The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-06-11
SUMNER |: ! 4
High School ; Commence.
ment a Brilliant Affair
Four Graduates Receive Diplomas
), After a Timely Address BY,
Prof. Williams - Graduates
u ~ Entertained by Principal

Pafkersburg, June 5.--The annual
commencement exercises Of Sumner
High School were held last evening
at the Auditorium theatre, with a
success, down to the smallest detail,
that is. causing every participant to
be the recipient OF warm and deserv-
ed congratulations today In many
| respect, the event outdid any similar
oHe ever held here by the colored
! schools.
| The audience was q large and rep
] resentative one, the auditorium be-
! ing. we'll filed with an intelligent and
| attentive assembly, proud of the
! schools and Of the class Of gradu-
ates which reflected the highest cred
ii upon them and the efficient corps
of teachers. The graduating class
this. year numhefed four-two young
gentlemen and two young ladies'
Miss Virginia Elsie Madison, - Miss
Ina May Lee, Mr.. Harrington Louis
Carr,ta and Mr.. Earl Lucus Gooden.
The stage presented a most, attrac-
tive picture, being elaborately deco
rated with potted plants and flow
| ers, with drapings and pennants dis
playing the class cOlOrs-old gold
rand blue. I n the center OF the back
ground was shown the class motto,
"Nulla Victoria Sine Lahore Up
on the stage we're grouped the mem
bers Of the. board Of education, the
Sumner High School chorus, Supt,
ID. c. Tabler, Rev. e. E.. O'BrieAt,
Principal j. r. Jefferson, Assistant
Principal H.. D. Hazlewood, and the
teachers Of Sumner school, and the
orator Of the evening, Prof. Frank
l.. Williams, Of Covington, KY.
The exercises began with an. i'm
Epressive Invocation, delivered by Rev.
Fl E ,OSBrient, pastor Of the A. M.
| e. CHURCH, <t.,t-,~, .l.r>.>/ ~ e =,
;weH -rand dered fehor us followed; !;
fa$'ss.Sksita igh srhqof Bells
Then cafnes the afat .oration, by Earl
l'Lueiis $Gooden, whose subject was
1.-THE he TempeEanee- Movement, ;, = This
trwas a theme Of live interest, and was
handled In p most capable way AT
ter touching on the growth and
spread Of the movement, Mr.. Gooden
discussed the methods by which it
might betpromoted. There were two
ways .open-that advocated by the
prohibition party and that offered by
the adherents of local option. The
orator showed what an advantage to
the county temperance is, and made
| strong plea for united effort to
bring the cause to a successful issue.
a fight, and a hard fight, would be
n rIy
partisans were the saloonists, the
gamblers, the divekeepers, and the
laweak-kneef citizens who are indi-
reetly affected, and who place pecu-
| mary gain before the best interests
Of their fellow-men. In splendid
tperoration, the speaker declared that
the issue faced the people Of this
country squarely, and called upon all
who loved home and country to stand
with the temperance advocates.
Miss Lees Grafton came next, and
proved to be a thoughtful and we'll
delivered discussion Of What Is
Success 2" The line Of thought was
that Success Is not to be measured
In dollars and cents. Many a man is
| credttedNby by the unthinking with hay
ing achieved success, when In truth
he has failed utterly of attaining to
the real success---the highest success
which consists in having helped in
some degree ones fellowman. The
EFFORT showed a rare grasp of the sub
jedi, and was well received.
After g. second number by the
Sumner High School chorus, "Blue
| Are the Heavens" Mr.. Carr deliver
ed his oration on Labor Unions" >"
| which showed that he had gone deep
| ly into the history Of his theme. He
| traced the development of the labor
| union Of modern times to the ancient
guilds OF the middle ages. He then
ably showed how the germ had
| grown into one Of the most potent
| forces In modern industrial life, and
| outlined the good which organiza-
ton had done the working classes. in
enabling them to receiye better treat
ment and higher wages. The Grafton
made most favorable impression.
| Miss Madison's Grafton concerned
| The Value of Education" To prove
that education not only up1ifts the
| nature and improves and broadens
the mind, but that it has distinct
Unitarian value, was Miss Madison's
| purpose, and most effectively did she
| carry 1T out. Without discounting
the ethical and mental value Of learn
ing, she showed that the individual
with an education has a great advan-
tage over his unframed competitor in
the struggle for the more material
goods OF life. She told the story Of
teacher who pointed out to his pu-
pills TIE different grades of remuner-
alton In an ordinary piece Of public
work. At the bottom was the labor
er, getting about S35 month. Over
| him was the timekeeper, with sal