was very much
enjoyed by the guests and Prof. and
Mrs. E ichison,
The lecture Friday evening by Dr.,
Belk "Oa the CREST of the CouGi.
nent," was fine. Il Is not saying too
much to rank Dr.. BeIk as an orator
with the DlXons and Taylurs.
A New Firm.