The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-06-25
CLOSING EXERCISES.
Annual Commencement Of Donaldsonyilie
High Schoo1-Diplemas Awarded
to Eight Graduates.

jacksonville high school was crowded to
the doors on Friday right Of last week by
an appreciative audience which gathered
to witness the annual commencement ex-
ercises Of the school. AS has always
been the case with this splendid in8titu-
ton, the exercises were of a high order OF
excellence and very interesting. The
music and singing could not be surpassed
by any institution of the same grade, and
the various addresses and declarations
were without exception cleverly composed
and splendidly rendered.
The Well-trained St. Joseph Commercial
Institute Orchestra played the overture,
which was loudly applauded. The curtain
rose at s o'clock, disclosing forest stage
setting, bright bit of color being added to
the decorations by festoons Of red and gold
roses, constituting he colors and floral
emblem of the 1916 graduating class. A
touch of realism was given to the scene
by draperies of moss gracefully arranged,
In the rear center Of the stage was rustic
throne, and prominently displayed in
front, in letters of gold, was the motto of
the senior class: Ever Onward.
The glee club sang Cupid Made Love
to the Moon, after which very clever
little dialogue was carried out. 1t con-
sisted of discussion of the relative merit
of each member of the graduating class
to preside over the forest festival as
queen, name after name being proposed
and rejected for one or another reason,
until that of Miss Inez Greenwood was
reached, when it was decided by accla-
nation that she should be elected ruler.
Accordingly the ten little butterflies and
the six glee club members who constituted
the subjects of this fairy kingdom re-
paired to the dell where the graduates
were waiting and escorted Miss Green
wood to the throne, rendering an appro-
pirate song the while Upon assuming
the chair Of state, the gracious queen
stipulated that as a condition of her ac-
ceptance of the royal honors her class
mates should be brought in to share her
reign. This condition was readily ac-
cepted, whereupon, to the accompaniment
Of music by the Institute orchestra, the
graduates marched in and took their seats
in semi-circle on either side of the throne.
Miss Greenwood then delivered the sal
utatory. She has clear, resonant voice
and good delivery. and favorably i'm
pressed the audience.
The color bearer, Miss Lonla Poirrier,
delivered talk on Roses, which was
followed by a song of similar title by the
glee club.
Miss Rena Berlin discussed the class
motto, Ever Onward, and Miss Geneva
Chambers read the class poem, both com
positions being of an interesting nature
and eliciting enthusiastic applause.
The class history was then given by
JaGray Vega. who in a clever manner
outlined the wonderful accomplishments
Of the little band from the period of their
entrance into the school to the date of
heir completion Of the course Mr. Vega
4
graduating class, and is to be praised for
lis perseverance In sticking to his studies
and achieving the end he had set for him
self despite the great temptation to aban-
lon the struggle furnished from time to
inc by the desertion of his fellow class
mates. He was roundly applauded upon
icing handed his sheepskin.
Miss Carrie Newman, the class prophet, /
'tfered some very original predictions as
o what the class might be expected to |
accomplish in their future undertakings,
Lfter which musical selection was ex-
Iuisitely rendered by the orchestra.
DIR. TulloS, dean of the law department
f the Louisiana State University, de-
yered the baccalaureate address, and
he Grafton was one of the most scholarly
nd eloquent ever heard on a similar Oc-
aston in the history Of the school. The /
peaker held his audience spell bound
rom start to finish of his magnificent
peech, and was accorded the tribute of a
roionged outburst of applause upon COM
letting lis peroration.
The handsome gold medal donated by
ne alumni association to be given to the
lember of the graduating class scoring
le highest percentage in studies was
warded to Miss Olive Howard, the pre-
entation speech being made in happy
.yle by Miss Sadie Kern, president of the
A medal for second honors,
ttered by the faculty Of the school. was
resented to Miss Inez Greenwood by
rincipal A. L. Pearce. Diplomas were
len presented to the graduates by Par
h Superintendent j. [. Rusca, those
no received the coveted trophies be-
g: Misses Olive Howard. Inez Green
God, L0ula Poirrier, Rena Berlin, Geneva
hambers and Carrie Newman and Jaf-
ay Vega. Supt. Rusca took occasion to
the graduates upon the sue
essfuI completion of their studies, and to
,mpliment them for the splendid way in
hich they had presented their exercises,
hich marked fitting close to a years
DIRK well done.
The valedictory waasrendered by Miss
live Howard, and wasra most creditable
I'D interesting composition Miss How
d is talented and ambitious young
oman, and fully merits the high honor
le achieved in being selected as vale
ctorian of her class.
The glee club rendered a farewell song,
NTH Hoartc IF ,