The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1911-05-24
18TH SESSION OF
CENTRAL CLOSES
GRADUATING EXERCISES
ADDRESS TO CLASS DELIVERED
BY FORMER CONGRESS-
MAN BRUNDIDGE.

With the graduating exercises this
morning, the 18th annual session of
! Centarl College came to a close, mark
ing the retirement of President w. w.
Rivers, who has been at the head of
the institution for 10 years, and the
succession of President J. w. Conger.
tor many years head of Ouachita Col
lege, to the place from which Mr.. Riv
ers resigned
The exercises this morning were i'm
presslve. After the invocation and
opening song, President Rivers con-
ferred the diplomas upon the gradu-
atlng class. In brief but eloquent
address, he expressed his apprecia-
ton of the work of the class, the feel
ing OF sadness on their departure and
his from the institution and congratu-
lated them upon achieving the goal
for which they had been striving for
several degrees. He then presented
diplomas comforting the degree of
bachelor of arts upon Misses Esse
Mae Blakely, Chloe Anna Corley,
Mamie Belle Midyett and Mae Deatus
Park; degrees of graduate in piano
music to Misses Martha Marian
James, Julia Sarah Robins and Leota
Vance Turner; in art to Misses Maud
| Ella Markin and Ava Wilson and Mrs.
Georgia Thurston Rivers; and in ex-
preston to Miss Lorena Maud Ford.
lie also presented certificates of com
2letlon of the course in piano music
70 Misses Lala Jenkins and Julia Tur-
ner and in expression to Miss Clara
Vivian Hudson
The address to the graduates was
then delivered by former Congress
man Stephen Brundidge of Searcy.
Nh. Brunddge commented in opening
1is address on the rise of woman as
the world progresses, from the dark
lays of ancient history when she was
a chattel or slave until modern
times, and he attributed this great
,hange to the education of both men
and women. While the nation has al
tered their constitutions and laws to
place woman on a plane of equality
with man, the speaker said he had no
patience with the woman who attempt
ed to step out of her proper sphere,
and he cited instances to show that it
was as a queen of the home" that
the greatest women of history had
oeen able to accomplish the largest
service for mankind
Persistent and determined effort,
Mr.. Brundidge said, never fails to sue
ceed, and the most that education can
do is to make it easier for one to at
tain success.
Prof. C. C. Denney presented the
medals for scholarship and house
keeping, the former being won by
Miss Florence Jarbeau and the latter
oy Miss Edwll Lewellyn, whose graed
was 100 for the entire session. Miss
Leota Turner was awarded the medal
for the greatest Improvement in music
and Miss Jennie Park for the best
work in art, these medals being pre-
sented by Rev. f. F. Gibson of Fort
Smith. President Rivers presented
the senior class banner to Miss Belle
Midyett, who during four successive
years has been president of her class,
and whose record, he stated, was one
Of the best ever made in the institu-
ton.
Rev. Ben Cox, president of the
board of trustees, then presented on
behalf of the board to the retiring
president, handsome chest of silver,
in recognition of the able services of
Mr. Rivers during the 10 years he has
been in charge of the college.
President Rivers introduced DR.. j.
w. Conger, the incoming president of
Central. DR.. Conger stated that three
things were necessary to the success
of an educational institution-a good
faculty, the cooperation of the COM
munity and the loyalty of the alum
nae. He was determined, he said, to
have strong faculty, had been as
sured of the hearty cooperation of the
people of Conway and was confident
of great assistance from alumni, and
he therefore felt that the success of
Central was in every way assured.
The board of trustees is holding its
annual meeting at the college this aft
ernoon.
Both the art levee yesterday after
noon and the grand concert last even
ing were largely attended and great
ly enjoyed.