Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-31
THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION

THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION
or the pupils the Virginia Institution for the educa-
ton of the Deaf aud Dumb aud Of the Blind, took place
on Friday and Saturday the Goth and 9th OF May.
Rev. II. W. Bailey and Pike Powers, Esq. who were
requested by the Board of Visitors to Commit
Of Examination have furnished the ensuing Report
10 the Board Of Yisitors Of the Virginia Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind
GENTLEMEN Having at your request attended tue
examination Of the pupils in the Va. Institution Tor the
Deaf Dumb and Blind, the 10Th and 9th INST VIC
take pleasure in tcstyng the qualification we derived
doubt common all who present and witnessed
the evidences of proficiency the part OF the pupils,
and thorough and instruction on the part OF the
teachers.
The first day appropriated to the examin alton Of
the deaf Each class called in succession
and examined by its proper teacher Exercises in the
of words in the Of sentences Geography A.
rthmcc, Natural History were proposed by the Teach
and Others and written out by the pupils with sur
prising facility and accuracy. Their hand writing too
was good and their photography perfect And Il was
delightful the eager interest depicted on their
and TO witness their grateful pleasure i'm
the acquisition Of knowledge The exercises were va
red by excellent instrumental aud vocal music
blind pupils aud by the reading of original letters and
compositions written by the deaf mutes These COM
positions were particularly interesting from the artess
simplicity with which every thought and feeling
expressed and the gradual increase of mental develop
ment which they exhibited.
On the second day, the blind pupils examined.
FRS. they portion Of Scripture without mistake
and almost without hesitation. Classes then ex-
amued in History, Geography, Arithmetic, Algebra,
Geometry and French; aud all these subjects qucs-
proposed at random either by the teachers 9TH
ers, were answered with readiness and accuracy. In
Arithmetic, the multiplication and division ofnumbcrs
with five places Of figures complex questions in
fractions interest, discount, and the extraction of the
square and cube root solved mentally and without
difficulty while the solution of quadratic equation
and the demonstration of long proposition in Geomc-
try seemed to present difficulty. In French the
questions rapidly asked and answered in that Ian
haSfs ~,
The easy and respectful manners of the pupils their
promptness in every thing and their personal neaness
feet high credit the Domestic culture bestowed and
OH the young Ladies personally.
In a word, no one present could doubt for moment
that this noble Institution under the efficient Govern
ment of its Board Of Visitors and the admirable nstrc
ton OF its corps of Teachers, fulfilling the high and
holy purposes for which established in shedding
the blessings OF knowledge and religion its unortu.
nate inmates and preparing them for usefulness and hap
piness in after life.
PIKE POWERS,
At the close of the Examination prizes were present
ed to pupils Of the respective schools by the President
Of the Board, A. III. H. STUART Esq, who on present
ing them, made the following address:
AS the organ of the Board of Visitors II now becomes
my pleasing duty to distribute among the pupils of the
two departments the premiums which have been award
cd to them respectively.
They are bestowed on those who have been most dis
tnguished for their proficiency in their studies and most
remarkable Tor their correct and orderly dcportmcn
In an Institution like this where think but echo the
voice of the public when say, all have done we'll il is
empty honor become entitled to such SIGNAL mark
of appreciation.
The first premium consists of Gold Medal, which
by direction OF the enlightened and benevolent gentle
who instituted it, be cd annually on the
pupil o the dcafm department no shall have been
most distinguished during his connection with the school
i1r scholarship and good conduct In honor of the gen
CHAMBERLAyNE, a distinguished physician of Rich.
mond it is designated the "Chambcraync Medal."-
This Medal has been awarded by the proper authorities
OF the Institution to Mr.. Thomas ii. Tlnghas of N
Carolina.
The other premiums consist of Books intended to be
bestowed on the most distinguished pupil in each class
But in Of the classes, of the Great
merit OF more than pupil il has been difficult mai
ter to decide between them In the first class the
deaf mute school this difficulty has been most embarras
ing In that class there are three scholars eminent
y worthy in all respects and at the time so equal
IN merit that IT has been impossible to discriminate be-
tween The Board have therefore determined to leave
them all the high ground and to give TO each
of them an appropriate reward of their good conduct by
presenting them with copy of the Holy Scriptures.
The names OF these pupils are Thomas Williams, of
Matthews, Hodridge Chidester, of Harrison, Charles
r. Brkby, of Leesburg, Va In the second class-Ro-
bert f. Tucker. In third-Indiana NJ Chappelll Of
Dinwiddie, and Maria Susan Harwood of K!np and
S Ss1ea and in fourth Hartwel M Chamberlayne Of
In the Blind department, have no golden medal TO
bestow. That department has not yet been fortu.
nate enough to find DIR. Chamberlayne. All we can
offer such memorials own limited resources
will enable to tender But if their intrinsic value is
small know that they will be estimated by YOU be-
yond all price, testimonials of the appreciation and re-
spec and affection of those entrusted with the admins
tration of this noble charity.
These small testimonials are bestowed on J. Fl Jess
horne, Albert Hibble, John Nj. Allison, w Daniel JEFF
ferson Elizabeth X. Anderson, Elizabeth A. FitxwiI
son, Mary Jane George, and Elizabeth Fullwider
Before close, permit behalf of my associates
and myself to offer you single word of cxhortaon and
counsel. The Commonwealth of Virginia has founded
this Institution for the benefit Of yourselves and those
who may be situated you Hitherto it has com
manded the appreciation Of the public the patronage
OF the General Assembly. Its future prosperity will
depend mainly your good conduct Iwhen YOU leave
us you 60 INTO the world determined to become useful
and respectable citizens, expenditure will be deemed
by the people extravagant which may be necessary TO
MAINTAIN these schools the efficient footibe-
BUT by your misconduct neglect of duty expec
cations OF the public disappointed confidence in its
utility Will be destroyed and the Institution will sink in
10 insIgnl!icancc and contempt You will then perceive
that the future destines of this school, aud NAV say
OF the Deaf mutcs and Blind of our old Commonwealth
are In your hands. IT, then, you ere charged with re-
sponsiblc duties, you, too have mission to perform
And what mission Ii is Of high and heavenly
character! il is like that of our Savour-to opep the
eyes OF the bndto uustop the Of the deaf and TO
give speech to the mute
is to unrol to the view of your fellow men the ma
ges OF earthly knowledge and to point them to that
pathway which leads to eternal happiness high!
Are you prepared for this God like mission? Will
you fulfil its heavenly duties Your future career must
answer the question.