The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1909-06-11
THE NORMAL COMMENCEMENT.
PERFECT WEATHER, ATTRACTIVE PRO.
GRAHME, ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE.
The Twenty-Five Years OF History
Closes In Blaze Of GLORY.

SiOh Oi the state Normal School were
Of unusual interest and lasted
from Saturday until Wednesday. Glass
Play was made memorable in the
! uniqueness and charm of the perfor-
! nance which was given. The scene
was laid in Japan and the costumes
and customs Of the cherry-crowned
country were literally brought across
the seas and made to shine out on
these American shores. The audience
showed its appreciation in marked at
tention.
The baccalaureate sermon was
preached by the Rev. DR.. Barr of
Lynchburg, who selected as his theme.
Christian Science" and the Eman-
uel Movement, " and then delivered
sermon which was the result of much
scholarly and scientific research. The
Glee Club Of the school frightened
the occasion with sweet and well rem
dered songs,
On Monday morning at ten o. clock.
Mr. Bidgood, Of the faculty, presented
the flag Of the Nation, the gift of the
graduating class to the school, which
was received by President Jarman.
These speeches were models of GOOD
taste and Of good thought, and the
singing by the girls stirred the hearts
Of those who heard them to quickened
love for country and greater devotion
to its flag. This ceremony took
place on the lawn and the scene was
one OF real beauty and ever-to-be-re-
membered interest The PRAYER Of
the Rev II. NJ. Fugate came from
piouS, patriotic heart, and moved up
on other hearts.
Another splendid audience gathered
in the Auditorium on Monday evening
to witness the unfolding of Glass
Night programme, and by common
consent, it was a brilliant success.
Those of us who had been privileged
to attend upon similar exercises in the
past expected the regulation history"
of the class, a poem and sweet sing
ing, but the distribution OF gifts and
the Return Of the Naughty-Nines, "
with the unveiling Of pictures" were
rfreshingly new to US, and were
sources Of general and genuine diver
sion and delight. The bright andlhap-
py comments attendant upon the pre-
sentation Of gifts to each member of
the class, the witticsms that marked
the unyeiling, and the inimitable i'm
itation Of the director of the orchestra
were scintilatiOns Of real, genuine geni-
Us and provoked side-sphtung laughter
and rafter-raising applause Our one
regret was that we did not the better
know local and individual conditions,
that we might have appreciated the
hits as did members of the class
and the student body at large. Even
in our ignorance, however, of these
things, such were the directness Of
the shots, that we were enabled to
follow them to the marks at which
they were aimed
The return of the class of 1909 af-
ter 25 years Of absence was given in
striking naturalness and made a scene
that will live as long as memory lives.
Well done young ladies', of the
Class 1909, and you can carry with you
as you 90 out from Alma Mater that
your last hours spent there were your
best and brightest
Tuesday morning at 10 o. clock anoth-
er splendid audience assembled in the
and were given a great
'east of good things. President Jar
nan presided, and in most felcitous
manner introduced the many speakers.
Hon. Robt Turnbull the president
)f the Board, first gave a review Of
the business history of the institution
turing which he paid handsome COM
oliment to Mr.. B. NJ. Cox, who has
lad charge Of this department
Gov Swanson followed, and hav-
nc Virginia, as his theme, shone
)ut in all his glory as prince among
platform orators He moved grace
'ully from the grave to the gay,
brought tears or smiles at his own
sweet will fired the teachers with
and withhope, and awaken
ID new love for the old mother in the
hearts Of al who loved him. Surely
with our Governor is tpre-eminendy
rue. that the roses no where bloom
Is they DO in old Virginia. Greetings
we're then given from Genl Nichols,
# the V. ~ l., Professor Newman,
# the V.P.L, Profes ssor Payne Of the
and Professor Heatwole,
epresenhng the new Normal at
IaTisonburg. while Hon J. D. Eg-
.leston gave good and glowing ac-
otfnt of fha work In VIRGINIA Dr.