Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-08
Commencement Exercises Of the Mansfield
EnlacOnnl Enmnle anrnInnrr

COmmencemGnt Exercises Of the Mansfield
Episcopal Female Seminary.
EDITohs LEADER Having attended the
Examination and Commencement Of this
Seminary, thought brief notice Of the
Institution and the Exercises Of the occa-
sion might not be uninteresting to your
host Of readers.
The Seminary is located in one Of the
finest towns in the State. The building is
a spacious one, and admirably adapted to
its purpose. It is situated in the midst of
taslofully Ornamented grounds, and is
surrounded by beautiful private residences
and commands fine view of the rich fields
and highly diversified scenery of a Old
Richland.n
This Institution is under the charge Of
the Episcopal Church, and in all its ap-
pointments is unsurpassed by any similar
school in the West The Rector, Rev. Mr.
DoOlittle, is a man cast in natures no.
blest mould, and possesses those qualities
Of the head and heart that fit him for the
position. The Principal, Mr.. Indy, is
most genial gentleman, and is well known
as thorough scholar and successful in
structor Mrs. Indy, Assistant Princi-
pal, is lady in every respect, worthy Of
the responsible position she occupies. Not
only is she competent teacher, but by the
exercise of those gentle and womanly quail
tiles, succeeds in commanding the respect
and winning the love Of her pupils. The
Assistants. Misses Saver, Dunlap and Gil
lette, aTe well qualified for their respect
i've places.
The teacher of music, Mrs. Larimore, is
an enthusiastic lover Of the "divine art"
and is an excellent teacher, Judging from
the artistic skill displayed by her pupils
in the execution of some of the most diff
cult pieees-Operatie and otherwise
On Friday evening, the 20th, a large
and appreeiatiye audience assembled to
hear the closing exercises Of the Agatho-
nian Literary Society" The anticipations
of highly delighted auditory were fully
realized. The music especially was su-
perb. piano Duet from Mendelssohn-
The Battle March of Athaba by Misses
c. Cook, Cox, ]. Cook and Doane. was very
fine, and the exquisite melody of solo
and chorus from Donizetti-"The land of
the Trumpet and the Spear by Mrs.
Taft and the Glee Class, could not be sur
passed.
The essays of the young ladies were
carefully written, and the fruits of rigid
but generous culture were everywhere
manifest. There was an absence Of rhe-
torical display, and but very little Of what
sensationists would call fine writing. -
It was evident that literary pyrotechny is
not one of the branches taught in this Sem
mary, and one vainly looked for such
flights of Imagination and flashes of pa
thos as "meandering streams" "sighing
zephyrs," "purling brooks" "leafy cano-
pies" while the whole nymphhood of
Maids and Dryaids and Oriads seem to
have been studiously snubbed Neither
did any endeavor to "stretch the thinnest
LaHliha Of thought over the greatest pos
sible surface Of words, which many think
is the acme of literary excellence; but on
the contrary, they treated their subjects in
q sensible manner, and drew their Ian
guage from the "pure we'll of English un-
defled." The prevailing characteristic of
style was clearness and naturalness, and
throughout the essays exhibited q Vigor of
thought and a knowledge Of the delicate
shades Of the meaning of words which
would have done honor to more expert
enced persons.
The Commencement Exercises on the
oath ult. were very entertaining, and gave
evidence of thorough and finished scholar
ship. The music was enchanting-n num-
Der of airs from Rossini, Donizetti and
Meyerbeer were interspersed with the ex-
ercises The address to the Senior Class,
by Junior, Miss Phelps, was filled with
fine ideas and clothed in chaste language,
and was read in manner BETTING the
occasion. A graduating essay, "The
tallest Tree is riven by the Thunderbolt,"
by Miss Sanford, presented many essen
tials of excellence, and showed analytic
power; but considered in the fullness and
completeness of an artistic effort, the es-
say by Miss Presley, Behold the Dreamer
Cometh, is entitled to the highest praise
The address Of the Rector to the Glass
was affecting, and abounded in fine
thoughts and most excellent advice.
If the Examinations and Exercises
which had the pleasure of hearing are
any criterion by which the merit Of the
Seminary can be judged, it is equal to any
similar institution in the West. If such
schools are patrOnized-and they should
be-the coming Women of America
will be taught how to think and act well
their part, rather than how to simper me-
lOdious platitudes and indulge in dreams
of that ideal life which false pride and
siekly sentimentalism induce. NJ. G.
June Both, 1862.