Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-07-23
For the Democrat & Sentiuul
The Exhibition Of St. Francis Academy


MEssRs. EDITORS In fulilment of my
promise / send you the following rough notes
taken on the occasion of the exhibition os the
students of st. Francis Academy. I was,
indeed, sorry that you could not be present,
as [ am confident that you, in common with
all other friends of education. would have been
delighted. The Academy is beautifully stu
ated, about one half mile from the pious and
quiet village Of Loretto, on an eminencc COM
manding splendid view of the magnificent
mountain scenery for miles around. Certain
ly, no location could be better adapted to the
formation of character and the purposes of ed
ucation. The students are shut out from the
busy world, with its hustle and throng-its
pleasures and vices; they form society am
| ong themselves. realizing all the innocent joys
and participating in none of the folles or gro-
Yelling desires of that great outside world -
They have as much solitude as the most stu
dious could desire, and gayety and life sufh-
cient to animate the most hypochondriac. As
regards that greatest of all blessings health
no place could possess greater advantages
Nothing more could be wanting to render this
place celebrated among the educational insti-
tutions of our country but competent instruc-
tors, and judging from the exercises on Wed
nesday, these certainly not among the things
needtul. The exhibition was held in the ca
pacious barn belonging TO the farm. On
tering, We were struck with the taste display
ed in ornamenting it The stage was hand
somely decorated, and we were gratifed to OBJ
serve the coat of arms of our good old Com
monweath occupying conspicuous place
On the outside the - stars and stripes" foated
gaily in the morning breeze. Nor were these
manifestations of patriotism in contrariety to
to the exercises of the day--they fully accor-
ded with the sentiments expressed by the diff
! ferent speakers. 1t was plainly visible that
| after their duties to their God, the students
had been well instructed in the duties which
| they owe their country. Would that some of
the enlightened members of the last Legisla-
ture, who so indignantly, opposed the char
terinz of this institusion had been present, to
be taught the wise lesson that religion, educa-
| tion and patriotism are not incompatible ele.
ments, but go hand in hand together in the
cultivation, enlightenment and civilization of
mankind But enough. he Salutatory was
delivered by James M'Culloch, of Pittsburg
Not aware of the rich literary feast in which
we were about to participate. We feared that
the kind Professors had selected the best ora
tor for the first speech-for certainly Master
NC far surpassed our most sanguine expec
tations The next oration was by Henry ia
cobs, in French Not being blessed with a
knowledge of this language, We were, ofcourse.
unable to appreciate anything but the graceful
eloquence of manner manifested by the speak
er Master G. r. Leffler, of Baltimore, next
| delighted the audience with an ably written
and well delivered oration on ''Socety The
choice of the next speaker was '' Education"
"a prolific theme, which was well handled
bv gentleman basking under the sonorous
name of Murphy, and springing from Omaha
| City, Nebraska The next speaker who ap-
peared before the curtain. was, our pro-
gramme informed us, } E. Blaine, of Eliza
beth, Penna.. who. with fluency, eloquence
and grace. 9 held forth" on 3. Public Amuse-
ments' We were then entertained for some
time with speech on the . Effects of Union
delivered by J L. Blakely. of Hillside Hall,
Allegheny county. Although very young,
Master B. displayed capacity for conceiving
and force of expressing ideas, which would
not have disgraced much more experien-
ced orator. Washington" was chosen by
Mr.. j. P. Simpson of Indiana Co., it is sufh-
cient to remark that the panegyric did justice
| TO the Immortal hero" u. 0. G. lhmsen
manifested himselfin in speech on ''Modern
Orators" MIR I. evinced a knowledge Of
oratory which surprised As. He ably con-
trasted the Moderns with the Ancients and
Justly claimed for Burke, Sheridan, Pitt, Fox,
Henry and others. positions as exalted, if not
more so, as those occupied by Demosthenes
and Cicero Mr.. I. is good orator, but a
much better dramatist. Mr.. James Dunla-
Wy. of Allegheny county. passed an eloquent
and appropriate eulogium on the life and vir-
tues of that great and good man. Franklin y
The interests of Little Cambria were partly
represented by one of her sons, w NJ. Levy
and we think he nobly sustained her. Hi
subject was Industry fit theme for
| Cambrian. and one to which he did full ius