The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-06-29
BARNUM PRIZES
ARE PRESENTED
AT GRADUATION.
Henry Edward Flynn Wins
First, and Second Is
Divided.
FINE PROGAM
FOR COUNTRY CLUB
Bruce Simonds To Give
Series of Concerts For
Red Cross.

ercises of the class of 1918 of the
Bridgeport High School held in the
auditorium of the school last evening
centered around the honor pupils
those who competed for the Barnum
Prizes, and those who were to receive
the other awards for excellence in
scholarship. 1t was one of the most
interesting programs that any grad
uating class has ever presented and
the class is the largest to go out from
the school.
The big auditorium WIS crowded to
its capacity and the members of the
graduating class made a most inspir-
ing sight as they passed down the
two main aisles and took their places
on the platform. Following the
class came the Superintendent Of
Schools Samuel ]. Slawson, Elmer H
Havens, president of the Board OF
Education; Arthur Lee, principal. of
the High School and Henry D. ST.
monds The applause had been
breaking forth internationally as va
rious well known members of the
class appeared but when the as
semblage became aware of the pres
ence of Mr.. Simonds in the process
sion it burst forth into a veritable
ovation It was a splendid tribute
to the man who had labored SO long
at the head of the High School
The essays for the Barnum prizes
were more than unusually interesting
and they were delivered with an ease
and f1uency that made it hard to re-
alize that these speakers were only
high school graduates. The varl-
Gus arguments were well brought out
and telling points scored again and
again. The subjects were all in
keeping with the times and perhaps
this added to the interest. At the
conclusion of the program the diplo-
mas were awarded to the pupils &C
cording to the courses they had
taken.
AdoIph John Freiheit delivered the
salutatory which is the second grad
uation honor and the valedictory was
given by Frank Frencik. Mr.. F'ren-
elk has made an enviable reputation
for scholarship during his four years
in the school, for to be valedictorian
means that he must have been at
his class for the entire four years.
This was not the only honor
awarded to him, however. When
President Ravens announced the
prize winners it was found that the
Fairchild prize, given by Henry Fair
child, in honor of the memory of his
son, who was the first male valedic-
torian of the High school, for; excel
lence in chemistry, had been divided
between Mr.. Frencik and Morris M.
Slotnick. This prize amounts to
| about $40.
In awarding the Margaret Faith
Somerset prize, President Ravens
said: 'The name of Margaret Faith
Somerset is a household word in. this
city. Her sterling worth and char
acter has influenced hundreds of boys
and girls and given them the right
start in life. A number of her
| friends have subscribed to fund
that furnishes a scholarship of $1O0
a year to be given to the boy or girl
| entering college who has achieved
| excellence in French and general
| scholarship, This year the prize is
|. awarded to Frank Frencik." The
award was greeted with prolonged
applause for Mr.. Frencik is evidently
most popular with his classmates and
| scheolmates.
The Commercial class has provid-
| ed two prizes for the students wh1
| attain the greatest proficiency N
scholarship during the course and
these prizes, the first for $40 and the
| second for SIS were given to Miss
Mary NJ. Fogarty, and Miss Nellie
| Walsh.
| 1t took the judges quite some time
| to decide as to the winners of the
| Barnum prizes and when the COM
| mittee reported the first prize of $50
went to Henry Edward Flynn, who
| took for his subject, 1.-THE Desirability
of Universal Military Training" His
subject was handled splendidly anu
| he brought out clearly all of the .ad-
vantages that this or any other coun-
| try would derive under such ar
economical system as Switzerland ha:
at the present time.
/ Unable to decide which was the
| better, the committee divided tht
second prize of $40 between Miss
Emily Ruth Nickerson, whose sub
iect was 'TThe Cost of Patriotism
and Miss Lillian Mercer Whiting, who
spoke on sfWoman's Work in thi
War" Miss Nickerson had a splen
did essay filed with poetry and i'm
agery, and at times many in her au
dience were moved to tears. Hei
delivery was equally as good as he
literary ability and she was applaud
ed to the echo. Miss Whiting emu
merated the countless tasks that lie
i before the women of all countrie
and the fine self sacrificing way il
which they have taken up their bur
den.
The program which opened with th'
singing Of 1.-THE Star Spangled Ban
! ner," closed with the singing of thu
class hymn, the words of which wer'
written by Miss Beatrice A Bolles
and the music by Miss Esther Ma!
Sniffen-
Members of the Brooklawn Coun
TRY club have a very busy month
|, CT .v-ffv rx-i41