The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-08-11
insult which they offer in manner and matter,
and in the style Of their addresses.
MANSFIELD FEMALE COLLEGE.

It was our good fortune, In a recent visit to North
West Louisiana, to reach Mansfield in time to witness
the Commencement-(why not call a thing by its
proper name, and say, Closing D-Exerclses Of
Mansfield College and never were we more pleased
with the manner in which both pupils and teachers
acquitted themselvet.
The establishment of this institution, the hrst reg
ular Female College in the State, has been WITHIN the
last twelve months, and the exercises were those OF
the first session. The endowment, by private sub
s~criptions and by the Legislature of the State, had
been ample and with such a President at the head
Of the institution as DR.. Thweatt, assurances were al
once given that the school would succeed; but It's
success to SO great an extent, in so short a time, could
not have been anticipated by the most sanguine OF
its friends. Something less than o hundred pupils
were entered during the session, drawn together In
Discriminatory from the village and country around,
as well as the adjoining Parishes, many of them never
having been inside of a College or High School ; yet,
on the occasion of the Examination, we learn that
there was evidence of a proficiency among the pupils
not unworthy of an old institution and in the
speeches, readings and compositions, as also the
vocal and instrumental music, which we heard, we
can bear testimony to an ease Of manner, q beauty
Of language and q vigor Of thought, with q trained
voice and touch Of the piano, that would have done
credit to a graduating class in any school.
We could scarcely discriminate in the handsome
manner in which the young ladies acquitted them.
selves but, without disparaging the merits Of the
Others, we would allude to the +" Salutatory, = in Latin
by Miss Greening, in French by Miss Mundy, and in
English by Miss Eliza Pigues, as also the "Vale-
dictory," by Miss Taylor, as doing them much credit ;
and we can not forbear to mention Miss Terrell's
g Humbug," Miss Phifer's :" Press On, y Miss Browns
(" Politeness," Miss Franklin's " Age in which We
Live" and Miss Phillips's " Our Country" as being
highly creditable performances. The exercises at
midday were closed by the Regular Address by Hin
ton Smith, Esq, which was altogether able, and short
addresses by D. Creswell, Esq.,, and Gen. Phillips,
asking for contributions to procure chemical and
philosophical apparatus, which were responded to by
a subscription of $1,000 in a few minutes-an amount
whiche vinced the ~liberality of the citizens of North
Louisiana, and showed their determination to build
up such a school as will reflect credit upon them,
upon their region Of country, and upon the State.
The establishment and success of Mansfield Col
lege, then, is a fixed fact, and We recommend it to
all of our citizens as already one Of the best schools
in the South, and advise its patronage.
The village of Mansfield is situated in a very
healthy region of country, some ten or twelve miles
from navigation, and free from all epidemics. The
school has already an able corps of teachers, (Which
will be increased for the next session, to begin on the
I'D OF October next,) and has for its President one
OF the most intelligent and accomplished gentlemen
OF this or any other country besides, ample build
ings are now erected, and the cornerstone of a new
College edifice has been laid, and the contractor is
already at work.
The attendance of ladies' and gentlemen upon the
closing exercises was large, and their appearance ill.,
dicated beauty and fashion with the one, and intelli.
gence and responsibility with the other. The wind
up Up, at night, at the supper, beggars description.
every body looked Cheerful and laughed, talked and
walked, until the clock admonished them that they
should retire. As for ourself, we left early, haunted
by the glossy jet black ringlets which fell gracefully
upon the beautifully chiseled shoulder and not I'M
graceful form of a very bewitching lady, who, like
a husband,