The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-13
FORTY.FOUR GRADUATES.
Large Class Receive Diplomas From
City High Schools.


first. The young ladies Of the grad
uating class were in charge OF the
exercises and such a large audience
was present that only standing room
was available. This year the under
classmen Of the high school were not
on the stage to help with the sing
ing as heretofore, the grad uating class
having decided to take charge of the
musical program alone. Miss Grace
Reynolds. Of the graduating class
rendered a charming solo. The sing
ing was excellent and Prof. Noise is
to be congratulated on his success as
director.
The exercises were begun by an in
vocation by Rev. w. e. Thayer. after
which all those present joined in the
singing of two patriotic songs,
America and Star Spangled Ban
ner." The essays by the young ladies
this year were not upon the old con-
ventional topics. but were timely and
we'll written. Miss Marie Price, who
welcomed the audience. did not use
her manuscript at all, thus adding
much to her delivery.
Medals for excellent demeanor were
awarded to Sam Sanders for the boys
md Miss Margaret Blanding for the
girls. DR.. j. A. Mood, who delivered
both these medals. congratulated the
recipients not only upon the honor Of
winning medal, but also upon hav-
ing those qualities testified to by their
classmates. In presenting the medals
offered by the U. D. c. and the D
A. r., Senator Epps stated that this
years papers were the best set that
had been handed in within the last
ten years and there was the greatest
lifIiculty in deciding who the winner
should be. Even after the papers had
been corrected, three or four CONFER
,nces had to be held by the judges
before decision. could be reached
The spelling in these papers, too,
showed marked Improvement. The
competitive examinations for these
medals covered the two most import
.ant periods of our history and unless
We are acquainted with the events Of
both these periods. I'VE can neither
<now the past of our country, under
stand her present nor imbue her as.
oirations for the future" It is to
stimulate the study Of history to this
md that the medals are offered. The
D. A. r. medal was won by Henry
Thomas with Graham Bowman close
second. The successful contestant for
the u. d. c. medal was Miss Mar
iOrie Kennedy and in this contest Hen
ry Thomas handed in the paper which
took second place.
Eight diplomas for penmanship
were presented by Mr.. Neill O'Donnell.
Those receiving diplomas were Misses
Frances DeLorme, Rubye Oliver, Ma
rie Price. Kathryn Stubbs, Leona
Walker. Louise Troublefeld, Louise
Burkett and Jeanette White. Be-
sides these who received penmanship
diplomas this year. five young ladies
Of the graduating class had previous
ly won them. The number of diplo-
mas presented this year shows what
splendid success is being attained in
the writing department of the city
schools. The Palmer system is being
taught The writing medal, for which
only those contested who had for
merly received diplomas, was won by
Miss Caroline Dick.
One Of the most enjoya BILE numbers
of the program was a dialogue be-
tween Miss Dorita Noise. taking the
part Of Lady Teazle. and Miss Leona
Walker, acting the part of Sir Peter
Teazle. Both of these young ladies
showed considerable preparation and
are to be congratulated upon the man
ncr in which they played their parts.
1t was just at this point that Eu-
gene Purdy presented Prof. Edmunds
with gift from the graduating class
He made few appropriate remarks,
thanking DR.. Edmunds for all that
had been done to the class by him
and for the interest taken by him in
each individual member of the class.
DIR. Edmunds accepted the present and
In a few gracious words thanked the
class for this token Of appreciation
and confidence.
Hampton Lewis. the faithful janitor
of the school for twenty three years.
was. as usual, allowed the honor of
placing upon the State the forty-rour
diplomas which were to be presented