In spite of the inclemency of the weather, a large crowd gathered at the White Pond school house, Gaddy township, Friday for the commencement exercises of the day, and the final play by the primary department at night. A play by the advanced graded, pronounced the best ever staged in that community, was given Wednesday night.
The exercises Friday were opened by the school children singing “Commencement Day,” after which Rev. Lee Humphrey of Saddle Tree township rendered the invocation. Mr. J.E. Rowland, chairman of the board of trustees of the school, introduced Mr. D.P. McKinnon, who made a few remarks on that great advancement which that community had made along educational lines and introduced the speaker of the day, Mr. F. Ertel Carlyle of Lumberton.
“Paths of Glory Lead but to the Grave” was the subject taken by Mr. Carlyle, and he spoke for half an hour during which time he cautioned those who have the school in charge about progressing too fast. In this connection he stated that nothing could be better than a safe and sane progress, but if it was not safe and sane the result would be disastrous. He referred to the torch races held by ancient Greeks, saying that it was not the runner who crossed the line first that won but the one who crossed the line first with his torch still ablaze.
After the speaking a sumptuous picnic dinner was spread on the long table on the south side of the building. The slow-drizzle rain did not keep those good ladies form putting out their best, neither did it keep any visitors from giving their strict attention to hot chicken pie, North Carolina country ham (boiled and fried), relishes and almost innumerable kinds of fancy desserts.
White Point school is one of the best rural schools in the county. It is not an accredited high school but it had a few 9th grade pupils this year. Miss Hattie Powell, principal, stated that she is trying to get everyone who is ready for high school work to leave the school and go to an accredited school. She is a teacher who has the best interest of her pupils at heart at all times. She was assisted during the past year by her sister, Miss Mae Powell, and Miss Erah Thompson.
The session just closed made the second year of school in the handsome building which was completed just in time for school at the beginning of 1922. The trustees of the school are the same as last year—Messrs. J.E. Rowland, chairman, F.W. Huggins and N.J. Page.
From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Monday, April 7, 1924
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