ls the needed supplies would flow, to continue and enlarge this,
the Master's own blessed work.

* * * * *

ALLEN NORMAL SCHOOL, THOMASVILLE, GA.

MISS K. B. DOWD.

For this event we had made great preparations. For weeks practicing
had been going on vigorously, despite regular lessons and extreme warm
weather. The class to graduate consisted of four members, and we felt
anxious that as residents of Thomasville they should do themselves
credit, and grandly did they rise to meet our expectations.

Commencement exercises began Sunday evening with the baccalaureate
sermon preached by our pastor, Rev. C. F. Sargent. It was listened to
by a full house, composed of the best people among the colored race of
the city. Tuesday at 8 P.M. the school marched to the school-building
to find it already crowded to its utmost capacity, there being not
standing room then. Half an hour later tiers of eager faces were
peering through the open windows. Hack-loads came from the town and
adjoining towns, only to find entrance impossible. Some half a dozen
of the white citizens stood upon boards at the rear of the building
through the two hours' programme, and declared they "enjoyed it very
much." The concert lasted an hour and was followed by gymnastic drills
given by the boarding pupils. Their wielding of the heavy dumbbells
elicited hearty applause. With no breaks they went through with
marching, stepping movements, wand-drills and the anvil chorus, the
exercises closing with a full chorus, "The Song of the Sea," by
Veazie. Our only regret was that so many must be turned away. Between
the concert and the gymnastic drills, Miss Dickerman's tiny ones
entertained the company with motion songs, recitations and solos,
showing the careful drill and thorough work of the year.

Wednesday was a busy day indeed, for the church had to be trimmed for
the great event, namely, the graduating exercises. Long folds of blue
and yellow, the class colors, hung from the highest point in the
ceiling over the pulpit to the windows on either side. Directly in the
center, in large gold letters, was the class motto "Forward." Huge
bouquets of the most exquisite roses, sent in by friends and pupils,
were everywhere. A bank of ferns in front of the platform completed
the decorations. Just before the time to go to the church a heavy
thunder shower came up and the prospect for the evening was dubious
indeed, but by eight there was