Smyrna times., 1863-07-02
For the Smyrna Times"
Wesleyan Female College.

The annual " Commencement" of this Insti-
tuition occurred OH Wednesday last, the oath
inst. 1t was my happiness to be present at a
part of the proceeding examination of classes,
and L take great pleasure in saying, that very
satisfactory evidence was given that the young
ladies had been fortunate i'll having teachers so
competent to instruct, or that the teachers had
been not less so in having pupils so appreca-
tive of learning. The evening Of the 23d was
appropriated by the young ladies of the Iris"
Society, attached to the College, in celebrating
their ninth anniversary. The President, one
OF the ladies' of the Society, took the chair at
8 o'clock, presiding with becoming dignity,
and conducted the exercises, consisting in vo-
cal and instrumental music and the reading of
essays, poem, and Budget Selections, " for
an hour and a half The performances were
all creditable to the parties and pleasing to a
large and intelligent audience. At the close IA
little episode occurred which deserves a more
special notice. A full set of Washington r.
wins Works was placed on the Secretary 5 ta-
ble when Miss Bull, of Baltimore, on behalf
of the Society, arose and addressed herself to
Miss EastOn, one of the Teachers, presented
the book in a chaSte and modest speech, all the
more interesting because of the emotion awak-
ened by the occasion. Miss EastOn responded
with little if any less feeling in a speech We
only regret there was no photographer present
to preserve. A better close of more interest
ing entertainment could not have been desired
The Commencement proper took place the
following evening. We were not present at
Junior meeting in the forenoon on account Of
other engagements, but understand the exer-
cises were promissOry of feast of reason
year to come. At s O'Clock, p. NJ, every
part of the large Study-I1all was crowded to
its utmost capacity. Eighty young ladies having
completed the course of studies, were gradua-
ted-three in the Classical and five in the Eng
lish department, viz: Misses Bull, of Balti
more, Md. ; Martin, of Paris, Ky Newlin, of
Wilmington, Del Holmes, of Caroline CO., F.,
Md. Jones, of Wilmington Del Kupp, of
Pottsville, Pa. !; Mcrrihew, of Wilmington,
Del. and Wilson, of Elk Dale, Pa. Their es-
says were such as many older heads would have
been puzzled to conceive. and more practiced
hands could not SO well have traced. The
reading of these products of polished minds
was interspersed with vocal and instrumental
music, which evinced excellent taste and a very
fine order of talent. Surrounding us, in every
part of the spacious hall, hung gracefully ar
ranged specimens Of the beautiful art of paint
ing in different stages of progress as to style,
many of which would bear the most rigid crit
icism. Three hours passed amidst these de-
lightful scenes, and seemed as little more than
so many minutes. The President maintained
his characteristic dignity and brevity with a
noiseless but vigorous hand in all the respon-
sibilities of his position. His address to the
graduating class was brief, chaste, and worthy
| the occasion.
In conclusion l am happy to say, the College
is every year rising, and has never been in a
more, healthy state than at the close this aca-
demic year It's funded debt is undisturbing,
and its floating debt is less than it was few
years since But that which remains is just at
this time less manageable than is either agree
able or safe. The Institution promises much
to the Church and to the country. To relieve
it is perfectly practicable. To let it suffer for
want of relief will be suicidal crime that
hath never forgiveness, neither in this world
nor in that which is to come" An efficient
committee of some ten or twelve persons, lay
and clerical, of which Bishop Scott is chair
man, has been appointed and will, | doubt
not, devise such plan as will honored by the
Church in saying, at the opening in Septem
Der, "Go on y0ur way rejoicing" G.
NntraH ,JuRe 9th 1853