The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-13
Splendid Address Delivered by Judge
Thomas r. West, of the Florida
Supreme Court

4
! With every seat taken both in the
auditorium proper and in the gallery
and every available inch of standing
room at a premium. the great audience
lover-flowing into the corridors, the
first graduating class to receive di-
lplomas in the new high school build
ing was graduated last night, being
one of the largest classes in the his
tory of the school
Forty-six young women and twenty
two young men composed the class,
which was presented by Professor
/ Workman as not only one of the high
est in average of scholarship in his
experience of many years of high
school work, but also as one having
established the highest record in NOR
al character and class spirit.
School honors were well carried off
by the salutatorian of the class, Miss
Ethel Hoyt, and the valedictorian,
Miss Lucia Tryon, both of whom made
excellent talks, speaking without notes
and expressing that splendid spirit
which characterizes the class of 1922.
Address BY Judge West
The address by Judge Thomas f,
West, of the Supreme Court of Florida
was freighted with much that will
serve as an inspiration through the
years to come.
Among other things, Judge West
pointed out that the public school
movement is of recent origin, and that
| it was the Hon. w. A Blount of Pen
sacola who introduced in the legisla-
ture in 1908 a bill authorizing the es-
!, ia Sb in al ~, cn11nfxr - Ft1fe,I,
Ischool and appropriating public funds
necessary to assist in the maintenance
Of one public high school in each
county.
He called attention to the interest
ling fact that today there are more
than two hundred high schools in the
state as against about twenty, from
June 1904 to June 1905.
Judge West declared that the num-
Der of graduates from high schools
this year in Florida is about $500 and
suggested that as there are a proper
tionate number of high school grad
yates in other states, from the 100, 0S0-
600 population in the United States,
there must be approximately 100000
high school graduates.
| During the last year. Judge West
/
more than "a million dollars in our
public school system.
| In closing his address, which from
beginning to end was mastery pres
entation OF inspirational facts, Judge
West received an outburst of spon-
taneous applause, when he said: Dab
son, the statistitian, declares: I'm or
der for our investments of every kind
u. ~.
intellectual, or spiritual-our educa-
tional system must be reformed by
putting religion In the foreground.
Religion must be the basis of our edu-
cational system and the primary pur-
pose must be to arouse within men
and women desire to serve and a
desre for the things worth while"
Presentation of Medals
The presentation OF medals is always
an interesting part of the Commence
ment night, and last night five of
these medals were presented. Before
the presentation of the Blount Com
position medal to Miss Amy Doris
Van Peit, of the Freshman class, by
Hon. John S. Beard, Judge E. D. Beggs
chairman of the board of public in
lstructiou, read the articles of the be-
quest of a sum which has been set
aside by the Blount family as per-
petuaI memorial to Mr.. Blount,
through which each year the awa@-ss
ing Of the Blount medal will be made
possible.
In presenting the medal to Miss
Van Pelt, Mr.. Beard said that this
award had been made for 26 years, and
"a times had been won by girls Of the
school, in only two instances boys
having been successful contestants.
The p. X. Yonge defamation medal
to Miss Gwendolyn Mcclellan and the
Diffenderfer defamation medal, to
James johnson, were both presented
by L. V. Holsberry, who took occasion
to call attention to the splendid class
which was being graduated from the
school,
Miss Lucia Tryon, winner of the
Alumni scholarship medal, was pre-
scented with this award by the presi-
dent OF the Alumni Glass, Montrose
Edrehi, a young lawyer, who is grad
uate of the high school.
Sam Pasco, in very happy speech,
presented the medal Of the Scottish
Rites Mason to Lawrence Brown, win
ner of the award for the best essay on
Americanism.
Prof. A. S. Edwards, superintendent
Of Education, presided. and the class
was presented by Professor J. H.
Workman, and the diplomas awarded
by Judge E. D. Beggs.
DIR. William 3. McIfwain pronounced
the invocation, and the benediction
was given by the Rev A. j. Moncrief.
The music of the evening was one of
it's brightest featunes. the chorus be- |
ing unusually fine, due largely to the |
splendid direction of C. s. Brierley.
The Graduating Class
The decorations OF the stage were |
most effective, trellis work over which |
graceful vines We're carried being /
thickly set with yellow roses. with here !
and there branches of Oriental BAN |
boo creating a most artistic effect. (
The girl graduates were very lovely \
In $bafr- 7aip Fpock