The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-06-06
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

| app eSidtlVe audience composed of pa
irons and friends and enthusiastic pu,
pills to witness the brilliant graduating
exercises of the Shreveport High
School, At $3.50 the class was conduct
ed to the stage, led by Superintendent
Byrd, President Barron and Hon. A. S
Dickson of the School Board.
The decorations for the occasion
were most appropriate The note Of
color was green, the emblem of hope
and was beautifully displayed in the
tasteful arrangement of ferns on the
stage. The class colors black and gold
depending from above. The programme
was as follows:
Overture - "Sa1utation," HARMONY
Orchestra.
Chorus-"Daffodils," upper grammar
grades.
Essay-"T oadyism," Flora Herold.
Chorus-'Roses," high school girls.
Essay" Shakespeares Women" An
ia Leigh Frierson.
Song-Mixed voices.
Essay-"Some Elements of Poe's
Greatness" Annie Linn.
Music-Harmony Orchestra.
Song-"The Rosary" male quartette.
Reading-Arena scene from Quo
Vadis,' Joe Eta Lee.
Chorus - "Slumber Song" mixed
voices.
Essay-"The Young Man in Politics"
Ben Levy.
Presentation of diplomas, Mr.. Isaac
Barron, president of School Board.
+ Music-darmeny Orchestra.
The class of 100 is an exceptionally
good one and deserves individual men
ton, but time and space forbid in this
writing. Miss Flora Herold's ESSAY on
"Ioadyism'' lifted a warning voice.
She said that toadyism stands across
the threshold of civilization. In civil
office, and indeed in religion, principle
IS often sacrificed for toadyism and
popularity. It is insidious, therefore
most dangerous, and is the crying evil
of the time, crushing independence
Ihe subject showed thorough study
with fine thoughts developed from En-
ersons American Scholar. y
'Shakespeare's Women" was the sub
Ject of Miss Annie Leigh Friersons
beautiful essay. This young Shake
speare student could touch only upon a
few of these immortal women, Lady
Macbeth was depicted, also, the impo-
tency of evil. In a manner suited to
each personality she portrayed the dig
nltled and intellectual Portia, the
charming Rosalind, and other charac
tiers. The moral courage of Corde1ia
was brought out. who, rather than stul-
t1fy her conscience by untruth, suffered
unjust punishment. The fair essayist
showed that Shakespeare's women rep
resent self-in1mo1ation for the good of
others.
Miss Annie Linn chose for her ESSAY
a study of Edgar Allen Poe, Americas
greatest poet. In developing Poe's
characteristics she said that to him
beauty was its own excuse for being.
European nations have long since given
Poe the place he has been denied at
home. And this closing thought: that
when the intellectual history of our
nation shall be written Poe will be
known as its greatest genius.
Mr.. Ben Levy, class president, and
full graduate of the high school, deliv-
cred an address on "The Young Man
IN Politics. He spoke of the pure
patriotism of our forefathers, in con-
trast to the present age of greed and
selflshness, bringing out this ringing ut
terance: The nation needs young men
of intelligence and honesty of purpose;
men with the moral courage to defend
their honest convictions.
Reading by Miss Joe Eta Lee the
arena scene from Quo Vadis' was
choice contribution to the programme
Her clear, beautiful e1lunciation with
sympathetic and intelligent conception
of this thrilling and tragic event in pa
gan Rome's an1phitheater called forth
most enthusiastic and well deserved ap-
plause. Briefly and truly it may be
said that too much praise can not be
given the participants on the pro-
granme. The high order of training
enhanced by their own graces and gifts
made this star programme in the his
tory of the high school
At this point in the programme Prof.
Byrd came to the front and himself
complimented the class saying that to
the ISL graduates eleven more were
now added, with $500 coming on. His
remarks were happy and to the point
Prof. Byrd then presented President
Barron to the audience in a few well |
deserved words of praise. This modest
gentleman began by saying he was no
orator, that he could not make speech,
out before he knew it he was making a