The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-27


s,hon, w,> written by Miss Ni". \
Wolfe. formerly a TEACHER in ms NY
and We, known here. MISS ""it' '''
'Wh""i;aG ht,u' ~" Years "S"' ~
japan Il.- i">rr:r;."n f",'""
commencement EXERCISES in ""fah
csc school are very un.I>" any ~'''
mSnccmrnt had over ,l''nH'H. l"c''
wrrr II" nuny WHIT ':"'~>'' .. n" "r'"
ira NO. cariand> 80 f..w''-. no TaN T''
HONS and n" toad 'Nihcr~' mo'H' -
unvics or HuntS pr, ~rn;. rms Sr'du"
tInn cxer,.is, 10 me. wh" had witneSFtu
81 MANY Of the "Swr,t Eirl graoA"''
klui as rnmmc nremcnts seemed u T'lh,
or serious OCCASION. and | MAS nae"
with awr by tho S"'srnnI'E ~ ''' -
fair. Eu, this - the way th'nS e"
done in japan Serious ind''H
NC the offence It one OF INC E'r'N SN'"'''
forget and not MAKE one OF h'r n'""!
bows m the right direction. or @"'"'a
miscourt her steps between n"w.S<>'ha
o., :, nm, 200 MANY or on" too t"~.>
For weeks anu weeks Nc had rr'
ared for this even. The SlriS ha"
practIced their chnru~r~ Tor many ""!>
and soon after IN" christmas hV''""H
thu prcpa:aiion ~ the japanese 'hu
English SSS:tN~ Ma started =" '"Hi"
not help feeling disappointed th"t ;"
few 81 th~ parents md friends o. the
graduates were -, =, ut As the program
VA IN IT.. morning. n" douo, the bust
ness duti"> - tn" fathers and the h"uS"
hold dut.., ~ IN" mothers prevented
their nra>cnrr Eut II me this was u
deal regret for rho day "ne ErH dua'eS
from hi:h school comes only second IN
Importance 10 ones wedding 'laE. ana |
think IL IS too bad that the parents. IN"
ones most interested, should no; be
present.
Promptly NJ ten O'Clock :hr student
and gradual S all clad IN their snmpre
brown uniforms marched into IN" audi
forum To tn" musir Of thC piano played
BY one { the music teachers. NdNHmlrt
San Al, stood puit" erect. like s"tdlers
unit: ever, one had entered the room.
then ,rs ono ~ 'hc plan" St"u'N
chord and every -" bowed until nearly
double Then all wore seated. and the
assistant rrnriia,. 'rakasu San made =
bow to the audience. and announced the
FIRST number ~ the program. An organ
SOLO hr one % the post graduates. A2kH
San This selection was quite we'll ~cn-
dered. but 4; seemed quite solemn L"
them as thoughts Of thc light merry airs
OF former CONNIE nccments PASSED
through my mind.
TakaAu san then read the Fifteenth
Psalm. and this was followed by
sang II" National AnihemI and re-
ma ned standing VIII" IN" lrnrcrta.
ResCrip: Wa being real This manu-
scrirt contains words 81 advice writ
ten by the ,.,:o emperor. and Z must
b. read in all schools. and In az young
peoples organizations a. all Sinks Or
ceremonial meetings OF the wear. Al.
the audience stood with bowed heads
while y was heinz read. put Int" It's
box and ~ rricd from the room. This
ceremony - ono | follow very carefully
out Of m. corner OF my eye for I Al,
interests mo very much. but st!ll I do
no, share IN the reverence with which
they seem To- -ecard these proceedings.
This manuscript, IS wrapped in A purple
silk Goth. placed in a wooden box. and
t,cA with q purr,, silk cord The box
rests on Q try and Is carried into. the
room and out OF the -~om held above
tho head Of the bearer. who walks very
seda;eiy and carefully. The one VIII"
roads this document handles II with
white cloved hands. 81 precious X II
considered. The principal ~: every
Rchool and ;Ac head OF every orsansza-
ton - supposed TO guard this precious
docnmt NJ and IN" picture with their
lives \ copy Of s;th"- of which could
be obtained for very small sum OF
money. .Ry ,hns" "rremonal meetings.
the ,"v. % country and rercrenc" of The
emperor ar" inS,iled IN tn" hearts AMI
minds 81 tHr youth Of the 'tf"Uery
Kingdom"
F":"wtAG ,ne r~ad:nc ~ N" Imperial
Resr- -. n. ruSi. t"lrh"r. Nakanura
San and FUJits san played piano
duet NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. \l!eEr" Mod
era,o Ma'lo ViNarc Presto.
The graduate who mad" the highest
10 Ia, ~ tGhl --l Sf
the Japanese essay Great Men and Ma
ture." ~ course | could no: understand
one word OF il. but | am sur. tn" Jap
anaSc audience was able to hear every
word of I. for il was read very we'll in
deed
Tho chorus composed Of about thirty
gtriS sang The Lord IN My shepherd
In cxrrllcn English. This three part
selection was rendered very effectively.
ami the girls showed that they had been
well trained BY thor instructor.
Taj;ma San. IN" g-l who made the
highest grade in English read the Eng
n.h essay. which was An account "f
her school 1ifc from the kindergarten
through tho primary school up 70 this
her year Of graduation. Her story was
told in n simple interesting way. and
was much appreciated by the English
speaking audience. and admired by the
Japa nese speaking audience
This number was followed by very
pretty piano solo. Lily Of tho Valley
Smith" rendered by one Of the gradu-
a.eS Su4uki San who Is quite ski!lful
at tho piano.
The Japanese lady who had been en-
gagged TO deliver the graduation address
To the graduates sent word at tho last
moment that she had another engage
ment and could not come. II was too
late 10 secure another. so Miss Williams
the former principal Of the school kind
~ consented 10 give q short congra tuia-
tory talk to tho girls through an inter
prefer. But without the usual speak
er's address the program was still fully
two hoYrs long.
Tho presentation Of the diplomas the
real rarp"se % a graduation exercise
ia usually dispensed with quite speedily
in our home conmencement But not 40
In this land OF ceremony. First tho
names Of the graduates wer" read by
Tskasu San. and as each name was rad
tho girl arose m her place. Then each
name was called again by the assistant
principal. and a, the same time the
girls Ill rlomR was handed 10 the prln-
cipa!. Tho, girl bowed. then adva need 4
few steps very slowly. bowed quite low
to her teachers. then turned and bowed
to tho guests Then stepped forVa I'd
several steps toward tho principal. hent
nearly double before her and held out
her hand for the diploma The diploma
received tn" girl he'd It in front Of her
with two hands tar above no. head
Stepping several steps backward she
bowed low again {" IN" principal. then
Ia her teachers and then took her seat.
no doubt feeling very we'll satisfied with
the forInality OF il ali.