Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-05-27
ST. HILDA'S HALL COMMENCE
MENT :.

ST. HILDA'S HALL COMMENCE
MENT
This year st. Hilda's Commence
ment began early. It was heralded
in as far back as the 18th by French
play, ma Tante ct Mon Cure" given
by the upper French class. This
small playlet, quick of action and full
of amusing little incidents looked
nearly as much fun to play as to
watch The pert and contrary young
heroine was rendered with great spir-
it by Serena Pendleton. Eliza Weir
lex played the part of "Ma Tante,"---
"une vrai pyramide" and acted the
virago with such fierceness that some
of her schoolmates were quite as
tonished. The whole caste cannot
be mentioned here, but each played
well her part" and renewed her re-
ward in the generous applause
The next event was play also
given by the younger girls on the
10Th. This was of a different char
acter-a Greek play, "Persephone,"
given out on the lawn, and lovely in
its scenic effects. The actors in this
play all did very we'll; but its chief
charm was in the posing and the
dancing, especially in solo dance by
little red imp before the King and
Queen of the lower world, which
quite delighted the audience and
charmed the sad "Persephone out of
her melancholy. After the play the
E. L. A. mysterious as to name but
,,onf.rf 20 cnvxyaI vafpoch-
ments of ice tea, sandwiches, cake
and ice cream.
After ."Persephone" there was a
lull in outside activities for while,
and then, at o'clock on the 23rd,
Glass Day was held in Caedmon Hall.
The informality of this entertainment
made it delightful. When the aud
fence was seated, the graduates came
marching in singing. They were
dressed in white, with lavendar
sashes for the Fourth Academies and
| old rose ones for those who were to
receive the full diploma. They took
their seats on the prettily decorated
stage and the program began with
the Class History, by Mary Hildreth,
which everyone enjoyed. Next came
the Class Prophecy by Helen Withers,
which appeared to be either very apt
or very inapt, judging by the laugh
ter with which each item was receiv-
ed. After this Merrill Yost excited
equal but calmer interest by the read
ing of the Last Will and Testament
of the Glass of 10. Last, but not
least, came the Valedictory by Eliza
Weirick, an ernest, simple and sim
cere little address.
After the Valedictory the gradu-
ates marched out again, and every
body followed to watch the planting
of the ivy beside the porch-"to keep
the memory green"
| The night of the 23rd came the cul-
mination of the musical year at st.
/ Hilda's-the Commencement Recital.
Besides the chorus class only four
took part in this: Emily Cheyne,
Margaretta Whiting, pupils of Mr..
Sanborn, the instrumental teacher,
ard Elizabeth Rice and Matilda Mac
| gregor, pupils of Mrs. Sanborn, the
vocal teacher. These four showed
in their performance not only the
strength of their individual talent
but the excellence of their training.
The next day at A 80 in the after
noon was May Day, the Gymnasium
Commencement. The exercises be-
gan with the Wand Drill by the older
girls class, in regular gym" cos
tune. After these had filed off, the
little girls gym" class came on for
the Dumb-bell Drill, which they did
beautifully. When the little girls
came off the others came on for the
Grand March, all in costume for their
| dances. 1t made very pretty pic
ture as they went through the various
figures of the march, and they were
/ greeted at beginning and end with
great applause. The end of the last
| figure placed the girls in double line
across the grass from the audience,
the front line kneeling. Then the
May Queen, Helen Sutherland, pre-
ceded by her heralds, and surrounded
| by her attendants, marched slowly in.
She was all in white, carrying white
flowers, and her hair shown in the sun
Her maidens were also in white, with
vari-colored hats, and they too car
ried white flowers. When the Queen
was seated, the testers" came tear
| ing in helter-skelter. Anne Marley
and Elizabeth Newton came forward
and crowned her Majesty, the school
song was sung, and then the various
| dances before the Queen began.
First, the testers, whose uncouth mo-
lions won much applause; then a
! charming little PASTORAL dance by
| Cynthia Coleman and Judy Carson
next the "Farmerettes, who per-
formed with great glee and were gen.
erously applauded; the waltz" a
Greek Dance, came next and was
very gracefully executed, to every
body's delight; and last of all was
the winding of the May-Pole. This
was very picturesque, as the girls
wore patriotic costumes and wound
the pole with red, white and blue
streamers. After this last dance,
the Athletic Emblems were given out.
ton, Serena Pendleton, Marry Hill
dreth, Mary Boone Peyton, Judy
| Carson and Louise Yates, received
them. The honored emblem holders
were given a rousing cheer and then
the groups formed to march out, the
| Queen and her attendants leading,
the Map Pole girls next, then in or
der the Duet, the Farmerettes, the
Waltz people, all two and two, while
the testers" skipped in and out
through the columns. The audience
applauded heartily as they filed out.
The Baccalaureate Services were
held on Sunday in Zion church. The
Reverand Mr.. Booger, of Martins
burg, preached a simple, effective
sermon from the text "To Every
| Man His Work.
On Monday evening, the play
pride and Prejudice" was given at
| Opera House. The program is given
below:
| Act l. The Drawing Room at Longborn.
| the home of the Bennets.
| Act e One Month Later. The Conserva-
| tory at Netherfield, the estate taken by Mr..