 The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, June 25, 1893 St. Xavier Academy Closing Exercises - Graduating Class - Awarding of Medals to Graduates Commencement exercises, attendant upon the annual closing of St. Xavier academy, were held on Monday and Tuesday evenings of th is week at the academy building, on Sears street. As has been the custom of this school for many years the programs were rendered in the east wing of the building, the stage and curtains being at the east end of the wing. While the room is large, probably the largest single educational room in the city, it is not at all adequate for such events as those Monday and Tuesday evenings. The time has certainly arrived when the Sisters will have to do one of two things - limit the attendance or secure more commodious quarters. Aside, however, from the annoyance of an over-crowded hall, the commencement was all that the most zealous supporters of the school could reasonably desire. Monday evening's program was given over to the smaller children and that of Tuesday to the graduates and the students in the higher grades. Each evening the exercises began at 8 o'clock but long before that hour every seat and all the standing room in the hall was occupied. The stage and fixtures were entirely in harmony with the occasion, and the recitations, dialogues, songs, etc., were produced under most favorable surroundings. Monday evening's programme, which was very creditably rendered, was as follows: Opening hymn, "Star of the Sea," by 50 or more voices, 2 young ladies playing the accompaniment on pianos placed on opposite sides of the stage, was very pretty and showed careful study. The Salutatories, Misses Seiler and Crutchfield. The entire school were on the stage to welcome the parents and friends. The young ladies spoke in clear and distinct voices welcomes to the closing exercises. A vocal solo, "Beautiful Blue Danube," from Strauss, by Miss Eugenie Chiles. Miss Chiles gives promise of great vocal power and the piece was well received. "A Bevy of I's," by a dozen little tots, was very nice, and each little girl did her part well. The vocal duet, "Ave Maria Stella," from Meninger, by Misses E. Reilly and L. Lee, was very pretty, and both young ladies have voices of rare sweetness. "Mimims' Recitation, Columbus, represented by 8 little girls in costume with sashes, on which was a gold letter, the letters spelling the word Columbus as each little girl took her place on the stage, at the same time reciting a few words relating to the discovery of America by Columbus. "Overture, Poet and Peasant," from F. Von Suppe, by Misses Byrd, Ward, Carlat, Lee and C. Sansoni. This was well rendered; 2 young ladies at each piano, and one at the organ in the center of the stage. The piece was quite a difficult one and was played in perfect time. Then came the little ones again in juvenile chorus, "Chiding for Mamas." This was very nice and loudly applauded as each little one told what she would do and how nice she would be if she were mamma and mamma were she. One little girl would let her mother wear her best dress every day and would not scold or frown if she should tear it as dresses will tear; another would take her mother with her everywhere she went, and would say, "You can have anything you wish, my dear." while still another would let her mother have a party every single day. When each had told what she would do, all repeated in concert, "Of course, we can't be mamma, nor mamma can't be us, but wouldn't it be nice for them to treat us just this way?" Cavatina, "Twas No Vision," from Verdi, by Miss Howe, was good, and her clear voice gave evidence of careful cultivation. Inflamatus, (To Thy Holy Care) from Rossini's Stabat Mater, by the vocal class. This piece was well rendered and, as before, the accompaniment was played by 2 young ladies at different pianos, as, in fact, were all the accompaniments. An essay, "Pictures of Memory," by Miss C. Foley, was very creditable. Miss Foley, in speaking of the different pictures on memory's wall, says, truly, that our school days are the brightest of all. Columbia, America's great march, song and chorus, by the school. This, of course, was appropriate to the year 1893. It was followed by the hoop drill by 14 little ones, all under 10 years of age, captained by Miss Eunice Peck, who gave her commands in a clear, concise voice. All were dressed in red skirts and white waists with red caps, on the crowns of which were 5-pointed white stars. The hoops were wound with red and white ribbon, large bows being tied to one side. When the command was given to fire, each little girl threw a kiss through her hoop to the audience. Many of the maneuvers would have been quite difficult for older heads. This drill was very interesting. This was followed by an overture, "Fra Diavola," from Cserni, by 3 young ladies at one piano, showing considerable musical ability. "Love of Home," from Minims' Recitation, by the smallest ones, told how everything, kittens, squirrels and field mice, each love their homes. This lead the way for the World's Affair, represented by young ladies in costume, as follows: England, Miss L. Carlat Canada, Miss L. Lee Spain, Miss A. Manning France, Miss L. Spruill Ireland, Miss E. Reilly Greece, Miss V. Molett Germany, Miss D. Lasher Holland, Miss L. Byrd Switzerland, Miss L. Colbert Scotland, Miss E. Chiles China, Miss F. Seiler Columbia, Miss K. Mimnaugh Majordomo, Miss E. Hallenbeck. 13 states, body guard The location was supposed to be the court of England where had assembled the representative powers of Europe to discuss the feasibility of sending an exhibit to the World's Fair at Chicago. All seemed to think it quite unecessary to send anything as the United States, and especially Chicago, was too young to hold a fair of any importance to the outside world. Holland thought it would have been better if it had been held in New York, as her sons had settled New York, and besides, there were the "four hundred" to care for it, but Chicago was in a wild part of the country, somewhere near Indians, and had no 400. 'Tis true there were no bulls and bears allowed in the principal streets of Chicago as there were in New York, yet it was not so old a place nor so cultured a place as Boston, therefore, it was not to be thought of sending anything to Chicago; and besides all this the United States was very presumptuous to want to hold a World's Fair, any way. But when Columbia called on England with her body guard of states, each carrying the American flag, England conceded that it would be quite nice to be represented at Chicago, especially as Columbia did not seem very anxious about it, saying all her policemen, car porters, bell boys, etc., wore brass buttons, but a few kings, queens and princesses here and there, with gold lace, would make a nice showing. France wanted to know what her reward was to be for the help she gave Columbus in her infancy. And Canada reminded her that they were neighbors, to which Columbia replied, "Yes, and my recreant sons seem to find you a very convenient neighbor." Here England spoke up saying Columbia once gave a tea party to which she was not invited. Columbia put a stop to the disputes by taking the whole company aboard a steamship bound for the United States. After having passed around copies of a song all were asked to sing, "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean." They had tried singing the "National Air," but as everyone started on a different key and a different song, it was of short duration. While singing "Columbia," the Gem of the Ocean," all marched between the standard bearers, following the 13 states, while the stars and stripes waved over them. This piece was well rendered. An essay by Miss Howe, "The Veil of Our Future Lives is Interwoven by the Angel of Mercy." Miss Howe handled her subject in a very pleasing manner, showing much care in its preparation. "The Angelus," solo, by Miss Byrd. This was good, showing fine musical ability. Miss Byrd has a very sweet voice. "Drama of Lessons," by the little ones, in which the alphabet, geography, arithmetic, spelling, punctuation and other primary studies told the children how much they would have to learn from them when vacation was over and school began again. The vocal class gave the concert rondo, "Santa Maria" by Braga, which is a good concert piece, and every member of the class deserves the highest praise. Semiramis, 10 hands, from Rossini, by Misses Cook, Kennedy, Sansoni, Johnson and T. Ward. This was one of the finest pieces and well deserved the applause it received, as it is very difficult. It was played by 2 young ladies at each piano and one at the organ. The exercises closed with the "Te Deum," sung by the whole class. Tuesday evening's exercises were nearly a repetition of Monday's. Premiums were given to each pupil of the school, and medals distributed to those who had been most proficient in some one study. Gold medals and diplomas were awarded the graduates, Miss Lizzie LaRue, Valedictorian, and Misses C. Foley and Lillie Howe. Each of the young ladies read an essay. The essays were well written and the reading good. Thus closed one of the most successful years of St. Xavier's academy. This popular school has the reputation throughout Texas and the Indian Territory of being one of the best schools for young ladies in the west, its discipline and course of instruction being most thorough. Truly the Sisters of St. Mary have every reason to be proud of the success they have achieved. The academy will reopen the first Monday in September. Students Cecitia Sansoni Mr.
and Mrs. A.J. Sansoni, who have been attending the commencement
exercises of St. Xavier Academy at Denison, returned home last evening
accompanied by their daughter, Miss Cecitia, who was a pupil at that
institution. Miss Sansoni was awarded 2 beautiful gold medals.
One for proficiency in classical music and the other a
competitive school medal. She had charge of the musical program
as rendered by the pupils and received much praise for the successful
manner in which it was carried out. - - - - Greenville Herald Lillie Howe Miss
Lillie Howe, member of the graduating class at St. Xavier this season,
has been a constant pupil at that school since 1885, 8 years. She
is a sister to Mrs. M.J. Sweeney and Mrs. Maggie Extrom, nee Miss
Maggie Howe, who was with Messrs. Beirne & Stenson for many years,
and her long and diligent application at school has given to her an
education and accomplishments that are obtained only by the few.
As yet she is undecided, but it may be that she will engage in
teaching. If she enters this field of work the Gazetteer bespeaks for her the success she so abundantly deserves. Lillie Jones Miss Lillie, daughter of Dr. J.L. Jones, attended the closing exercises of St. Xavier, her alma mata. Ella McGillicuddy Miss
Ella McGillicuddy, of Whitesboro, a graduate of St. Xavier Academy
class of 1890, was an interested visitor at the commencement exercises
of that school this year.  St. Xavier's Academy History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |