Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-07

ton OF this school took place yesterday afternoon
at the schoolhouse. corner Of Third and ID streets
Capitol Hill. There was some confusion as 10
the place Of holding the examination; and there
fore, the attendance of vi>itsrs was small: pei-
ther was there sufficient number of the trustees
present TO give the occasion that degree of inter-
est 70 which its Importance entitled it, The ex-
| smhauon was conducted bv DR.. Willett, and
| Mess!s brandt, Price, and Walsh trustees the
| Secretary oil the Board, Mr.. Ricketts,, and seve-
"a, ,eaehers OF the other public schools partici-
Pat3 IN the exercises, and measurabiy compen-
sdted Tor the want Of due diligence and attention
on the part of the recusant members of the Board
| Lnis school has sixty live scholars enrolled, of
absentee. are sick fhe scholars are d, vi ie
/ into four classes-the first or most advanced he
ing under the tuition of Mr.. McCathran, and the
otheTs are instructed by the principal in Srithme
| tic, and in their other studies by Miss Lizzie
| Parsons, the assistant Miss p. also teaches
| singing, and in this accomplishment the pieces
| sung by the scholars during the examination
proved that she is not only a Competent but htUh
ysuccessful instructress in the science of sonp
| Inc examination was commenced with the
| fourth or least advanced class who read spelled
| wrote on the slate from dictaton and answered
multiplicity of questions in mental arithmetic.
history ana geography. besides working out sew,
| eIal aIithInetical propositions on their states
Considerable difficulty was experienced I'm The
examination of this class account of the method
| pursued bv those who questioned them MANY
OF the lhterrogatories being couc hed In unfamiliar
| terms, and many others in relation TO sucb nor
tons OF the studies not to be found in the
| textbooks used The scholars were thps CON
i ie ana weaIied, and the audience was not
| Ightened as to what progress they had made
| This system may suit admirably to displav the
attainments of the examiners, but 1t is surely an
| injustice to both scholars and teachers and
| SHOULD not, therefore, be pursued
| Examinations, as We understand them, are not'
| LOT the purpose OF asceTtaining what the examin-
| ers Know more than children, but near as may
De 10 arrive at the acquisitions Of the latter We
| tn1nk proper plan for these high schools espe-
e,aaiy, would be for the Board of Trustees to
80 ccnPetent examiner to conduct the exer-
! cises The matter would not only pass of more
| LARRY In that case, but the examination would
De conducted with greater facility, and instead
on 0UIi.huhg mhtiI eight O'Clock, could be
| Aiter the fourth class had concluded the third
| class was examined in spelling reading writing
nom ale,ation, mental and written arithmetic.
| geography, grammar aud history. The second
| class was also examined in the same studies
| but In more advanced portions of the text hook
| Inc nrst class was the last examined Their
| studies are the same as those of the third and
fourth Glasses, but they still further advanced
| Being the last class examined, they did NOT
| receive such thorough investigation as the
lower classes, bnt 1t was sufficient to test their
| ability quite fairly.
| All the classes answered promptly and fairly
pealy every question put to them, to which an an
| sWef rom them could have Teasonab ABLY been or.
pectd and they evinced a true appreciation Of
the various rules applicable to their several stu
dies. The higher classes were especially apt in
| geography, grammar and arithmetic and we
think their teachers have Just cause to feel gratj
| ned with the manner in which they AGO uitted
| themselves The entire school, cons idering their
| that unfortunate fault of not speaking loud
| enough. This, possibly, was consequent upon
ths presence OF strangers in the schoof-roo
| Specimens Of maps drawn by Masters John
| Eniwistle, WIN. b letters and Robert n Nit
chell were exceedingly well done, az were also
two crayon sketches by the former.
| we Were surprised that no police officers were
In the vicinity Of the school house, though their
presence was made necessary on account of some
rude boys who congregated about the doors and
| windows.
| The examination Of the Female B,ob scboo,
| In the same district, Miss Myrick's, which was
| TO have taken place o-ddy, is postponed ON ac-
count OF that lady's sickness, until next ednes-
| day, the l4th inst.
| IhK DEFENCE OF THESES AT GRoRoErowN
COLLEGE, lEsTEEDay.-It is, we believe, the
usual custom OF universities under charge of the
Fathers or the Society of Jesus to close the exer
eisss OF their graduating classes with public
aeience OF the moral and philosophical views
taught in the institution This custom which
has been handed down for several centuries has
been regularly observed at Georgetown College
since Its commencement as College In the year
| About o'clock, yesterday, the grounds about
| the college commenced receiving the invited
quests and others who desired to be present at
the exercises, and by d o'clock when the eyer
| rlSss opened the College Hall was well filed q
large number of ladies' being among the attentive
| listeners to the exercises in the mental arena
| Ihc comnodiOuS and cool hall was taste fully
decorated. Around the wall, shield = with ma.
| tional einblems were painted The banners of
| the Philidemic and PhilOnomosiar Societies were
dlSPIayed, ana immediately in the centre of the
| Platform appeared couple of American flag,
| supporting fancy centre piece.
ne assrmblage having been called to order by
the PRESIDENT OF the College, the exercises took
| place in the following order, such of the audi
ence ~ desired presenting objections to the
views maintained In the Theses read by the STU
dent, and the principles Of the Theses being
maintained and the objections answered either
by the author Of the Theses or another member
OF the graduating class.
The programmes of the exercises was as fol-
lows: " -
''The foreknowledge of God not incompatible
with the liberty of Man." a dissertation and
defence Of Theses, by Beverly C. Kennedy, Of
Louisiana.
The origin of Evil" dissertation, BY Chas.
b. Kenny, OF Pennsylvania. Defence of Theses
by Nicholas :. Hill, of Maryland.
The Brute Soul,' dissertation: and defence
OF Theses, by G.. John O'Flynn of Michigan
"The Internal Possibility Of Things ), dis
sertation; and defence Of Theses, by Edward
Wootton, OF Maryland.
CAUGHT NAPPINe-It is an old saying that
"Oid birds can't he caught with char, but il
does not hold good in all cases as the following
circumstances Of recent occurrence plainly shows:
Two old and experienced officers, thoroughly az
quainted with the " civil business levied 1pon
certain property at the MARYLAND Hotel Fifth
Ward, for a debt of about s6Go; they were out in
charge OF the property, staying all the time
prietor and his family Were also there, and the
officers found them very kind and polite and the
proprietor appeared perfectly willing, almost
anxious, for his goods to be taken to pay the debt
The officers placed great confidence in him, and
had no fears whatever for the safety Of the goods
In their custody The proprietor and his family
expressed desire to spend the 5th in the country
and Informed the officers that IL they would leave
so that he might lock up, they could return and
take possession the next day. The officers agreed
to the propositions; but the moment they left tho
door II was shut against them, and they left the
proprietor to sit at the window with his thumb
to his nose. making the sign which asks the sig
niheant question, " Do you see anything green!''
The officers &C knowledged the sale but still
| lurked about, like good soldiers, reconnoiteriny
They saw no hope Of success through the pro-
Pretor. AT length one Of them noticed that the
bar keeper had opened his window He went
| to him and asked for glass Of ice water The
oar.keepeI went to get IL, but turning around
there ssood the sturdy old fellow, inside again,
having jumped in the window "Ah,, said the
bar-k1ePer, gentlemen that is not fair The