The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-29
From the Daily Item, May 81.

In the tabernacle at the corner of
Calhoun and Church streets the
largest audience in the history of the
city schools attended the first night
Of commencement and heard nine
splendid declamations delivered by
that many members of the gradual
ing class. The large audience also
witnessed a close and we'll executed
drill in the manual of arms by three
members Of the high school battalion
and heard some sweet music render
ed by the Lyric Orchestra, which
played at intervals during the even
ing.
The decorations for the tabernacle
had been most skilfully executed. The
stage borders and supports We're
wrapped with white bunting and smi-
lax, which were lavishly used to OBJ
tain the proper combinations and ef-
fects. At the foot Of the stage beat
tiful potted plants were grouped and
above these pink chrysanthemums
were entwined in the green and white
background. Over the stage the bunt-
ing dropped, being caught up in the
center, where large bunch of green
was placed. The decorations were
neat and pleasing to the eye, but still
more pleasing was the sight Of the
young ladies, members Of the gradual
ing class, seated at the front Of the
stage in their handsome commence
ment gowns, with the male members
of the class In a row behind them and
the other high school students seated
back OF them on the stage.
The exercises were begun promptly,
when Rev. ]. N. Tolar pronounced
the invocation. Immediately after
wards the three members Of the bat
talon who had been picked out pre-
viously marched on the stage and for
twenty minutes were put through the
movements in the manual Of arms.
Messrs. p. M. Brown and j. w.
Bradford, both militia officers were
the judges and seemingly they had a
difficult time choosing the winner so
accurate and precise was the execu-
ton Of the movements. Finally the
decision was made and Mr.. j. Fl. Cliff
ton presented the medal to Fielder
Smith, as the best drilled man in the
battalion in the manual Of arms. Eng
lish DesChamps and Walter Minis
were the other two men to compete
for the medal
In making the presentation Mr..
Clifton stated that war was indefen-
sible, and his reference to the fact that
this country would probably never go
to war as long as Wilson was presi-
dent was greeted with applause He
also presented a medal to Ansley
Yates, a member of the fifth year
high school class, as the best drilled
man in his class.
After music by the orchestra, Mr..
G. M. Hurst presented the Cecil II.
Wilson medal, known as the Gar
land" to the best athlete In the grad
uating class. Hugh Brown was chos-
EN- to this honor. he having been a
member Of the high school track team
to the State meet at Columbia and an
all round athlete.
Mayor l.. ID. Jennings presented
Miss Mary Ellen Richardson the l. c.
Strauss medal as the best speller irt
the high school, the winner having
been chosen at competitive spelling
match on Wednesday morning at the
high school.
More music and then the declama-
tions were commenced. There were
nine in all, seven Of the speakers be-
ing contestants for the declaimers
medal. Two of them, Lawrence
BrunsOn, who came first at pre-
liminary contest, and Fielder Smith,
who represented the high school at
Clinton and Columbia i'm oratorical
contests, had already won medals by
their work. All nine speakers were ex-
cellent and the audience gave them its
profoundest attention. The announce
ment of the winner Of this contest
will be made tomorrow night when
the medals will be awarded. Tntil
then only the judges know who is the
winner. AT intervals between the
speakers beautiful music was rendered
by the orchestra.
Just before the recessional. Supt
Edmunds announced that this was the
largest attendance on the first night
OF commencement i'm the history of