Commencement Exercises of Ward School No.33

     “It is not often that the ceremony of graduation from a ward school is attended with such ‘pride, pomp and circumstance’ as yesterday surrounded the graduation of ten pupils in Ward School No. 33, situated in Twenty-eighth street, near Ninth avenue, of which Miss Clara M. Edmonds is the principal.  A brilliant audience was gathered.  Professor Birge [sic] assisted in the musical exercises, and Charles Tracy and Richard O’Gorman, Esq., delivered addresses appropriate to the occasion.  Private O’Reilly was to have been present, but was detained by injuries from his late railroad accident, from which he has not yet quite fully recovered.  The diplomas and prizes were presented by Mr. Kiddle, school superintendent, and eight of the ten young ladies who graduated not only received diplomas from the school, but also the highest grade of certificates as teachers.  Mr. O’Gorman’s speech on the occasion is to be printed for public circulation.”

     “Ward School No. 33. – This large and popular school is situated in West Twenty-eighth-st., near the Ninth-ave.  A public examination was held yesterday, when ten young ladies, who had fully completed the course of studies, graduated with signal honor.  The exercises that marked this event, so important to them, were of the most gratifying character.  The assembling room of the school, which is one of the finest in the city, was tastefully decorated with flags and flowers, and crowded with a brilliant audience.  John H. Anthon, esq., one of the School inspectors for the district, presided.  The exercises in singing, reading, declamation and compositions, by the pupils, were of a high character.  All present were deeply impressed with the proficiency and ease manifested by the pupils, and the gratification was hightened [sic] by the fact that Mr. Kiddle, the Assistant City Superintendent of Schools, stated, in presenting their diplomas, that he knew that their scholarship was thorough.  The musical performances were superior, and did great credit to Miss Hutchings, the talented musical director of the school.  Miss Clara M. Edwards, the Principal of this large and popular school, has every reason to be proud of its success.  Charles Tracy, esq., who, as did also Richard O’Gorman, esq., delivered an address on the occasion, stated that a number of years since, as a member of the Normal School Committee of the Board of Education, he read in public the composition of Miss Edwards, the Principal of this school, at the time she graduated from the Normal School, which not only warranted the signal success her school had obtained, but was so meritorious that the Governor of the State, who was present, requested a copy of it.  Every person present realized that this eulogium was fully justified by the proceedings of the day.”