The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-06-06
CLOSING EXERCISES

| The regular commencement exer-
cises Of the Garrett High School were
held on the evening Of June Bird in
the Garnett High School Auditorium.
On the strength of the announcement
OF the program and the special speak
! er Tor this occasion, large audience
had gathsred, maniresting much in
terest in what was expected to take
place according to this announce
ment. AS the time scheduled for tn,
opening OF the exercises had arrived
and was considerably past due. with
no visible sign Of the beginning of the
program, the audience seemed to grow
rather restless and showed signs OF
mlSSNlngS: however. the orchestra
soon started up lively opening Sc
lection which Quieted the unrest and
seemed to restore complacency TO the |
waiting audience. The High School, |
excluding the graduating class, gave
splendid rendition of-that part OF |
the program which was allotted to !
them the main feature Of which was
the class Grafton. delivered by Werner
Nnnston, one of the graduates, who
did much credit to his class as we'll
as to himself also. After this the
principal announced that owing 10
some mistake in the time. the chief
speaker Of the evening. DR.. d. Webster
Davis, had missed his train and could
not be present on this occasion. This
caused a ripple Of disappointment %
pass over the entire audience The
principal finished his announcement
by introducing City superintendent
Prof. Geo. S. Laidley, who made a neat
address, pointing out TO the gradual
ing class the Necessity of heart cul-
tuTe and moral stamina without
rCiopmcnt might count for little or
nothing in character building or up
lift to others. At the end of his ad-
lrS SIS, Prof. Laidley introduced Prot
Byrd Pril!eIman, president of West
Virginia Colored Institute. who was
for DR.. Davis. Prof. Pril-
erman used a lengthy manuscript
he subject of which was The Res
possibility OF Citizenship Mr.. Pril-
larm%l called frequently uron an
'ient. medieval and modern history
sor evidence, and expressed many
ruisms in support OF his contention.
As whole the paper was we'll re- =
,cirod. There were, however, many
lnGavorable comments upon his state {
ment that the difference between a {
white man and a Negro is that the
former buys newspaper and the
latter banana. Just what he meant
by this expire ssion he failed to make
clear, but the Interpretation CENTRALLY s
accepted is that it was an ill-concealcd
attempt to pander to the prejudicesI
Of a part of his audience Coming
from the head of the largest Ncgrol
institution in the state, this express
siCn was not at all pleasing to the
teachers and other intelligent Ne
groes present. They are wondering
If Mr.. Prllerman intended a deliberate
insult. ]!
The program in full was:
Selcc; ion-Orchsstr
{Invocation-Rev. B. R. Reed.
Chorus, Bridal Chorus. from "The
Rose Maiden" by f. H. owen-Hi9h
School.
After Commencement.
CratiOn-Vernsr Winston.
Chorus, Hail Bright Abode" from
'Tannhaeu%er by Wagner-High
School,
AddreSs-Byrd PrillermaCl.
Chorus, THE Milel's Moving" by
Eaton Faning-High School.
]. f. hamberlain, president Of the
Board Of Education, presented the di-
pIOmaS TO the graduates