The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-05-18
HIGH scHooHDEDIcATED.
Elaborate Exercises in Auditorium of
Handsome New Building Nota-
bio Addresses by Distin-
guished Speakers.

Handsome New Butldtng-N0ta-
bio Addresses by Distin-
guished Speakers.
The handsome new $50, 900 higi
school building erected jointly by tht
parish of Ascension and town of Don
aldsonville was formally dedicated
yesterday afternoon with interesting
and elaborate ceremonies. More thar
700 prominent citizens from all sec.
| tions of the parish came to town to at.
tend the exercises, and in every par.
ticular the notable event proved highly
successful and enjoyable. Among the
distinguished personages who non-
| ored the occasion with their presence
were Gov. N. G. Blanchard, State SUI
perintendent of Education j. B. AS
we'll, Miss Sophie B. Wright of New
Orleans, Auditor Paul Capdevielle OF
Baton Rouge, and State Senator P.
M. Lambremont of ST. James. In point
of weather no more perfect day could
be imagined, the temperature being
pleasantly cool and the skies blue and
smiling.
AT the appointed hour, $50 O'Clock
p. M, the procession was formed in
Mississippi street, in front of the
Nichols Hotel, in the following order:
st. Joseph brass band, invited guests,
members of police jury. town council
and parish school board, high. school
alumni association, teachers and pu-
pills of the local high school, and citi-
zens. The school children took posi-
ton In the line according to grades,
each grade being preceded by mar
shall bearing silken banner and ac-
companied by its teacher. The route
OF march was as follows: Out Missis-
sippi to Chetfmaches, back up Mis-
sissippi to Railroad avenue, down
Railroad avenue to the new building.
Upon arrival at the Railroad ave-
nue. entrance, The national flag was
raised by Albert Taddiken, member
OF the graduating class of the high
school, the ceremonies accompanying
this feature of the program consisting
of salute to the flag by the school
children, prayer and tribute by Rev.
E. p. Craddock, pastor of the Metho-
dist church, and song by the children.
The audience then entered the build
ing and repaired to the spacious audi
tOrinm, and although the latter has
seating capacity of 600, many persons
were unable to obtain seats and even
standing room was at a premium.
Seated on the platform were Rev. AL
vim w. Skardon, pastor of the Epis-
copai Church; Rabbi M. Klein of BIZ
kur Cholim Congreg alton; Gov. Blan-
chard, Superintendent Aswell, Miss
Wright, Hon. E. N. Pugh, president
OF the parish school board, and Prof.
D. B. ShOwalter, parish superintend-
ent OF education. Prof. Showalter in
PRODUCED Mr.. Pugh as master of cere-
monies. after which the exercises
were opened with a prayer by Rev.
Skardon and the singing of America
by the audience.
An address by Mr.. Pugh followed
and was we'll received, the speaker
gaining liberal applause by declaring
that the public school system is the
greatest thing ever thought of and th at
illiteracy must and shall be banished,
He said the new school building rep
resents the spirit of the people of Don
and that it is not a gift
from multi-millionaires, but gift of
the free will of the people.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Pugh's ad-
dress Miss Ora Dalferes rendered a
vocal solo, "Wait," which
much applause.
The next speaker was Miss Sophie
B. Wright of New Orleans, the talented
founder and president of the Home In
stitute in that city and one of the fore
most women educators Of the south. |
Miss Wright expressed qualification
at the presence OF SO many girls and
1od in kh1
stated that she was a public school /
girl herself and therefore felt honored |
10 be included among the speakers on
such notable occasion as the dedica- |
ion OF magnificent public school |
building. She made an earnest plea |
or higher salaries for teachers, and |
the Ascension school |
board on having granted substantial
Increases in salary to those engaged |
2 educational work in this parish. /
Her address was one of the most inter-
'stlng and effective of the occasion,
and made marked impression upon /
Ter hearers.
Next followed vocal solo by Mrs.
PAUL Leche, one of Donaldsonyille's
Weetest singers, who achieved an ar
istic triumph in the rendition of s'Love
de and the World is Mine.''
Superintendent Aswell was intro
luced as the next speaker and received |
n ovation as he took the floor, being
'reeted with an outburst of applause
which continued for several minutes.
After expressing pleasure at the pres
nee OF Governor Blanchard and pay.
ng pretty tribute to Miss Wright,
Or. Aswell told a number OF funny
tories which brought down the house,
establishing bond of good fell
owshfp between him and his audience
at resulted in the closest attention
e1ng accorded him throughout his in
srestlng and scholarly address. Con-
nulng, he said that 'the who opens a
chool closes many jails," and that I
1e public schools stand for progress
nd enlightenment, Offering every boy
nd girl in the land an opportunity to
lake of themselves good and useful |
tizenE. Mr.. Aswell said that for {
erly there were quite a number of /
oorly constructed, badly ventilated /
nd altogether undesirable school {
uildings within this state, but that !
nee taking hold of the public educa- q
onal system he has advocated pol
y OF consolid alton, with the result =
lat today there are 529 less school .
lildings than in former years, but ;
lat those now in use are for the most :
art modern, comfortable structures. +
luipped with the latest appliances and n
'nveniences, and are vast improve
ent over those of by.gone days. Re- f
rring to the development of the pub. Z
school system in Louisiana, Mr.. :,
swell said that there are now 1900 Q
ore teachers engaged in this work v
an ever befoEe and i, 600 more pu- 3