The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-05
City High Schools Com
 plete Session.
MANY DIPLOMAS DELIVERED
Thifty-sight Students Receive Final
 Reward of Labor.
Rey. H. N. Edmonds, Pastor of Central Presbyteriaa church, Delivers Eisauent Address Before Aa-
 asence at Grand Theatre.

V ty-fourth annual commencement of the Girls High School last night at The Grand. Rev. Henry M Edmonds de- iivered the address of the evening, and diplomas were presented by pr. B J. Baldwin to thirty girls, the largest class in the history of the GIrfs' High School, and to eight boys. Six girls of the High School also received certifi- cates. The stage setting. arranged by E. !. Mahoney, was a work of genius,
 A gasp of involuntary admiration greeted the sight presented as the cur tain arose upon the beginning of the exercises of the evening. Tn a wood- land setting. occupying the entire width of the stage, the charming grad uates with all of the pupils of the school also arrayed in cleaning white The arrangement was artistic in it's simplicity, and thoroughly effective every girl being visible from every part Of the theater. The scenery in the rear showed an Italian garden. On topping the loftiest tier with their ovsrhanging branches. The contrast between the green of this scene and the simple costumes of white was at once striking and charming. It was a forest overruh with nymphs, a dream garden replete with the "bowers of humanity" a picture of animated beau
 
 The rising of the curtain revealed q tabieau disturbed only by smiles of greeting to the audience. which lent the needed touch of animation to the scene. The sweet strains of the over ture pervaded the theatre. and thus the "divine sensibiiities," sight and hear ing, were stimulated to an indulgence highly gratifying.
 Most impressive was the rendition by the graduating class of the Lords Prayer. Reverently rising, the class reeited in unison, their voices blend= ing softly and harmoniously. The pie ture fthe girls with heads bower In homage, appropriately clad fin immac- ulate white, constituted an incident pe- culiarl yappealing to the nobIest feei- ings with which one Is capable of be- ing imbued.
 A feature of the exercises was the execution of the "Rainbow March" by the graduating class. Bearing scarfs Of pink. green, yellow and white the girls were led through q series of inc tricate and particularly graceful move- tnents, the colors vividiy contrasting or perfectly harmonizing as they were snAparated~or or brought near each other. The different tableaux evoked sustain- ed applause and the conclusion of the march was greeted with an outburst of enthusiastic appreciation which con- tinued until the participants had taken their seats and the announcement of the next number of the program was made.
 e. l.. Floyd briefiy introduced Rev. Henry M. Edmonds, who delivered the address of the evening, stating that few men had gone deeper into educa- tional matters than Rev. Mir. Edmonds, or were more interested in this vital subject than he.
 Mr. Edmondssa Address.
 Rev. Mir. Edmonds delivered re- niarkable address. The subject might appropriately have been titled, Educa- tion--its meaning and it's function. In a manner peculiarly happy, the speaker blended seriousness and hunior The orator neglected no lesson that could be gIeaned missed no opportunity of irnpressing upon his hearers the use to be made of their acquisition, and the value to them of the utilization of ed- ucation. The address was therough In it's comprehension of the subject, the generous voice and pleasing delivery of the orator adding much to the present. alton of the address. The thread of huuaor which ran throughout the ad- dress kept the audience mirthful with out detracting from the value or the serious lessons which the speaker strove to impart.
 Rev. Mir. Edmonds began his address by commenting upon the latitude al, lowed him in speaking upon a subject If such breadth. "1f I say only olc things,s he remarked you will do me the favor to remember that some thingl like violins and wine, are never gooc until old"
 The meaning of education and it' function in advancing civilization were clearly explained. Man." he said, ~hai certain mental and psychological pos abilities slumbering in his being whicf are more beautiful than lilies and mor' precious than gold, To awaken then and lead them forth is the work of thu teacher"
 Without deprecating the mere ac quisition of facts the speaker empha sized the ulterior benefits gained by ed ueation, illustrating the superior men tality acquired by study, and the vas advantage accruing from study lonl after facts once learned were forgot ten.
 The development of the mind ant the consequent intensified ability to ap preciate beauties unrevealed to the un awak ened intellect were among the at tributes of education touched upon -Education," he said, 'has been a pro cess by which you have been made cog nizant of your sterner powers and de termined to use them. Beauty fl abroad" he continued. eff you will onIy look for 1t. See how the world il throbbing with song, bursting witl bloom, and reelIng with heavy frag rance! Every day has grace, every person has a charm. Look for 1t. I will transform life for you.
 Full well rounded development ii the aim of education he declared. "tt make us our largest, our most sym. metrical, our most useful selves"
 In conclusion MT. Edmonds spoke up on education In she life everlasting. II a striking simile he declared, You art trying and training your wings not foi a flight which shall be bounded by oui little sky or curbed by our small hori zen. You are poised to wing not sev enty years, but seventy centuries. II these noble halls that He beyond th' veil, there will yet be learners ana teachers. Beneath the shade of thu trees we shall walk and talk and studI with the choice spirits that have gon' before.
 The myriad mysteries that have laii too deep for us here, the million se cfets that have been above our ken will be the subjects of our education We shall bring to the task untirine minds of ~boundless power, have heard somewhere this sentence ad dressed to those sons of light sitting on their lofty seats: Learn on, O higf born students of God Almighty's won ders."
 Al the conclusion of MT. Edmondsi address, the entire school rendered thu chorus song, "Morn'Rise." The song ii an exquisite one, and the admirably trained voices were exhibited to greai eagantags la the shading, the alter