The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-05-28
Lexington, May 4, see.

1t is a pleasing prospect to behold
Female Institutions rising into emi-
nence throughout u happy country.
On the first instant, in the Mesen A
cademy, Miss MARTHA W. MlLNER,
was crowned Queen of May after
which, the following address was deliv-
cred by bliss ELIZA a. BEALL-and
appropriate pieces of poetry delivered
tho one spoken by Miss SUSAN S.
RHEA, the other by Miss MARY A.
GRESHAM
"The first of May has been set apart
IA q season of innocent mirth and HARM
less hilarity, in which the young psrti-
eipate with harmony and %love--and the
aged cannot with indifference or dlsre-
gard. To mingle instruction with the
sports of youth, to invite them by every
means to the pursuit of what Is lsudi-
Bile. to waylay their eaprices by coun-
sels of Wisdom, and leave no expert.
ment uuerisd. by which they might be
promoted to q generous emulation; to
make Virtue and Goodness the Princl>
nal objects of their aspirations, have
bean. and are the wishes of the Philan.
thropist.
"Accordingly we find that some a.
nusements are encouraged, not merely
for past time, but for improvement also
Taking up the Cro1rn.l
81 now proceed to discharged the plea
sing duty which my beloved schoolmates
have appointed me to perform, which
is no less than to invest you with the
i~nsingnia of Queen Of Nay, and Prizes
tess o. our Holiday.--Were this all we
had to bestow, poor indeed would be
the ~bestowal. Look at its materials !;
the garden and the valley furnish abun-
dance; but their beauty soon passeth a
way. at most it would be but a toy for
an hour, and then forgotten.
..Were this all q repeat it, we had
to bestow, l would not act a part In a
sceue so unim portant in itsef! but leave
such trihes to another. Far other ia
the reward that awaits you.-You are
chosen from amongst US to represent
the Queen of the Season, nor for any
adve atitious circumstance whatever,
INT solely for the qualification of the
Mind and Heart These Flowers are
hut the short-lived emblems of the Vir-
tues which adorn you-(putting on the
crown
Hail Queen Of Nay>-
'sFlattering indeed must be this dis
tinction, to have so many Of your young
friends bearing public testimony to the
propriety of your demeanor, n anna
bleness Of disposition, must certainly
confirm you in the path you have walk
ed. and move you forward to other ac-
ouirements Let not the praise you
have won relax your efforts to obtain
more-and above all. turn away from
the suggestions of vanity; listen not TO
It's wh;sperings, nor regard the applau-
ses of the silly and ignorant but seek
constantly to catch the admiration OF
the wise and discerning.
'sLet the emblems with which you
are bedecked, teach you the frailty of
personal graces, upon which u sex
too generally place an inordinate value
TO the neglect of those immortal per-
fsctions Of the soul, which far exceed
things p~erishable in their nature. But
remember, ] charge you, remember.
a How soon is passed the sunny hour
That opes to life a foil fair flower
The beams withdrawn that nurs'd its bud,
The pageant leaves, the stock that stood,
Must blightea fall their brief life DER;
Anddyins, breathe their swe sa DO laorc