The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-24
NEGRO SCHOOL HAS
UNIQUE EXERCISES
ACTUAL WORK OF ST. PAUL \. &
/. DEMONSTRATED VT
COMMENCEMENT.

LAwRENCEv1LLE VA, May "S.--
Fully 1,500 people attended the unique
and interesting closing exercises OF the
st. Paul Normal and Industrial school.
The large number of local white
friends present showed the interest
they felt in the splendid work being
done by the school in the way Of train
ing ard elevating the negro.
The program was A demonstration in
miniature of the actual work Of the
school. Tailoring. sewing. printing.
piasterina and electricity were repre-
sented by students from those divisions
doing the work The tailors took
measure and fitted a suit while read
or explained the various steps, The
pIasterers actually plastered section
: Of wall The printers had a press upon
the stage am made ready a form, put
II upon the press and ran off a Job in
sight Of the audience The sewing and
dressmakins divisions had exhibits
Perhaps the most effective and GER
tainiy the most interesting d@monstra-
! ton was light, by Joseph l. Ashby, OF
the division Of engineering and cleo
! tricity. The demonstration began with
candles then the oil lamp. the carbon
lamp and on through the various
Edison improvements, eliminating In
he Mazda lamp. The accompany pa
! per by Ashby explained each phase of
the lighting.
! The academic side of the school was
represented by a demonstration in PEN
! manship. A miniature school room
with desks black boards. eIcs.. WAS fit
ted up and = class from the primary
division of the practice school used.
! Chesleigh r. Franklin was saluta-
torian and Miss Annie r, Brown. val
edictorian. Both addresses breathed
I the spirit Of work and service, the pre-
J RI ina, MT a Ct EayiiG The
alumni orator, r. j Fields. represented
both In his address He came TO S..
Paul an almost iliterate adult and by
his energy. capahility and honesty
worked himself UP to a competence in
! life and is now a successful farmer,
merchant and teacher, respected alike
in his community by both white and
black as good citizen and useful
member of society
Superintendent Stearnes Speaks
I The presence of the State Superin-
tendent, Hon r. c. Stearns, and
Bishop Arthur s. Lloyd, presiden' of
the Domestic and Foreign Missionary
Society Of the Episcopal Church, both
OF whom made addresses. gave added
distinction to the occasion. The vice.
president of the board. Bishop, Tucker.
introduced Mr. Stearnes.
/ Mr. Stearnes began by expressing
1 his appreciation of the work at ST.
PauFs, declaring that he took the same
interest in II as if il were a public
school because it was performing A
public service; that the State board
was giving occupation to the product
of private high schools by giving
their graduates certificates; that II 1t
were possible for st Paul to have
turned out 500 graduates every one
of them could secure a position.
Bishop LLOYD delivered the address
tn M In fre- fta n sound
and full OF splendid advice. The
bishop emphasized the fact that they
stood out as marked people and
Thoughtful men and women were look
ing to them as leaders of their people,
Graduates of the school were known
throughout the country and he had yet
to hear OF one who had brough dis
credit upon his alma mater He re-
minded them that they were people
upon whom the eyes of the whites
F.. were set to see that they bore up and
were faithful to the trust committed
TO them. They were going out into
the world at time when old Standards
were being broken down. when men
/ who should know better would teach
Them that = short cut was better fhan
/ honesty; when men whom they folio w
ed would misiead them, that nothing
was worth while except money and
there never WIS time When character
counted for so much as now. He
cautioned them aginst the misuse of
liberty, declaring that liberty was a
mans reverence for himself. and that
they should pray God to Build ~ in
them the kind of reverence that would
compel the reverence of their Neigh
bors; that if their people were to climb
/ to the heights attained by other poo
ple, that their men and women must
pay the same price for leading-the
price of selfforgetting.