Middletown transcript., 1911-06-17
HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
Very CreditabIe Programs by The
Graduates and Their Friends

The Glass Day exercises for the gradu-
ating class Of the Middletown High School
were held on Thursday evening at 8
O'Clock in the Assembly room of the Ac-
ademy.
The walls were hung with the national
flag, and Immediately behind the stage
large banner gracefully gathered in the
middle, formed q pleasing background for
the graduates and their fellow students,
massed in front ofit. The ceiling was
hung with festoons of yellow and purple
crepe paper-the colors Of the class, while
their class banners of like hues adorned
the walls.
The program opened by the graduntes
marching down the aisle, followed by the
teachers and then by their fellow
students.
The opening address was by Miss Leah
Berkman, "The Battle of Peace, " and was
a sensible plea, we'll argued, for "sane
Fourth. Frank Richards gave an ex.
cellent essay on Mexico, A Land of Con-
trasts, depicting truthfnlIy and well. life
in that land; John Hoffecker, in "The
Lure of the Cloudland," gave an intereet.
ing resume of the history Of aviation from
Montgolfier down; Mailly Davis, ''The
Spirit of the West" gave an informing ac-
count Of the development of the West,
especially of irrigation schemes; and
Irving Brockson concluded with "The
Boy Scouts" good history of the scou t
movement from its very inception under
Beard.
Everyone of these papers reflects great
credit upon the young lady and the young
men, who delivered them We have
heard college graduates whose essays were
not so good. They wisely chose practical,
living issues for their subjects and gave
their audience something worath hearing
instead of the usual learned stuff about
the ologies which neither speakers nor
hearers understand.
The stage was excellent. The four tall,
fine looking young fellows, two on either
side of the solitary ''sweet girl graduate,
the lovely Miss Leah Berkman, who was
tastefully dressed all in pink-made a
handsome picture. And the undergradu.
ates, boys and girls, looked handsome
enough.
But the musical "hit" of the evening |
was the singing with rollicking move
ment accompaniment, of Cousin Jedidiah |
by Is boys whose heads-except little No.
13 at the South end, made line as level
as board. How the lads did enter into
the spirit OF the thingl How rousingly |
they roared it all out with bodies, heads
and hands moving like Clockwork, their
faces the while, now solemn as judges
now beaming with mirthl The six larger
boys, who sang an encore, also did we'll.
Miss Anna Lawson, vice principal, played
the piano for the singers in her skilful
fashion; also aided by Miss Prudence
Lewis, had previously carefully trained
the boys in their pieces.
The audience, which was very proper
ly appreciative, and as literally as deser-
vedly applauded the youthful performers
quite filed the room.
The CONNIE ncement Exercises were /
held Friday evening in the Opera House
which was filled with toWnsfolk and
friends and relatives of the graduating
class.
The hall was handsomely decorated
with bunting, festoons in purple and
gold," and the stage with flowers and
potted plants.
The musical program was as usual good
both vocal and instrumental. Mr.. G. D.
Kelley, as President of the School Board
the diplomas to the five gradu.
ates with a short appropriate speech.
Prof. Samuel G. schmucker, of the
West Chester Normal School, gave the
graduates and audience a fine address.
The Professor is no stranger to Middle
town audiences, who have before enjoyed |
bis meaty orations.