The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-20
GIRLS SCHOOL NEAR TERM END Impressive Exercises at
 Montevallo. SERMON BY BISHOP GRAY Florida Prelate Speaks to Large
 Congregation. Board of Trustees Will Meet Today To Elect a President For States
 Fine Institution For
BY WILL T. STEPHAN.

| Montevallo, May l5.-tSpeciaiJ-A
 successful year of the Alabama Girls
 Industrial School is closing with one
 of the most notable commencements in
 the life of the school.
 The commencement Is notable first,
 because it will inaugurate the exten-
 sive additions and extensions, provided
 for by the Legislature for the growth
 and development of the school. It is
 notable in the second place. because
 the Board of Trustees will at this com
 mencement select a permanent presi-
 dent to succeed Dr. F. M. Peterson. who
 is forced to relinquish his work at
 Montevallo because of III health.
 The Board will meet Monday after
 noon at o'clock.
 | Selection of President.
 The great central feature of the com mencement exercises of 1907 at Monte
 vallo, is the selection of new Presi-
 dent. This will be done at a meeting
 of the Board Monday afternoon at | o'clock.
 The continued illness of President
 F. M Peterson, who was stricken in
 the midst of his work and when his rich
 est results were at hand have made this
 necessary. Dr. Peterson, at the close
 of this year, withdraws from the Pres
 idency to devote himself to the restor- ation of his health broken down in
 ceaseiess work for the college. During the past year he has been away on a leave of absence. This was 1 the voluntary gift of the Board Of
 Trustees to Dr. Peterson in recogni- tion of his tireless and peaceful work for the institution. Part of the time | D.. Peterson spent travelling fn the west. In recent months, he has been making his fight for health ana
 strength at the home of relatives Tn | Sumter County. Some weeks ago ne 1 informed the members of the Board l that his name would not be presented,
 that they might have time to LOOK | about for his successor.
 | Faculty and students body alike see | with regret and sorrow pr. Peterson retirement from the scenes that have | known him so long and the work at which he has labored throughout these
 years. To all it was a source of sor-
 row. when he was stricken suddenly | Q wear ago. at the climax of his
 strengt and power for good The
 nathos and tragedy of strong man, | driven suddenly from the work he low l ed and theAgood he was achieving, has | been known before In Alabama ana IL
 has never been other than pathetic ana l sorrowfuL
 | At Montevallo Dr. Peterson left his deen impress upon Alabama's great | school for girls. The misfortune which came to him might send him from his field of labor, but 1t could not effact the results of thcso labors which throughout the years will car rv their own story of pr. Peterson's | administration. The school during his years of direction grew in size until | its facilities were taxed beyond their capacity. Long since the dormltoIy be- came too small. Boarding houses were opened in Montevsllo. but these were oyerrun and applicants turned away. And the sch >ol grew in thorough ness and efficiency. Its work was known to pc of tho highest merit But better than all this was the high moral tone which characterized and distinguished Montevallo. They who knew Montevallo never spoke of the school without an allusion to its beau tiful and healthful moral tone--an at tribute which more than anything else, gave 1t its own peculiar character.
 pr. Peterson's Successor.
 Prof J. A. Moore. as acting Presi- | dent has managed it's affairs admir- ably in the year of Dr. Peterson's ab- sence. He was sat the head or the book keeping department and In charge of the ofice when pr. Peterson left. He Is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the school life. The Board | of Trustees availed itself of his en- ergy and information and he was made | acting President. He has guided the school through a most successful year "A year successful In every respect. The enrolment reached total of 3S0 during the year It was limited by | the dormitory accommodations and by | the number of boarding houses in Mon tevallo Something over 100 students | had to be refused admission to the | college during the year. There was no place in which to put the students. But Montevallo Is State institution and the Legislature has seen Its duty. Montevallo will be enlarged so that all who knock will have the doors opened to them President Moore in the midst of his other duties. has found time to labor with members of the Board on the plans for the extension and i'm provement of Montevallo.
 The opening exercises was a dra- matic recital excellently rendered by the pupils of the Department of Ora tory which Is under the direction of | Miss Maude Hayes. The recital was given Saturday evening in the large chanel but so large was the audience that part of the crowd could find
 neither sitting nor standing room.
 The recital consisted of scenes from certain standard plays. The young ladies evidenced a thorough training and several of them displayed unmis- takable talent The work of Miss Della. Shipp as Queen Mary was of unusual merit. The large audience was immensely pleased with the en- tertainment and all spoke In praise of 1t. The costumes were especially beautiful.
 program:
 Act 1, Scene 2-Pygmalion. Miss Mamie Davis; Galatea, Miss Della The spanish Gypsy.
 Act l, Scene l and Act 3, Scene 2--