The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-05-24
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

on commencement night the crowd
surpasses any other gathering of the
year. The decorations were pretty and
attractive, il not profuse. From the
boxes and the balcony were suspended
the colors OF the school, black and
yellow. The footlights were adorned
with potted plants, the remnants with
the letters o. Fl. S. were pinned to the
front curtain. BacH of the circle on
Me stage was a large black and yell
wv banner bearing the class motto:
Labor omnia vincet." The graduates,
dfteen in number, with the teachers
and those on the program, were formed
in a large circle and with the sur
roundings presented a very interesting
group.
Major l.. r. Izlar presided with dig
nifty and grace His words were few,
as he said the time belonged to the
speakers on the program Rev. II. E.
Gabby invoked the divine blessing,
when Miss Mary Erwin render piano
solo, Caprice Espagnol," by Moszkow-
ski.
Miss Ellen Clarkson was the first
speaker and spoke her theme. The
Purpose of Education" 1t was well
prepared, showed careful study, good
reading and was chaste and ornate in
language The keynote of her thought
was to do right for rights sake and
the reward it brings here and hereaf-
ter. She closed by quoting from Byron's
poems. Miss Clarkson is one of the
really bright pupils Of her class and
during all her term she has Swallowed
the highest scholar mark and was
within a fraction Of the victor. Her
presence was lovely. her bearing regal
and the picture she presented had
charm that was all it's own. We will
say here that all the speakers were
kindly received and generously ap-
plauded
Miss Ethel Crosby, who is the elo-
cutionist Of the class. recited charm
ingly and effectively aux Italiens,"
the burden Of which was the first love
was the dearest love and could not be
forgotten. Miss Crosby spoke in SPLEEN
did voice and carried herself with
grace and dignity.
high school chorus followed, the
"Revel of the Leaves" and as the
bright and pretty maidens lined up be-
fore the proscenium circle, with the
boys in the background, bright and
animated picture was presented such
as had never been seen before in an
Ocala auditorium.
Leroy Cappleman chose for his ora
ton Edgar Allen Poe. Mr.. Cappleman
has q splendid presence and good
voice and spoke his production we'll
In substance he said:
There is no tragedy in American
history SO sublime as that of Poe's
life and death. He possessed a great
intellect and a sad heart. Poe was un-
Justly condemned and this saddened
his sensitive heart. He was born in
Richmond, Va. His father was an ac-
tor and his mother an actress. At six
Poe stood in his chair and toasted
guests. He was precocious child
He was the heir to a vast estate. He
matriculated at seventeen at Richmond
College, but took to revelrieS young
and because Of these excuses of youth,
his foster father took him from col
lege and placed him in his counting
house. Disliking the restraints i'm
posed upon him there. he went north,
then back to Baltimore, where he pub
lished a book of verses. but all he re-
ceived for it was the applause of his
friends. He was sent to West Point,
but so neglected his studies that he
was dismissed. But his spirit was rest
adelphia marrying at twenty-five. He
then removed to New York, where he
produced The Bells and poems that
since have given him immortality,
though at the time he received very
little money for his treasures of mind.
Sorrow came into his life by the death
of his wife. Want and restitution
laid it's depressing hand upon him. In
June, 1S49, he returned to Richmond
and 1ectured, for which he received
several hundred dollars, then he re-
turned to Baltimore, where he sicken
ed and on October 7. 1894, his spirit
took it's flight, eXclaiming as his spirit
left it's tenement of clay: Lord help
my poor soul" Poe was at all times a
dreamer, the flights of his ina gnation
scared to imperial heights and de-
scended to the depths of the damned,
which his genius has made so vivid
that you read his striking words an
uncanny feeling creeps over you. Poe's
conception Of Me is best expressed in
his poems. Some say they are the
work of a drunken dreamer. They have
no charity in their souls and forget to
be just in their criticisms of others.
who were no better than Poe. But poor
Edgar Allen Poe was the author of all
wonderful genium, let us throw the
antle of charity over his folly and
/nly remember the incense he has left
on earth.
The class poem was recited by Miss
Hope Robinson, the poetic genius of
the class of 10. Her presence was fine.
She looked the picture of loneliness
and the bouquet of beautiful flowers,
Marechal Neil roses. the class flower.
added a touch of beauty to this fair
graduate she characterized her
classmates and made many humorous
references that caused smiles to chase
each other over the faces of those of
the neat puns and humorous refiec-
tions.
Helen Brown was the class historian
and handled the subject we'll. She
spoke with distinction and though not
possessed of a strong voice, her words
went out among the audience to their
pleasure and appreciation. As the Star
will publish her paper, it can speak
for itself.
Miss Brown has demonstrated in her
school life the power of application.
without question she was born a stud
emit. Her books are her companions.
and while others played she commun-
ed with them; the more difficult the
problem the greater her zeal to I'M
ravel it and in her case, she truly
burned the midnight oil to reveal the