 The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, June 23, 1901 pg. 1 ...The new hall used for the first time Thursday evening, accommodated the 800 guests. The stage was covered with fragrant, beautiful flowers against a background of living greens - palms, ferns and vines. The nine graduates were referred to by Father Crowley as the "nine muses." As the curtain rose, St. Xavier's music class composed of nearly 80 pupils stood in graceful poses with Misses Nellie Corcoran, Joe Kolb, Helen McCune, Mamie Blake, Nellie Sweeney and Flossie McComas at the pianos; violinists, Misses Frances Jones, Lillian Royce, Kittie McQuillen and Ella Campbell; mandolins, Misses Frances Overton, Lula Murray, Louise Sims, and Edna Tygard; organist, Miss Teresa Ward.delivered a musical symphony. The opening song by the entire school followed. The pupils gradually increased in stature as rank on rank was formed until the culmination was reached in the graduating class of nine young ladies; the hundreds of voices blended harmoniously in the rendition of "All Hail Our Queen." Rounds of applause could be heard as the entire school passed in review before the audience as the pupils filed from the stage. Miss Lula Murray led the literary part of the program with a inspiring reading of "St. Xavier's In Retrospective and in Prospect." A brief history of the past 27 years was given and a noble future was outlined. Miss Beulah Kelly, salutatorian, succeeded Miss Murray and expressed how easy it is to be successful to the ones trained to command it. Thereafter followed recitations and musical renditions. Medals to presented to class members and other students by Father Crowley. "To each is given a gold medal, the diploma of St. Xavier's. Each graduate in turn, Misses Beulah Kelly, Susie Fox, May Murphy, Lillian Royce, Lula Murray, Louise Collins, Rosie Finn, Emma Nassoy and Callie Chase, accompanied by two little maids of honor bearing the medal, and Miss Nellie Sweeney bearing the laurel crown, presented themselves before the Rev. Father to receive the emblems of honors they had won." There was a large attendance for the graduation ceremonies from the Territory. St. Xavier draws largely from the Territory for its pupils. Three of the graduates, Miss Lula Murray, Miss Callie Chase, and Miss Louise Collins, were from across the river. St. Xavier's Academy History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |