The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-04
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| interesting Erercfses.-Quite large audi
! tory OF ladies and gentlemen assembled i'm the
| lower hall OF the Mechanics Institute build
| ns: riuay eFening, to witness the closing ex-
| e,eises OF the Night School connected with
Ihe Mechanics' Institute A Temporary plat
iorin nad Deem erected on the northern side of
IN me halI, which was occupied by the Presiden
OF the Institute, the teachers of the Niah,
| Schooi, the speakers and the committee of fha
institute, Messrs. Macfarlane. Anderson and
Alnsiie, who have charge of the school Tho
ia nm Oh lne Night School were out nearly
| In full force, numbering, say one hundred q nj
tnlrty pupils present out of $50
The exercises commenced with a br,of -,
dress from the President, A. M Bailey Eso
IN Ino urged .ne claims of the school upon
the citizens, and gave the pupils some whpla-
some advice to guide them in future ufe
He then introduced Mr.. SaIter senior tsarhor
OF the school. Under his direction sundrv
VI the scholars deciaimed and recited, a
defamation on the necessity of resistance
a poem p" The Southland fears TO Foe n
defamation on the glories of the Union
and two comic dialogues admirably rem.
dered. There may have been other per
formances by the boys, but they are NOT
now called TO mind; but ii may be truthfullv
SAID that all the youngsters acquitted them.
selves most handsomely, and reflected very
instructors
AT the conclusion of the exercises the
president introduced to the audience Thomas
j Evans, Esq. who delivered an address to
- 0tApOi. AHt tHtlllt OF the discourse
" ohedlence,' and the basis idea this prey
nant sentence. "No man is fit to govern who
mas not learned to obey The value OF obs-
alence, IN the lamily, in the school room, and
III III soGitly, was ably enforced, and much of
the disorder, anarchy and confusion of IN.
times In THIS country was traced TO the failure
To lnculcate the virtue of obedience among
tnose charged with the training OF the young
oDeolehce 10 law was shown to be the moral
condition OF all things in nature and rho y;oI,
tioh OF the principle attended with ineyitable
pans ana penalties. The young folks ware
*; eAnorted 10 learn how cheerfully to obey, and
the eXhortation enforced by iIlustr, tions Of
the rewards which, III FREQUENT histori, in
stances, has followed upon Obedience Tho
entlre effect was admirably conceived and
exrcoted, and afforded high satisfac ion TO old
and young alike. ~
The next order of the evening was tho pre.
sentation of the three silver medals given bv
the institute to the three scholars most dis
tingushed for puuctuality good conduct ana
progress In study. The medals were unite
pretty and handsomely engraved The ure
Sentation was made by n. A. Sturdiyant
Esq, IN neat, prettily conceived and admi.
inscription stating II to be given as rs,a,a ,,.
OF application and progress - another to n
" burton, for "punctuaIty and good con-
aact; e.; ana the other TO Bernard Ramke, for
jealous devotion to learning" While tba
inscription did not SO state these medals ,ysro
awarded only to those scholars who stood
pre- eminent among their fellows for tho tbraa
'i"itH, PuhCtutHty, G1c0rum in school and
actual progress in learning. The presen ntation
was accompanied with some remarks to thp
school, &c. '">
After this, Mr.. Salter announced the names
OF such OF the boys as had specially djstin
guished themselves in any study and unite a
lengthy list 1t was and then delivered an adj
mirable. address, filled with sagacious conn
seis to tife boys of the school, and words of af
fectionate parting.
Ihls. 1t was expected, would end the cere
mony, but one of the larger pupils came upon
the platform, opened a box, and took ont
large and finely bound copy of the HOLY Bible
ana presented 1t to Mr.. Salter as token of
esteem and respect for their teacher The
present was very fine one, and totally unex-
pected by the recipient, whose feelings we'll
nigh forbid Il suitable response
This done, President Bailey announced the
evenings exercises closed, and the conclusion
OF the session of the Night School for the
winter of lS60-6l.
gentleman who kindly furnished us with
an account OF the exercises, after the above
was III type, says: j. The friends and patrons
OF the school were delighted with the lndi-
cations OF progress given by the pupils who
participated in the eulogies, declamatious.
odes ana dialogues prepared for the occasion
II Rlchmond is true to her highest glory the
Virginia Mechanics Institute will receive
substantial encouragement in the prosecution
OF the noble end sought to be attained by its
founders