Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-19

Saturday mornings. The high cultivation
of the young ladies, and the universal salts
faction evinced by the patrons and public, in
Mr.. WARDS success, has brought his school
prominently before our people, as a first
class Institution. Although It has Just clos
ed its first year, it may be considered as es-
tablished firmly, and on the surest basis
that of merit Its history ard designs were
50 fully set forth in the remarks of the
| Principal on the occasion referred to- that
we append them in full, as well as the adj
mirable address to the Graduating Class
Mr.. WARD, in closing the Exercises, said:
LABIEs AND GENTLEMEN: Ideem itappro-
pirate on this first the Commencement of
this Seminary, to indicate to you and to the
public the ideas by which it should be
| governed Allow me briefly to rehearse It's
! origin. Before the late war, and during
| years Of literary labor in the progress of
| examinations and in the preparation of
! addresses for various schools, | had con-
] ceived the idea of some day founding an In
| stitution after my own views. But the
| national struggle ensued and all plans were
| OverthrOwn. Years of darkness and bloody
| strife moved on before the clear sky of
| peace began to appear. On the first glimpse
of the deep azure betokening the departed
storm, my mind reverted to the old idea of
school for young ladies. The Kirkman
| House in this city was secured, and the
Seminary opened on the first Monday of
September, 1865. Brief notice was given
through the city papers On the first day
unexpected numbers poured in upon u.s. and
| difficulties of no ordinary type confronted
us. Here was the rubbish of war to be re-
moved before we could lay the corner stone.
| Here was a mass of mind in actual chaos.
Girls of all grades of advancement came
forward Some had enjoyed, by accident,
good schools during the war; some had
studied little at home others had not
studied in years. and could scarcely tell us
what branches they had ever pursued.
The work of classification was exceeding
" difficult and, in many cases, impossible.
We assert only the simple truth when we
say to you this evening that this year
has been to me, and to my able and faithful
assistants, exceedingly laborious; not only
in the reduction to order of those classified,
but, in the many private hours spent in
bringing up those unclksifcd. Such diff
culties are overcome and We are prepared for
| the next year.
Allow me now TO draw your attention to
the altered condition CT society, and to the
change which it requires of educators If
education was ever important, that import
ance is now vastly increased.
| Time was when the South was a wealthy
country. That wealth secnred to its women
exemption from toll, physical and intellec-
| tual The spur of necessity absent, there
was n soothing and very natural lapse into
rest and refined Incidence. Unquestionably
thessSouthern ladies.as q class, were the most
luxurious on the globe With the excep-
ton of here and there an illustrious name,
you found them careless of letters. Talent
was by no means wanting; sentiment was
abundant the spirit of poesy, even, slum-
bered in many a bosom, but the sharp de-
mands of necessity rarely drew them forth.
Like beds of violets beneath the covering
sod-beautiful but unseen, fragrant but I'M
| appreciated mind of the fair daughters
of the South lay beneath acorroding wealth.
Else we had boosted many a sweet-voiced
| WELBY, many a charming LIE VERT.
But now the case is far different. The
South is pOor-her fair daughters are poor
they are widows and orphans. Their
houses, in thousands of cases, are burnt !;
their carriages and equipages gone, and
they, with bitter memories of departed lux
uries,
Look mournfully into the Past"
as they stand around the green graves Of
their sons and sires.
The enlightened educator is here made to
pause and consider the nature of the train
ing now demanded. Education at the South
being now adapted for utility more, perhaps,
than ornament, must be far more thorough
| E,,.,,,,rlx- In ri ,f
course of study prescribed by twenty of the
best institutions in the United States have
compiled a course for this Seminary equal to
any of them. If the standard is high, it is
certainly demanded. SO well convinced
was | of this fact that in prescribing the
course of study, introduced the Latin Ian
guage free Of charge to all. The result has
been a larger Latin representation in this
schoOlthanin any, we believe, ever conducted
in this CITY, | need not tell the scholars
present this evening, that all superior Eng
lish scholarship must have a classic basis.
As the artist of noble aspiration goes back
to Italy and sits for years before the immOr-
tai creations of Raphael, so must the student
of the English tongue go back to the land of
Virgil and of Cicero. Above all things at
the present day we need solid education, and
whom attainable without extra charge, why
not accept it?
There is a class of ladies in the South
there are some in this city, who, while re-
ceiving their education, did, from mere love
ofleaming, become very thorough. Thought
lessly they were laying up capital. They
are to-day The most independent women in
our land Smiling at the misfortunes which
have stupefed Others, they are now erect in
the midst Of ruin and sought for, at good
salaries, as leaders and educators.
Ladies of the South: Your name was IL
lustrious before the war at every court in
Europe; in our National capitol in every
State capitol; on the proud steamers of the
ocean, and in the drawing rooms Of your pal
aces, for grace, for refined sensibility and in
corruptibie virtue. But the world knew
YOU not. 1t knew not the capabilities Of
your delicate hands; still less the sublime
heroism and patience Of your souls. With
your husbands and sons, right or wrong, you
stakcd all you lost all, but honor There
is point just here: You may now stand for
years, loyal and submissive, as it is your
duty to be, but melancholy and intractable,
Like Niobe. all tears"
But LET me assure you that such course
il unwisc, Arouse, women of the South
Spend not another hour in gloomy contem-
plation. You have lost the physical now
cultivate the Intellectual Here is your great
highway 10 happiness, honor and wealth.
And here is an arena broad enough for all of
our schools. You must prepare yourselves
for teachers; you must prepare TO write our
Sunday school books, our biographies, our
songs the irrepressible fiction of the hour,
and, perhaps, epics superior to any ever
written.
The land Of the South must vet produce a
Hemans, a Hannah Moore, Lady Mary
Wortley Montague and Elizabeth Barrett
Browning. Why should not the women of
Tennessee and the South become renowned
for learning? They have soft climate. a
beautiful land and historicmemories. Proper
training only is wanting
We shall strive, in the years to come. with
energy Of mind and soul to draw out, illus
trate, utilize and glorify the intellect of the
women of the South. This Seminary, under
the Divine blessing shall take by her
trembling hand the bright little girl and