Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-12

best Of the intermediate grade speak
ers and the third to the best in the
primary grades. being given. The con-
test was open to the entire school. The
following were contestants: Ruth
Good, Ella May Jones, Ruth Wylie,
Mary Henderson, Mary Inman Hood,
Bertha Spencer, Thelma Leech. Irma
Hood. The judges. Mr.. w. T. Slaugh-
ter and Revs. b. G. Pressly and H. B.
Hardy awarded first place to lrma
Hood, high school; Mary Henderson.
intermediate and Mary Inman Hood.
primary department.
Following the recitation contest, a
play Jumbo Jum," was presented by
pupils Of the ninth grade. One Of the
most amusing features Of the even-
ing's entertainment was q song, Quit
Dat Tickling Me-" by a number Of pu-
pills disguised as plantation negroes.
The song brought forth liberal ap-
plause, and the singers were repeated
ly encored. .sF ..--' .t.-s
One Of the largest audiences ever
seen in the Hickory Grove school au-
ditorium was present to see the school
closing proper on Friday night. A
number Of people from Sharon were on
hand, and several buegies stationed in
the school yard bore evidence that
quite a number had come some little
distance. The seating capacity was
inadequate and many were forced to
stand. The stage was beautifully de-
corated for the occasion. A rope Of ivy
suspended from the top Of the stage
formed an arch from which hung a
basket Of roses. The school colors. old
gold and black were IN evidence. and
green foliage was barked around the
foot of the stage.
Eugene Hood, president Of the school
literary society, presided during the
evening. A number Of selections by the
chorus and the Hickory Grove Glee
club were the musical feature Of the
evening.
Following q recitation. That Old
Sweetheart of Nine" by Miss Mary
Wylie, Mr. Clarence Castles, the class
historian, reviewed the happenings of
the past ten years in connection with
the school.
Miss Sallie Smarr read the class
prophecy; predicting the future status
Of the various members of the gradu-
ating class, to the great amusement
of the audience.
Brevard Cherry forcefuily delivered
the class grafton. Taking as his sub
ject, The Improvement Of Leisure
Moments" the high school boy advised
his classmates Of their future duties
and exhorted them to take advantage
Of every opportunity in the pursuit Of
success Determination should be their
motto.
Blakely McGill delivered the vale
dictory address, in which he paid high
npliments to the teachers.
Prof. Holiday was quite compli
mentary to the graduates to whom he
delivered diplomas. The past year, he
said, had been a pleasant one and the
work, making more than the standard
number of units. The following were
presented with diplomas: Ethel Scog-
gins, Clarence Castles, Eugene Hood
Blakely McGill, Brevard Cherry, Lois
Whitesides, Sallie Smarr, Mary Wylie
In introducing the speaker Of the
evening, Hon. r. A. Cooper Of Laurens
candidate for governor, Prof Holiday
spoke Of him as q gentleman Of high
ideas who had started at the very bot
tom Of the ladder Of success. and who
deserved the admiration Of all.
Mr.. Cooper began his address with
the statement that the Hickory Grove
school building stood as q monument
Of patriotism. The school exercises o!
the evening he said, had showed to his
mind that the country was in good
hands.
| Future problems, said the speaker
would be Of peace and not of war. Fu-
ture battles would be between the
forces Of truth and justice on one
hand and those Of evil on the other.
We are prosperous people with a
danger threatening u.s. The danger is
that our prosperity may become made
quate as to education. Our educational
facilities must keep pace with our ma
terial prosperity. o.
There are in this day, continued the
speaker, many plans tending to make
the farmer independent. The only way
he can become Independent is by pro-
viding ample education for his COM
munity The best fertilizer the farmer
can use Is the building Of school
houses.
South Carolina now stands at the
bottom of the class Of illiterates. It must
be raised. This is problem for the
young people to work out. 1t is hard
question, but all schools should teach
boys and girls to overcome the hard
est things. 80.
In concluding his address Mr.. Coop
er gave lot Of good advice to the grad
uating class. Although they had done
well, they had barely started as yet.
he said, and If they were satisfied with
themselves, II they considered them
selves properly educated and had
nothing more to learn, they had better
go home and think the matter over
quite carefully.
The speaker held the close attention
Of the house throughout his talk and
was enthusiastically applauded at it's
conclusion. Before adjournment, Prot.
Holiday invited the audience to meet
Mr.. Cooper and a number Of ladies and
gentlemen availed themselves of the
opportunity.
The Hickory Grove school has had
an enrolment Of about 1873 this ses-
sion and thorough work has been done.
Some Of the pupils have fine records
as to attendance. The banner goes to
Brevard Cherry in this respect, he not
having missed a single day from at
tendance in five years. Another Of the
boys, Blakely McGill, has not missed a
single day in three years, coming each
day from his home four miles in the
country. Miss Sallie Smarr has been
absent one day in three years, and a
number of other pupils have neither
been absent nor tardy in two years
While the trustees have made no
announcement, 1t is understood that
the teachers. Prof. r. H. Holiday and
Misses Lucille Rabb, Margarite Reece
and Emily Wylie. will again be in
charge next year.