Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-07-28
State Normal School.

AT birmingham, on Wednesday, the sixth
Biennial Convention of the graduates and
members of the Female State Normal School,
at that place, was held. This school was orig
inally commenced at Lexington, some fifteen
years since, 1t was afterwards removed to
West Newton, where it remained till the pres
ent year, when, through the liberality Of the
citizens of birmingham, it was permanently
located at that place. The building is very
thorough and excellent one, well adopted for
the purpose, and the site is beautiful one,
on fine eminence, commanding view of
wide extent of country, exhibiting scenery of
a very diversified character.
The first exercises of the day were in the
School room, after which procession was
formed, consisting of the present scholars,
members of the several classes, who have
heretofore graduated, according to their dates
respectively, invited guests, and various pub
lie officers, among them the Governor of the
Commonwealth, and proceeded at IL o clock
to the Unitarian Church, where an able and
interesting address was delivered by Professor
FELTON,, of Harvard College. The subject of
the address was the position and influence of
woman in Ancient Greece. The speaker oc-
cupied about one hours time, and was listened
to with undivided attention.
At the close of the services, the procession
again formed and proceeded to the Town Hall,
where sumptuous collation. had been provid-
ed by the members of the school. After JUS
tice had been done to the viands, SO literally
furnished, George b. Emerson, Rsq., of Bos-
ton, who presided on the occasion, in a neat
and appropriate speech, welcomed the guests
to the entertainment, and alluded very happi-
ly to many incidents in the history of the
school. He then gave several appropriate
sentiments which called forth addresses from
many of the invited guests, among whom
were Professor FELTON,, Gov. Washburn, Pro-
fessor Guyot, Rev. Mr.. Pierce, former teach
er of the School, Professor Wells, of the
Westield Normal School, and Mayor Smith,
of Boston. The latter gave new version of
his Daniel Webster story, which he reports to
have occurred during his travels in Palestine.
The occasion, on the whole, was highly
interesting one, uOC Ouly 10 lnOSe InOSI parClc-
ularly engaged in it, but to all who attended.
The number of former members of the School
present, was much larger than we expected to
see, showing the feeling of attachment which
they cherish to the Institution. Many of them
had travelled a great distance in order to be
there.
The breaking up of these at West New
ton, and its removal, very naturally, for the
time being, affected it uafavorably, and con-
siderably reduced the number of scholars.
But, being now re-established under fayora-
Bile auspices, with a principal, Professor
Stearns, of high repute, and accomplished in
structors, there is good reason to believe that
it will become more Aourishing than at any
former period. Indeed, the class that last en-
tered, nearly doubles that of the one that
next preceded it, and there is no reason why
it should not come up to the hopes and ex-
pectatons of its founders. and send forth, an
nually, large band of thoroughly trained
teachers, to elevate and improve the common
schools Of our Commonwealth.