The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-20

| TuR (,IoelNa Ex.RcIs4s Of the Night School
| Of 1.-the Virginia Mechanies' Institute. tool
fspfjees II - mn 81 ofK street last Monday
night, and Notwithstanding The extreme In
\ clsuDency of the Nsather, aa11ir ap4ience wns
id attendance to witness thslighly fi terestins
| cHraenonies go 7s@4s> sAs
The main hail was brilliantly lighted mp,
and on the staos seats were arranged for the
Pfseident of The institute, the speakers, teach.
ers Of the school, successful pupils, and COM
mittee on the school.
At 9 o'clock the doors of the main hall were
thrown open, and the pupils, about one hun
dred and fifty in number, marched IN from
the school.room, and occupied the front seats.
which had been reserved for them.
President Bailey, in brief and appropriate
address, stated the order Of proceedings, and
after announcing that four of the pupils would
address the audience, introduced
Master WILLIAM E. SIMONS, who made very
handsome speech on the subject of "Edu-
cation,' during which he pointed out the
great advantages of study, and the importance
of learning to all branches Of mechanism and
professions.
The President next introduced Master GEO
p STACY, who spoke in glowing terms Of the
benefits the young mechanics of the city were
deriving from the night school-of the charac-
ter of the studies and their adapta bility to the
wants of the pupils-of the kindness and efii-
cheney Of the teachers, Messrs Cone and Smith;
and closed with thanks to the members of the
Institute, and especially to its founders, for
having devoted so much Of their time to the
education of the working classes.
Master ID. IL. MAHONY was next introduced
by the President, and made the subject of Re.
spectability" the theme of his remarks. Mas
ter M. has pleasant voice good gestures. and
spoke with the confidence Of a trained debater.
He urged upon his fellow pupils the impor-
lance of preserving respectable positions in
society, and pointed out to them the means of
obtaining the friendship and regard Of all
hnSA UOOd win
Rev. g. H. READ was next introduced, and
for thirty minutes enchanted the attention of
the audience by illustrating the Importance,
to young men, of industry and frugaIity. His
remarks were highly appreciated by the pu-
pills, as well AS by the visitors, who no doubt
fully concurred with him that the elements
of education already taught the scholars, if
properly improved, might lead to distinction
in after life
Il. Il. MINOR, Esq, followed DR.. READ, and
entertained the pupils by a most impressive
address, filled with striking illustrations.
President BAILEY followed Mr.. Minor. and
after giving the scholars some excellent ad.
vice, presented, on behalf of the Institute.
three silver medals to the same number of pu.
pills. Each medal contains the following in
scriptiOn:
"First premium, to VIM E. S1MoNs. for scho.
larship, punctuality and department" And
on the reverse side of each, IVA Mechanics
Institute Night School, is59-6O''
., Second e ss1 premium, to VIM; G. Jones, for
Third premium, to Henry G. Boschen. for
application and department.
Master W NJ. q. JONES, in very handsome
~ delivered address, returned the thanks OF
the pupils to the officers and members of the
institute for the establishment of the Night
School, and the employment of most efficient
teachers; and to the teachers for their kind |
ness and continued efforts to forward them in |
their studies. He closed with most excellent |
advice to the younger scholars to preseyere,
and deserve success.
Master Il Eo. +. STACY, on behalf of the night |
school, presented two handsome volumes to |
The teachers. The first was SCOTS Writings. |
elegantly bound, with the following inscrip- |
ion on The back, in gilt letters " f. w. Cone, |
rom the pupils of the Virginia Mechanics
Institute Night School, The second was
pupils Of the Virginia Mechanics Institute
Night School,
Rev. MT. Smith returned thanks to the pu-
,ils for the present, gave them some excel
ent advice, and cOmplimented the following
pupils for their punctuality and progress in
tudies, viz: George p. Stacy, ID. H. Mahony
'hilip Il. Francis, William III. Grafton, J. ii.
Crafton, nj. Mahony, Michael Creigh, N. H.
II. M. Walthall Geo. A. Carr, Geo
}. Barnes, Francis Diacont Conrad Smith,
sernard u. Chalkley, Alex. McWilliam, Sid
ley s. Mcdowell, and Hammond q. Boschen
Mr. Smith regretted that there were not |
Medals to give to Stacy and Mahony, and
poke very highly of all the boys whose names |
e had enumerated. He closed with a feryid
xhortation to them to push forward in their
tudies, and asked the blessings OF Providence
n their future lives.
The exercises being ended, the audience re-
red. all highly delighted with the cheering
respects OF the Institute and its invaluable
light school,