Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-01
Virginia Female Institute.

We had the pleasure Of being present on
the evening of the 23rd inst at the exhibi-
ton Of this admirable Institution. The ex-
ercises were highly interesting. They were
confined, SO far as the young Ladies were
concerned, to the musical Department.
The selections, both instrumental and vo-
cal. were of a very high order, and were
rendered, in the general, with extraordina-
ry skill and taste, rejecting much credit
both upon professors and pupils, and serving
as token of the excellences of an Institu-
ton where the solid branches of instruction
are the stocks upon which are successfully
grated the aowery accomplishments Of fin
ished education.
Next in order, after the musical perfor-
mances, the Right Rev. John Johns, Presi-
dent Of the the Board, assisted by the Rev.
R H. Phillips, the Principal, and Rev. j.
c. Wheat, distributed medals among the
most meritorious of the pupils, and diplo-
mas to tho graduating class. These are
conferred upon principles which make them
honorable distinctions and objects Of laud-
able ambition. We were much impressed
by the modest grace with which they were
received, and could not but notice that the
face of many lovely recipient was, for the
time being, "sicklied Ger with the pale cast
of thought" testifying that the prizes had
been well won and would be worthily worn.
At the close Of the distribution Of these
honors, Bishop Johns announced to the
audience the presence of his Excellency
Henry A. Wise, (who was on visit to
Staunton for the purpose Of inspecting the
State Charities here located, and requested
the Governor to lend his voice as well as
countenance to tho occasion, To this the
Governor acceded, and for the space of
three-quarters of an hour held the company
in rapt attention. His address, though en-
tirely impromptu, was replete with sage
counsels to the young ladies, conveyed with
an aptness Of language and enforced with a
beauty Of imagery which few have so en-
tirely at command as himself His trans
itions from grave to gay from lively to Sc
vere," were such as to impart additional in
telest to an address whose seasonable words
were like 'apples Of gold in pictures Of sill
YER" When the Governor had concluded,
the reverend Bishop arose and distributed,
among favored few, several copies Of the
Bible and Book Of Common Prayer, as tes-
timonials of the high moral and religious
worth of their happy recipients. In doing
so the Bishop dwelt with great beauty and
earnestness upon the value Of the scriptures,
and impressiveiy commended, as rules Of
action, the sacred precepts which bear with
them "the promise Of the world which now
is and of that which is to come" The ex-
ercises were concluded with chant, in
which scores Of sweet, happy and thankful
voices united after which the Bishop pro-
nounced benediction which released the
young ladies from the profitable bondage of
the session.
It were idle for us to commend this In
stitution, which has so strong an hold al
ready upon the confidence and favor Of the
public. The culture which it imparts, re-
ligious, intellectual and aesthetic, are such
as to give it a commanding place among the
foremost Of the female seminaries Of the
country, and as such it seems to be-, and
deserves to be, appreciated. Indeed. Staun-
ton is highly favored, not only in the pos
session Of this School, but in several others
whose exsellencies are universally acknowl-
edged, and whose faithful and effective la
bors are just now being brought to close.
We append list, which has been hand
ed to us, of the honors to which we have al
luded:
MEDALS AWARDED IN COLLEGIATE DEPART
B