Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-08-02
BEAUFORT, CARrEREr Co., July 25th, 1866

| Messrs. Editors Wilmington Journal -
| have just returned from Onslow, where [ wit
| messed the examination of Miss Irelands school
and SO interesting and emulous were the exercises
| [ deem them not unimportant and ask for them a
place in your most excellent paper. It is always
pleasant to meet kind friends especially after a
considerable absence, but to meet them in the in
sruction of our youth, in the incubation of those
lessons and principles which in after life shall
make feel proud and confident as we intrust in
to their hands the destiny of country it is too
little to say that that pleasure is donby enhanced.
After four years prostration in which the wheels
| of science have been effectually clogged it is
exhilarating to witness our people, impoverished
by most desecrating war, manfesting sense of
duty so important that we had the pleasure and
qualification to behold few days ago. For several
months in the quiet and pleasant neighborhood of
Col. Ed w. Fonvilles, under the efficient instruc-
ton of Miss O. j. Ireland, of Dnplin county, the
youths of that section have been imbbing at the
Pierian fountain OF knowledge. No display, no
far-spread reputation unfured its blazoned folds
to a credulous and patronizng country, but con-
fined to single neighborhoOd worthy the proud
emulation Of the most honorable aspiration,
patrons and friends, teacher and pupils We'd with
each other in the jealous performance of duty
Conscious of the power of knowledge, patrons
readily and cheerfully gave the influence of their
encOura cement.
Sensitive of the Importance of the trust i'm
posed in her, the teacher applied the persuasive
characteristic of her sex to the exalting task of
storing with useful wisdom, the plant minds and
hearts of Wolf-Pitt's promising youth. And the
pupils with the kindest respect for their teacher
love for their parents honor and credit to them
selves, assidously and with untiring zeal, sought
to please the one, honor and benefit the other
After eight months on the 10Th inst, we see as
sembled at their school to note its improvements
many OF OnslOw's fairest, wisest and best Though
the day was excessively warm, its unpleasant tenn
perature was forgotten amid the absorbing inter-
est of the occasion. The morning exercises con
slstlng of speeches, dialogues, compositions, vo-
Cal and instrumental music with the usual text
book examination, lasted about noon, and was
equal if not superior to any thing of the kind
it has been my fortune to witness. The speech
all delivered, tho dialogues were full of
attracting interest, while the compositions and
vocal music [ regard unequalled by pupils of
corresponding age
About noon a recess of an hour SO was given,
during which the company were invited to partake
of those very paatable refreshments which in this
neighborhood plentifuly abound, and which
its generous people always remember to Offer
The important features of the evening exercises
consisted of Valedictory by Miss Fonville and
an address to the school on the subject of Educa-
ton, by Dr. E. W. Ward. The Valedictory re-
Elected enviable credit on its author both in the
beauty of its composition and the manner it was
spoken. The DR.. exhibited his usual marked
ability such occasions, and interested us all IN
his clear, forcible and eloquent style of ad-
dress. In word, the whole was an admi-
rable success, and SO meritorious was each
part performed it would be invidious
to make discrimination. Wolf-Pitt may well be
proud of her promising youth, and with her gen.
erous and noble hearted citizens, her beautiful
daughters, possessing every virtue which could at
tract the vision, allure the heart, command the
soul from basis whose magnificent superstruc-
ture towers pre-eminent
May her rewards equal her merits
Lest should weary your patience, Messrs Ed
ltor, and seem to indulge i'll that which I hate
above all other deceits attery will close nv let
ter already twice as long as I intended,
Yours very Respectfully,