The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-06-01
The Graded and High School Close.

The city schools closed for the scholas-
tic year or last Friday. There was no
graduating class this year, this was due
to the fact that n more grade has been
added to the schools which makes a total
Of eleven now instead Of 10 grades as
before, and the present 10th. grade in
stead Of being graduated are promoted
to the ELEVENTH grade.
The graduating exercises were held In
the Opera House as usual. DR.. Wilkins
OF the Baptist church opened the e1er-
cises with prayer. The speaker Of the
occasion was MI. Hugh Haynsworth Of
Sumter, a former pupil Of Prof. Dick.
Mr.. Haynsworth Is a very pleasant
speaker, while he does not resort to
pyrotechnics yet his voice Is easily
heard in all parts of the theatre. He
impresses one as being more interested
In having something to say rather than
In the manner to say 1t. he took for
his subject 1.-THE Preservation Of Our
History" His speech was listened to
with rapt. attention and it made q most
favorable impression on those who heard
him. He taught us a lesson that all Of
US should learn. Unless We chronicle
the achievements Of the past, who will
do it for us? Will some one from another
country. fired with the glory of our past
write OF Us SO that we may not be for
gotten by Dur posterity? It Is q duty we
owe ourselves and a duty we owe our
posterity. Mr.. Haynesworth selected a
fruitful theme and handled it well.
After the orator OF the occasion had
finished the Superintendent introduced
the contestants for the defamation
medal. Mr.. Cecil Cromer was first intro
duced, his subject was Now" Mr..
Cromer is a brother OF Mr.. Hugh Cromer
who won the first medal offered for 'decla.
nation by Mr. Allen Smith, Sr. The
medal Is known as the Smith medal. The
second speaker was Mr. Leslie Mcmillan,
whose subject was Americas Greatness"
q great subject and was well spoken. The
other speaker for the defamation was
MI. Ralph Adams and his subject WAS
Nations and humanity" These young
men had thoroughly prepared their
peiee and spoke them splendidIy. The
Judges In awarding the prizes gave the
defamation medal 10 Mr.. Leslie Mcmillan
The next contest was the ~slocution
contest; DR.. P. 3. Speed offered the
medal for the best eloeutionist in the
class. The, first young lady introduced
was Miss Marie Barnette, her subject
was "old Ace" She was followed by
Miss Lou Ellen McFsll who recited ".The
whistlings Regiment. and lastly came
Miss Esther Graydon. Miss .Graydon's
subject yas the "sioux Chiefs Daughter"
a stirling pelce of composition. All Of
these young ladies pleased the audience
with their peices. They should feel
highly. complimented to hear the many
expressions Of admiration for their part
Of the entertainment. The judges award
ed the elocution medal to Miss Esther
Graydon. !.;a'
One Of the interesting features Of the
occasion, wal the reading Of the honor
rolls. The superintendent made out
.#-.F".- T. -. 49, -
five honor rolls as follows: Those pupils
who were not tardy during the year;
those who were not absent during the
year those who were neither tardy nor
absent during the year; those who made
an average Of IS and over for the entire
year and those who made an average OF
80 to IS during the term. The reading OF
these lists was listened to with rapt atten-
ton, on the part Of the pupils especially.
A notable feature was the high School
Orchestra which furnished music for the
occasion. The leader Of the Orchestra,
Mr.. Alex Dick, In addition to his many
othertalents is interested In music and
has organized q school orchestra which
has been a great addition to the public
antortafpmopt ~ tho Saho01