Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-06-24
THE con1mENcEMENT

: Last week was q very gay season in Yorssihe'
by the always interesting ceremonies OF
the annual Examination of our Female College,
PARENTS, brothers, sisters, bellies and beanx came
to us from every point of the compass; our no.
tells were full, and private hospitality dispensed
generously; and the unusually large concourse
were entertained, much to our own pleasure anu,
We hope, to the qualification. of ell.
The examination of the classes began on Tues
day morning and extended to Wednesday evening
Other and pressing engagements prevented OUT
attendance upon these exercises, except at occa-
sional intervals ; and in goodfaith We can express
no opinion as to the merits Of the exhibition be-
yond q well-established confidence in the ability,
fitness and never-wearied industry Of the Faculty.
We, know that the eurraiculum Of studies Is singu-
larly thorough and substantial, and we have here
tofore been assured that the labors of the Facui-
ty, in.each department, have been uniformly re-
warded. And in simply expressing the general
sentiment that this occasion was not below their
standard, We are saying very much both for pro-
HHna--HH .-t ~. 49,
fessors and pupils.
It is scarcely necessary for MS to remark, how
ever, thatdn one important particular both teach
ers and pupils are obnoxious to severe criticism.
During the few moments We were permitted to at
tend the examination, we scarcely caught q single
word and we are sure that to all the company,
except the few who occupied seats upon the plat.
form, the exercises we're a stsealed book" Where
the young ladies pertinacioualy refuse to be heard
the whole affair must be pronounced q farce
They are themselves doubtless worthy Of some de-
gree Of censure on this score but We think a
clear and distinct enunciation, q matter Of train.
ing which should gage the attention Of teachers,
and where. pupils are SO utterly deficient in this
respect their instructors must bear the burden OF
criticism. We know no reason why q young lady
should be permitted to choose her own faulty tone,
and enunciate her sentences in a mangled, cen
fused and unintelligible mass, whisperingly. We
of the sonth are entirely too, negligent In this de-
partment Of female culture to Q cultivated ear,
the tone and manner Of speech Of our young ladies
is positively painful; and We are sure the Faculty
cannot attain a more desirable end than BY astrict
ssttsntion to this important branch Of education.
Thursday forenoon was devoted to the gradua-
ton OF the Senior lass--thirteep in number; who
read competitions in the following order Miss
MAMIE J. DouaL2ss, Chestsr-Sa1ptatory;tsA SAT
LIE @. ALLISON, York-A soul without reflection
to ruin ; MATTE ). BsArrY, Union-The
sacrifice and recompense Of literary life; AMANDA
A. HANNA, York-school days, their joys and sor-
rows: SUE B. MEEK, York-0ur Commencement
LIZZIE E. MILLS, Chester-Every cloud has q sill
yerHning; LAURA G. MILLER, Liberty Hill-The
Pulpit and its influence; CoaIssE L. REID, Union
The gift and pleasures Of memory; VICTORIAN.
SHARPE, misunderstanding away; ELLEN c.
Newberry-Bsauties Of Nature lu-
Liza R. wARasN, walterboro-Why weep at q
thoaughtless word 2; JENNIE E. WILLIAMSON, Lam
caster-value Of Time; PATIENCE A. srR1SoPst-
Low, Chestsr-CoAege Farewell. The compost
tons, were recited in much better style than we
had reason to expect; and all were clever perform
ances. They we're mature in thought; correctly
and st times elegantly written and peryaded, IN
an eminent degree, by those purer, more elevated
and beautiful sentiments which are characteristic
of woman. It is not an incorrect criterion to a.
ward the premiums of q class to the most success
full writer for she is sure to have excelled in al
most every other department Of substantial cul'
ture. Regarding this as q severe and correct test,
we take pleasure in awarding to, the class the
need of an unusal cleverness; and heartily con-
graduate the Faculty upon amost decided success.
We were pleased to observe, toe. that this sue
cess was not without its immediate reward. As a
token Of their esteem, and q grateful expression
of their sense of obligationforduties well perform
ed, the GLASS presented to the President, Rev. Mr..
ADAMS, o beautiful silver goblet; and to Mr.. Ell.
DER, a silver.mounted walking cane. The cere-
mony was handsomely performed, in behalf of the
young ladies, by B. H. MOORE, ESQ.,, to whom the
favored recipients made pertinent replies. It is q
difficult task for the teacher to retain the kindly
regard of his pupil, and at the same time discharge
his trust truthfully and when in the same hour
we are favored with such indubitable evidences
that this task is happilydone, we are ready to pro.
nounce q word Of unstinted communication, and to
write down q hearty ''well done !"
In the afternoon, Mr.. IsaLIs delivered the an.
nual address before o very attentive and appreci'
alive auditory. In justice to this production, we
must use the highest terms for Of the theme, sug.
gestsd by the occasion, we have never heard
more excellent discussion. We admired the tone
we'll sustained throughout, and heartily applauded
every opinion and sentiment. Without being or,
nate Or pedantic, the address was tersely art
elegantly written and enriched with the varied re
sources of sound and substantial learning. In the
argument, Mr.. IsoL1s rightly regarded education
as a leading-out of all the faculties Of the soul
and he emphatically condemned the prevailing
animus of Our educational system and the modes
Of culture resulting therefrom-conducing to q
sort of mechanical learning, mere instruction, 6
dry accumulation Of u~nwieldy facts, the furnish
ing Of arms and ammunition, instead of strength,
skill, courage-loadiog the mind with an unassimi'
lated burden of truths and precepts, instead o.
teaching it, ever fresh and elastic, to think and
how to think. In the system Of the ~ancients, the
end of education was the State; men were cult
waited for the State, and SO that they might be-
come good citizens and to this end, Pythagoras
Plato and all the immortal philosophers of Ancien,
Greece inculeated the doctrine that every faculty
Of our being should be matured alike. In this en-
lightened age, we know that the aim of life is the
glory Of God and the we'll being Of our fellows
an aim to which the same liberal culture is indis.