the 48 members of the 1924 class of Elizabeth City High School were guests of the local Kiwanis Club last night at a banquet given in the Red Men’s Hall.
The program opened with the entire group singing “America,” following which the Kiwanaian Daniel Lane pronounced the invocation. Phil Sawyer, president of the Kiwanis Club, then made a brief address of welcome to which Miss Rachel Williams, president of the senior class, made an appropriate response. According to the Kiwanis custom, the ladies of the Red Men’s auxiliary order began serving a delicious course dinner immediately following this formal opening. The seniors joined heartily in the group singing which consisted principally of humorous parodies on some of the old favorite songs.
Then began the funniest part of the program. The Kiwanis president announced that some of the Kiwanians felt that the art of putting on successful commencements had been lost and that therefore some of the members of the local club had decided to stage a commencement modeled along ancient and classic lines. First there was a declamation contest. Luther Cartwright made a brave effort, but the judges decided that little Sammy Gregory was by far the best of the contestants. Kiwanian A. Haley was then called upon to make a presentation speech in which he called to the attention of those present that because of his speech-making proclivities, Sammy Gregory surely had “a great future behind him” and awarded him a beautiful floral tribute, which was a lovely head of cabbage.
Then came a debate, the chosen subject being “’Tis Better to Have Loved and lost Than Never to Have Loved at All.” The affirmative side was composed of Patrick Henry Williams and Ernest Sawyer and the negative contenders were Henry LeRoy Sr. and Ed Burgess. The contestants were in dead earnest and in relating some personal reminiscences, Henry LeRoy made some might strong appeals. He spoke with tears in his voice and his eloquence would have melted a heart of stone or penetrated a head of wood. The judges unanimously declared King Henry I. LeRoy to be the debater par excellence, and he was awarded a medal by Al Haley, who, in his speech of presentation remarked that Henry’s long association with the fertilizer business had well qualified him to put out a “rich line.”
Next came a speech by Claude Williams in which he eulogized the art of much and called to the attention of those present that “music hath charms to soothe the savage beast,” then called upon Daniel Lane, A.B. Combs, and Robert Cotter to join him in rendering “School Days” as a quartet selection in a manner that would make a tame beast savage.
After this, President Sawyer called upon J. Kenyon Wilson for a few words on the advisability of going to college next year if possible. Dr. John Saliba then was called upon to speak about the desirability of physical fitness. Dr. Samuel Templeman then made a brief talk emphasizing the need of the world for Christian young men and women.
The Savings Bank & Trust Company presented “silent boosts” to the seniors. They consisted of vanity cases for the girls and clothes brushes for the boys.
From the front page of the Elizabeth City Daily Advance, May 31, 1924
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