Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-10
For ti,n Vindicator
Wesleyan Female Seminary.


Wesleyan Female Seminary. SIS
Mr.. hpIToR, Ii was my pleasure, and
1 assure you it was a rcs:o one. to attend the
Comm eneemelt Of the Wesleyan Female
Institute IN your town Of Staunton, OH the
evening Of the 3Oth June. Gratifed my
self, have no doubt many Of your read
ers, who wereefebarred the pleasure. Of be-
ing present, viii be glad to learn the result.
Permit me to say that this Institution has
been under the care of Professor B. ARBo-
CAST. as Principal, only since the LIST Of
| February last yetin that brief space Of
time he has achieved for himself character
/ for ability aud energy which has fully vinai-
Gated the justioe4of the high testimonials
heretofore awarded him at other Institutions
where he had taught
The Hall Of the Institution in which the
exercises occurred was beautifully & taste
fully decorated with gracefully hung ever
greens, interviewer with flowers, which gave
it most attractive appearance. But the
young Ladies arrayed in pure virgin white,
the image Of their pure and virtuous tastes,
were the most attractive objects to the eye.
Ihe.e1ercises commenced with prayer,
and then succeeded "Home Again by a
choir Of the young Ladies, performed in
such manner as to give an earnest Of what
was to follow. The Salutatory by Miss
MATTE L. ARBoGAsT was production Of
rare merit and attracted much attention -
Succeeding this, numerous pieces Of Music
were performed which I cannot undertake
to mention in detail. ! can only add that
that their execution showed an aptitude and
proficiency seldom witnessed, and that Prof
a. j. Turner, under whose tuition the
young Ladies in this department have. been
placed, and under whose supervision this
part Of tho exercises was conducted. had
! well performed. his duties. We can only
| refer, IN general terms, as evidence of this,
to the pieces, 20 Give me Homo by the
Sea-" Will you come to my Mountain
Home, love y BY Miss v. NJ. G1DBoas-
Moonlight, Love and Flowers by the
Misses GlBBoNs, and "When night comes
Ger the Plain, by Misses WooD and BERRY.
The exercises were intersperscd with sew
leral Colleagues" Of great merit and indi-
eating in the authors Misses DHLApLANn
and GlasoS, character and degree Of tai
entln this department. which would have
/ done credit to much older and experienced
heads. Compositions were read By several
Of the young Ladies, giving evidence Of
taste, scholarship, and a ready grasp and
depreciation Of the various subjects which
had engaged their attention and elected
/ their efforts. 4s
The Valedictory Of Miss e. J. GIBSON.
OF Augusta county, touched many hearts,
as it brought up wildly to memory similar
scenes of parting and farewell fresh in the
recoleetion Of many Of her apprcciativc and
intelligent auditory.
! A Parting Ode added to the saldened
feeling which perVaded all present, as they
were reminded that it was the last piece il
the programme and that SO soon shoy were
in memory, to hear the Tssweet sounds
WHICH in their hearts had found such q clad
response.
Let me add that Prof ARnoGAsr is d ma
tive Of Virginia, o graduate, with the high
est honors, Of one Of the best literary insti-
tations IN the land, and has now determin-
cd to serve his native State in one of the
Senlnaries Of the highest grade, by conse-
Grating his requirements and experience to
the cause Of sound and useful learning
Besides, the Institute over which he nre-
sides with SO much acceptability, is in a pc
cullar sense under the care and patronage
Iof the Baltimore Annual Conferences. and
is the only Institution Of The kind which IS
thus intimately allied to that body. Attic
occupying this position, it is proper to state,
IN order to avoid misapprehensioD, that this
institution is sectarian in no other sense. as
will be seen by reference to the recent cata-
logue issued By the Trustees.
close, by expressing the hope, that this
Institution viii receive, as it merits, the
patronage Of the Church to which it is 50
closely allied, and the public at large. In
deed, with such q Principal and corps Of
competent Teachers and Assistants as now
occupy the different departments, we do not
see any good reason why any should in seek
ing fer them 80 elsewhere In eligibility
lot situation, the salubrityeo of the climate and
ease Of access, size and commodiousn Of
the rooms, and other arrangements, the In
stitute is al that, can be desired.
VIATOR.