Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-06-28
"a 4 - 80
or the Standard.
GRAHAM INSTITUTE.

GRAHAM INSTITUTE
The examination Of the Students of the dranan
Institute commenced on the 9th inst, and was con-
tinued until Wednesday the 9TH. The attendance
was very great and the eagerness eyinceo ny sie
visitors tobe present during the exercises gave Al-
pie proof of the deep interest that IS Iet IN tne
cess of this valuable School, and to those parents
who have sons under the able tuition OF the rev
r r Holt and Prof A. G. Anderson. 1t must have
been n delicious treat to see ana hear now Wen the
voune gentlemen deported themselves during most
y;g;d Examination and to the friends of education
generally it must have been pleasing spectacle 10
see so many high spirited and Intelligent youths COL
lected around their instructors, and to hear thcm
with the utmost facility answer the most oincul'
Questions that were propounded in all the various
branches that they have applied themselves u ou
ring the session. IT,.
Monday was devoted to the lower classes in tisto-
rv English Grammar Geography and Arltnuneuc'
the bows answered readily and without any nes'ta-
ton all things that were asked them
At early candle light there was consioefaoie
gathering in the Court House TINS was inc occasion
for the Younger students to decalm: w ilnou' ~
;nr a dstaiIed account of this evenings exercises
snce it to state the speeches were well selected anu
many ofthem handsomely delivered 1t was pleasant
to see that the declarations totally void OF those
theatrical gesticulations common IN our CoheScs;
Tnesdsv morning the sun rose bright and warm and
ere he had assembled many degrees up the eastern
sky the crowd came rushing in !; the ROADS ieaaihg
to the town were densey thronged with vehicles OF
every Observation-Disclosures on horseoack anu COUNT
less numbers of pedestrians. About 10 o'clock the
illsborough Brass Band gave the signal Tor the SUI
dents to assemble, and in a very few minutes Cle
Court House was crowded to excess
The exercises ofto-day were commenced Win pray
or nv the Rev. j. R. Holt, the senior Professor, atcr
which the examination of the higher classes was be-
gun AS on Monday the young gentlemen acquitted
themselves admirably, and reflected mucn crediC u9
On their instructors Whether crossing Caesars
Bridge. fighting in the Jugerthin war, singing the
laws of Ovid tuning their reeds to the pastorais OF
Virgil or demonstrating some tangled problem IN Al
~, Sf.E nhI
that they had been well employed and that the Ia
bors of their teachers had not been in vain. In the
afternoon the French classes were examined Win
complete success.
AT early candelight the band was in attendance,
and while the audience collecting discoursed
some delightful melodies The crowd was much
larger this evening than it had been at any time
since the com nencement of the exercises Ihs eve
ming was devoted to original oratons They were all
listened to with much pleasure, the subjects were
tastfuly selected, and very crcditably dlscusseo.
Without meaning to particularize or detract from
the merits of the other orators must alude to the
happy address of Mr.. Rawls, of Virginia. Ills sub
iect was Smoking His remarks upon the use
of the Virginia weed were very tellcltous 1here
were others deserving of high communication, but
cannot recolect their names Rhetoric is very well
taught in this institute.
Wednesday morning at ten o'clock the exanna-
ton of the Greek classes nmenced, and concluded
Mt IL o'clock. The young gentlemen IN TINS the most
difficult of their studies fully sustained the reputa-
The scholastic exercises were now concluded, and 1t
was delightful to those merry faces and hear the
hearty laugh as those young spirits felt themselves
free for long vacation. What stage IN man eX-
istence is more happy than his school boy days! L
answer none. 1t no insignificant accomplish
ment to pass with such credit through so trying an
ordeal as three days rigid examination before wise
heads and sparkling eyes.
In the afternoon the Court room was again crow
det and the audience had the pleasure OF listening
to an address from John A. Graves, Esq OF 4ancey.
vile. The address was eloquent, and we'll adapted
to the occasion. This over, the room was once more
cleared The fathers and mothers retired to their
homes happy with what they had heard. The sons
and daughters retired, not to their homes but te
make their toilette for their last appearance on the
interesting occasion.
The Bail was the all-engrossing topic now-noth-
ing was talked of-nothng had been talked of for
DAYS past but the ba-the ball. Great preparations
had been made, and all things gave promise OF de-
lightful time. But oh the mutabiity of human at
fairs about o'clock, when the anticipations were
brightest and young hearts beat with eager expecta-
ton the sky cast by black cloud, and an
CRY mutterngs in the west gave unmistakabe assur-
rance that storm was brewing. Soon came thun-
der lightning and rain-roared flashed and poured
with undated fury for an hour. But then it is al
WAYS calm after storm, and just the last ray OF
hope was expiring in the bosom OF our young friends,
the sun broke through the mass of clouds, smiling
in all his glory; and after casting flood of golden
light the village to tighten the hearts and cheer
the dropping spirits of the young folks, made his
DOW ana retired IFOm the SCcLc, leaving Lue SuNcI
moon to light to the ball and to do other kind
Offices for her friends Seven o'clock found the lar
gest assembage of beauty, grace and wit ever collec
Z ted in the town of Graham. The room was densely
crowded it was but mass of humanity, and after
an hour the heat became so oppressive that the
guests had to be divided part remaining in the Court
room, and part adjourning to the Masonic Hail. At
ter this alteration effected, all went gay a
marriage bell. Many Counties were represented by
their fairest daughters-Gulford, Caswell, Rocking
ham, Randolph, Chatham, Orange and Alamance.
Such collection of beauty has never been witness
ed in Alamance. May June 1855, find them alto
gether again About 10 o'clock the supper
we'd; it was very tastefuy gotten up, and in this
connexion cannot pass on without allusion to
the managers. Too much praise cannot be given to
Aessrs j. A. Faucett j. N. Ethrage, j. w. Virgins,
G.. G. Rawls, +. E. Jones and r. NJ. Foust, for the
able and efficient in (which they discharged
their duties as managers. They that every
was provided for, and made themselves agreeable to
every body, kind to their friends, polite and atter
tive to their stranger guests. The fun kept up
until the night grew-old, and the short hours began
to peep in. The band played farewell air. and
soon felt
Like who treads alone
Some banquet hall deserted,
Whose guests have hed-whOse garlands gone
- So And all but me departed.
All retired to their homes, happy and satisfied.
Our fair friends to dream of their conquests and
young men friends to congratulate themselves upon
the manner in which they had acquitted themselves.
"A pleasant vacation to them, one and all.
cannot lay aside my pen without remark.
The Graham institute is enjoying reputation
it has never possessed before All this has heen eff