Phoenix tribune., 1921-06-04
COLORED PUPILS OF CITY
HIGH SCHOOL RENDER
GOOD PROGRAM

colored pupils of the Union high
school were held Monday night at
the Auditorium, followed by ban
quet Tuesday evening at the A. NJ E.
church. About 500 parents and
friends were present at the com
mencement exercises, together with
several members of the board of
trustees.
After the invocation by Rev. E. D.
Green, pastor of the Second Baptist
church and a song by the school,
James Rosser came forward and
made the salutatory address. He
chose for his subject, Will Power. and
after bidding a cordial welcome, pro
ceeded to tell the audience in an intel
Iligent and interesting way, what could
be accomplished by an indomitable
will. His address showed thorough
training and mastery Of speech sell
dom witnessed on such occasions.
A cornet and piano duet by D. N.
Edmonds and Cora Smith brought
forth much applause, as also did
vocal solo by Blanche Hester. Fol-
lowing these numbers, Benton James
delivered an address on Education
and Service. His was gem of rhe-
toric, filled with sound advice and
eloquently delivered.
Andrew Wallace delighted the au-
dience with piano solo as also did
Pauline Howard. Following the rem
dition of these musical numbers, Hell
en- Peverson, valedictorian of the class
of 1921, came forward and made the
farewell address. Her subject was:
Onward" and in a manner SO force
full and eloquent that mere words
cannot describe, urged her classmates
onward and upward into the realm of
intellectual excellence.
A duet by Helen Brown and Cora
Smith brought forth thunderous ap-
plause, after which Rev. T. J. San
for, pastor of the A. NJ. E church was
introduced by Mrs. c. B. Caldwell and
delivered the annual address. He
selected for his subject; "The Ad-
vantages of Difficulties, and in his
own inimitable way made an address
that will go down in the history of
Phoenix as one of the best ever de-
livered from the rostrum of the high
school auditorium.
After another musical number by
Cora Smith, Prof. D. F. Jantzen, prin-
cipal of the Phoenix Union High
School, introduced the Hon. B. F. Nc
Fall, president of board of trustees,
who after few encouraging remarks
presented the diplomas to the gradu-
ates.
A fitting climax to the commence
ment exercises was the banquet CIV
en- the following Tuesday evening at
the A. M. E. church. Seated at the
banquet table we're several members
Of the school board with their wives,
pupils Of the high school, their par
ents, and the two high school teach
ers and number of special guests.
First toast of the evening was made
by Benton James of the Glass of 1921
to the Juniors and an able response
was made by Earle Johnson, member
of the junior class. Annie Vivian
Strawhorn of the Alumni made a
toast to the class of 1921 and Helen
Peterson responded graciously.
Mrs. Allen Smith spoke few en-
couraging words to the young people
as also did A. R. Smith, editor of the
Tribune. Splendid toasts were made
by Mr.. Stewart Of the school board,
Mr. A. A. Belts, Hon. B. F. McFall,
and Prof. Jantzen Mrs. Caldwell
made few remarks and then called
on the Rev. T. J. Sanford to respond
to the toasts made by members of the
school board. DIR. Sanford, in lang
uage that was plain, yet forceful and
eloquent, told the members of the
school board how proud the colored
people of Phoenix are to have men Of
their calibre on the high school board
and of the high hopes and ambition
they cause to rise in the breasts of
our young fouk because of their man
ly stand.
Altogether the closing exercise of
the Phoenix Union high school this
year were the best ever held and the
future looks brighter.