Newspaper Page Text
TTTT TTT?-"? I ? ! 1 1 M H H M j i VuL. Ill, NASHVILLE, TENN., FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1908. No. 22 PEARL HIGH SCHOOL FINANCIAL PANIC Annual Commencement At Ryman Auditorium. and Concerns Unawares. PRESIDENT OE BOARD OF EDU CATION AND PROE. SMITH MAKE ADDRESSES. HAVE SURVIVED THE AWFUL CRISES. IMMENSE THRONG OF PEOPLE WITNESS EXCELLENT PRO GRAM MR. MANSON AND MISS HODGKINS ACQUIT THEM SELVES WITH HONOR REN DITION OF TWENTY-THIRD PSALM BY HIGH SCHOOL A PLEASING FEATURE - SOLOISTS CAPTIVATE AUDIENCE BAN QUET TENDERED GRADUATES BY ALUMNI AT ODD FELLOWS AUDITORIUM. GLOBE REPORTER INTERVIEWS DR. R. H. BOYD, WHO MAKES MOST ENCOURAGING STATE MENTS BUSINESS OF ONE CENT SAVINGS BANK SHOWS DECIDED INCREASE PUBLISH ING HOUSE OF A. M. E. SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION IN FLOURISH ING CONDITION NEGRO REC OGNIZED AS A POTENT FACTOR IN BUILDING UP GREATER NASHVILLE. Before an audience which taxed the seating capacity of the Ryman Audi torium to the " utmost, the mem bers of the class of 1908, Pearl High School, received their diplomas last (Thursday) night. Not only was every seat taken but in some portions of the gallery and on the main floor the aisles were so crowded as to be un comfortable. The graduating exercises of the Pearl High School is the one event m mis cny uiai unugs uie cui o;cd people together the one event in which every creed and sect is in teiested and the members of the race attest this deep interest by annually attending these exercises. A conserva tive estimate of those present places the number at 5,000. Seated upon the platform at the right of the class were the teachers of the High School and a number of men prominent in the affairs of the city. To the left where some of the members of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of the city schools. A portion of the building extending to the left of the speaker's stand direct ly behind that reserved for the Board of Education, was reserved for whites, quite a number of whom were present. Promptly at 8 o'clock Miss Carrie Mildred Bryant, who presided at the piano, began a spirited march and the ( lass of 'OS, led by Miss Anna L. May berry, filed in from the eastern en trance. As the class, each female mem ber of which was tastefully arrayed in white, carrying cut flowers, draped v ith the class colors and each male dressed becomingly in solid black, wended its way around the auditori- to, vociferous applause came irom tne vast concourse of people. The class i-arched around the northern aisle to t!i .' center, and thence to the stage. Beaching the stage, each member crossed right and left to the place as- si'.rned respectively to them. The first number on the programme was the musical rendition of the Twenty-third Psalm. This number showed an exquisite Mending of voices seldom lvnrd in a chorus of school children and speaks volumes for the ability of lb- sludents and those who had in (huge the training of the voices. The next number, "Over the Hill at Uveak of Day," a semi-chorus, so ri-ased the audience that an encore vas given. Mr. Louis O. Manson, the saluta Intian of the class, came next on the programme. He had chosen as his theme' "American Genius," and right v-U did he handle his subject. Before nlcring into the body of his speech, he welcomed the Board of Education, the Superintendent of the city schools, the invents, citizens and teachers to the oorcises of the evening. It was distinctly noticeable that the srecches of Mr. Manson and Miss Hodgkins, who spoke later, were devoid the fulsome flattery that has marred nmo of he exercises held in this citv in the past. The same was true of the ivMrcss delivered by Prof. Smith. Following the speech ol Mr. Manson, which wis well aoplauded, the GirK (liee Club of Pearl High School anr -?'tar of Peace." This number, which contained a solo obligato, the solo mrt King taken by Miss Madeline B. Car ter, was one of the best, received num-b-"s on the programme. Miss Carter I'm?, a, vary pleasing soprano vo'eo, and though not fnllv developed, has a very wide range. The Oloe Club vesiiondpd to the applause with another song, which was also meritoriously sung. .Miss Hattie Hodgkins, the valedic torian of the class, followed the Glee Club. Her subject being "No Excel lency Without Great Labor." Miss Hodgkin's speech showed careful preparation and was well received. -uufw7h Most Business Men uvi&uiau everyiuing sne saiu. sne ex pressed the thanks of the class as the first speaker had extended the welcome. A vocal solo, "Carmena," sung by ht; ri ... t nt. at n,V,r'7 tte Tros'rae"'0 MS SOME BUSINESS HOUSES WHICH Cheairs, who has been heard in one or two previous commencement exer cises of the High School, and is a gen eral favorite, possesses a voice of rare sweetness, especially adapted to color ature work. The piece selected was peculiarly fitting to her style of voice, and brought out all of its beauties. Miss Cheairs responded to the applause with another solo. Prof. Frank G. Smith then, as is his custom on this occasion every year, de livered his address to the graduating class. Before addressing the class, however, Proi. smith spoke in part as follows to the Boavd of Education: "The occasion which brought us to gether here to-night is the twenty-first annual commencement of the Pearl High School. The vast concourse of colored citizens, the multitude of eager anxious people who have listened so rarefully to these exercises, is not with out meaning. It shows the deep in terest the colored people take in the welfare and success of the Pearl High School. I venture the assertion that no other high school in the South is is popular with the colored people as he, Pearl High School. Mr. Superin tendent and members of the Board of 'ducation, I wish to thank you for the admirable public spirit and liberal pol icy which you have manifested toward is and express the hope that we will Uways merit your confidence and your and consideration." Prof. Smith addressed himself to the "lass which he requested to rise, de livered a vigorous speech in which he admonished the class of '08 to seek to lead high, useful lives, always endeav oring to make their class motto their life's motto. With the class still standing, Dr. R. B. Lees, President of the Board of Education, read an address, after which he presented on behalf of the Boavd of Education, the following with diplomas: Walter H. Davis, William A. McKis sack, Louis O. Manson, Herman A. Matthews, Reuben L. Richardson, Ira Charles Watson, Eleanor A. Battle, Lillian B. Campbell, Nannie E. Camp tell, Sadie L. Watson, Emma T. Cheaivs, Tabitha L. Claybrooks, Sallie I. Duvall, Minnie L. Fite, Mackie L. Havdison, Cella M. Hendley, Hattie E. Hodgkins, Tennie L. Hughes, Ruthy L. Jones and Anna L. Maybevvy. The various graduates were the ve- cipients of many tokens of the occa sion, some of which were very hand some and valuable. The officers of the class were as follows: Louis O. Man son, President; Sadie L. Watson, Sec retary, and Ruthy L. Jones, Treasurer. VISITS ALMA MATER ers Dedicatory Address. TRINITY COLLEGE. OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, SCENE OF BRIL LIANT DEDICATION. HIGH SCHOOL BANQUET. Following the graduating exercises of the Pearl High School at the Ry man Auditorium, the members of the Alumni Association tendered a banquet to the class of 190S, at the Odd Fellow's Auditorium. Here was assembled each member of the class and a host of the Alumni Association with their com pany. The arrangements for the banquet weve under the direct supervision of Profs. George E. Washington, II. A. Cameron and Mr. Geo. L. Grady. These being rendered every assistance by other members of the Association. The spacious auditorium was cleared of all excess chairs and preceding the serving of the honorees and the other guests, the floor was given over to the dancers. The banquet was served upon the stage at the rear of the auditorium and the table, handsomely decorated with cut flowers and the class colors, surrounded by the sweet girl gradu ates and their gallant-appearing class mates, presented a very beautiful sight. The menu, while not elaborate, showed an excellent taste in its selection and preparation. Dancing continued until a late nour, tne poor being under tne direction of Mr. Hughlctt Box. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. A woman named Sarah Murphy, who lives on Pearl street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues. North, attempt ed suicide Wednesday night by taking a quantity of laudanum. She Avas sent to the City Hospital for medical at tntion. It is thought she will recov Miss 'Matt to Winfrey, who finished in the normal department, of Walden University, left the city Sunday for Vr homo at Little Rock. Ark. Miss Winfrey is an aunt of Chas. Winfrey Kelly, of C53 Bass street. The financial panic left in most busi ness circles and in nearly every large business concern some trace of its heavy foot-prints or some trace of its havoc wrought. This city suffered as most of the large manufacturing cen ters. Some large firms closed their doors, suspended operation and left out of work a long list of employees. Some have resumed their operations; others have not. The panic came upon most of the business men and concerns without warning. Others had talked of it, counselled about it, and prepared for its coming. A representative of Thev Globe, in taking a review of the situ ation as it affected Nashville, finds that some of the Negro business con cerns had prepared for such emer genciesnot by accumulating a large bank account, as some would suppose, but by the economical and wise man agement of their business during pros perous and undisturbed seasons. Some of them had contemplated and actual ly planned large and extensive im provements. This is particularly true of the Baptist Publishing Board, which owns that mammoth printing, book binding and publishing concern lo cated in this city, under the manage ment of Dr. R. H. Boyd, and operated under the auspices of the Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convex tion. It has a long list of employees, and all of the work, with but few ex ceptions, is that of skilled labor. In l conversation with Dr. Boyd, the Globe reporter learned that in this past quarter, which closed the 31st day of May, they have had an unprece dented record. Dr. Boyd stated that his orders for Snndnv-schnnl litom. t u re, church-helps and supplies num-1 nercd at tne close of business May 31, twenty-two thousand, five hundred and fifty-five (22,555) a record-breaker in itself, representing a majority of all the Negro Baptist Sunday-schools and churches in the United States. "I do not know," said Dr. Boyd in answer to a query from the Globe reporter, "just how many Sunday-schools we have supplied, but I estimate we have sent orders to eighteen or twenty thousand N-gro Baptist Sunday-schools. These school a-e scattered throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, South and Central America, West Indies. Philippine Islands and Africa." It would be interesting for any insti tution to note the vast number of let ters being delivered every day, some of thorn coming from such nlaees as Saba, a small island in the group of the Danish West Indies. One eould hardly find it on the mail. Yet, ac cording to Dr. Boyd's statement, wherever there .are loyal Negro Bap tists who have heard about and know the workings of the National Baptist Publishing Board, he has either been al io to control or will soon be in a position to control their patronage. "The incoming quarter, which is known as the July quarter." said Dr. Boyd, "is usually the largest ouartpr in the year. From Juno 15 to July 1 there will be an a vera ire of over one thousand letters per dav. It will be raiimiMiiv iicrvv tnis year on ac count of the extensive iMoarat inns for Children's Dav, a about one hundred thousand corks of the Children-!' Day urograms will ho distributed, and on aeronnt of tho evT-i'u Tensing intei in t'u- Natioinl Biniist Sunday School Congress, which is to convene in Jacksonville. Fla." Aside from this the business shows other marked Im provements, as this week will witness the - preparations for the finishing touches to be put on the first story of the Memorial Building. Then will be gin the installation of the machinery tszL.. ? rrot. J. D. Crenshaw Dehv- and completed by this concern since the panic began, and though Dr. Boyd has been handicapped to some extent in a hnanial way, the expenses have been paid for as the work proceeded. This is only one among the remark able showings made by the Negro" in Nashville, which proves that he is a potent factor in building up "Greater Nashville." The One Cent Savings Bank shows a decided increase in its business. The deposits have been larger than in any peiiod during its existence. A report printed in the Nashville Globe from the Secretary of the A. M. E. Sunday School Union, just prior to the General Conference at Norfolk, showed that this religious plant, like that of the Baptists, had weathered the panic in such a way as not to be materially affected. Its year's work showed by far the most successful It had ever witnessed. They, too, have extensive plans under way for im provements, which will bring up their plant to a higher scale. There is no doubt but that within the next eight or ten months all records such as buildings, improvements and business ventures in the race, so far as Nash ville is concerned, will be smashed, and the people, as a whole, benefited. ONE OF THE OLDEST CONGREGA TIONAL SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH COMMENCEMENT EX ERCISES HELD ENTIRE WEEK ALUMNI OF SCHOOL FOUND IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE PRES ENT SITE SCENE OF MANY CONFLICTS DURING CIVIL WAR GLOWING TRIBUTE PAID TO MEMORY OF FOUNDER FAC ULTY AND ALUMNI BANQUET PROF. CRENSHAW. THE BLIND SCHOOL CLOSES. A Successful Year of Finished. The commencement (he colored department nessee School for the with a musical institution last Hard Work exercises of of tho Ten- Blind began in the chapel of that Friday night, which was beyond doubt one of the best over held. The students showed marked improvement, which was the result of careful training. The In structor in music, Mis Quinnetta Compton, has demonstrated that she is an earnest, conscientious worker. The baccalaureate sermon was preached last Sunday at 3 p. m. by Bev. Mr. Imes, pastor of Howard Congregational Church. Many friends from the city crowded the chapel to its utmost capacity to listen to this eloquent appeal. On -luesday night a literary entertainment, for which had been prepared a very nice pro gram; but the crowning efforts were seen in the graduating exercises on Wednesday, at which diplomas were awarded to those who had successful ly finished the course citlined for the State of Tennessee in this special line of education. Miss Minnie May Hunter, who has charge of the lit erary department, and who has been at the institution for several years, has succeeded in accomplishing that most difficult task instilling in all the minds of those without sight the irt of reading, ciphering, spelling, mathematics, geography and writing. The following program was given: Jubilee song; invocation, Rev. E. C. tones; chorus, "Come, Smiling Spring;" recitation, Resiey Thomas: instrumental duet, "Cooing Doves," ' izzie Casey and Nannie Gore; vocal olo, "Deep in the Mire" Jake Sim mons; recitation, Blanche Davis; vo cal duet, "I Would That My Love," Flossie Covington and B. Boyd; drama, "Picnic;" piano solo, "To the Waltz," Blanche Davis; vocal duet, 'Mary and Marie," Jess.j Seawright Sue Dickenson; drama, Speak Louder Than jubilee song, farewell and Mary "Actions Words;" chorus. It was encouraging to note the ex "client and high marked attainment 'v the entire class, which, while not -large as the year before, reached Mgher marks, and the work showed more improvement. In tne mechan ical department or industrial depart ment, Prof. Neal was able to bring bettor results than heretofore. Tie corned to understand his work thoroughly and he has proven, al rbough blind himself, an excellent teacher. The friends and admirers of the institution cannot think ton highly of the principal, Mrs. Susan M. Lowe, who has spent more than quarter of a century working in this department of educational up building of the race. The school 'oos with a hope that when the fallowing term opens hundreds of the unfortunates who have heretofore not "njoyed such privileges, will bo sent it once to tho school for necessary training. Miss Ella TTowse, of 705 Lea ave nue, left the citv Tuesday evening ror St. Louis, where she will visit her sister. Atliens, Ala., May 28, 1908. After an absence of twenty-three years, all of which time has been spent in active, progressive educational work, Prof. J. 1). Crenshaw, a graduate of Trinity College, and Decently of Texas, but now of Nashville, Tenn., returned to this city upon special invitation of the principal, faculty and trustees to de liver the dedicatory address at this school, which is one of the oldest of the Congregational schools established in the South. The building that was dedicated to-day is situated in the cen ter of the old tort, which was the scene of many conflicts during the Civ il War. It is one of the most beautiful school buildings in the sdnny South magnificently constructed and just one mile Irom the center of the city. The school was founded early in 1SC5 by that fearless, tireless, Chris tian woman, Miss M. F. Wells, to whose memory Prof. Crenshaw paid a dt serving tribute in his address. He said that in the face of a most threat ( ning and dangerous opposition to such a movement, she came South and entered upon her chosen work. Time and again her life was in jeopardy, and on more than one occasion did the Ku Klux Klan, then so noted in North ern Alabama, threaten her life, but never did she entertain a thought of leaving or discontinuing her efforts to do good for an oppressed people. The exercises for the entire com mencement week have been of the very highest order. Graduates from this college are numbered among the most noted men ami women in tne race. They lill positions in every walk of life, reflecting much credit upon the in stitution to which they point with pride as their Alma Mater. These forty-three years have proven the worth, the need and tho growing im portance of this school. The building dedicated to-day takes the place of the one destroyed by the disastrous fire on February 13, 1907, and guarantees the continuance of the aggressive educational campaign be gun in this city over two score years ago. The older students from far and near contributed much to the suc cess of this commencement exercises. The add) ess of Prof. Crenshaw was the principal feature. His theme and his entire discourse, eloquent, logical and timely, was well received and applaud ed throughout. At the conclusion of the address, the present principal, Mis? Hubbard, the faculty, trustees, the graduating classes and the Alumni As o iation entertained Prof. Crenshaw, their guest. The list of graduates this ir was considerably larger man any vei previous school. year in the history of the ALL-DAY MEETING. It is announced by Mrs. B. H. Gray, a member of the Slate W. C. T. U., that arrangements have been made by which an all-day meeting, under the auspices ot the ( nnstian temperance Union, will be held at the Spruce Street Baptist Church on Friday, .Mine 12. The plan is that of Mrs. Susan Hliines, and it is styled as a God-given plan calculated to do much good. The morning session of the meeting will be devoted to papers and discussion. The afternoon sis-ion will be a mother's inciting, in which mothers are request m1 to come and bring their children. The day is to be spent in prayer. Mrs. Broughten. the state President of the W. C. T. V., will be among the speak ers for the occasion.