Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-25
MANCHESTER COLLEGE.
Hts ACCOMMODATIONS EXercises Of
the Scholastic Year-InteFesting
Contest and Pleasing Results.
A DELAYED LETTER,


of Manchester has been all astir for the
past three days, with pleasurable excite
ment, consequent upon the examination of
the students of " Manchester college" loca-
ted at this place While temporarily So
iOurning here last fall, during the pre-
yalence of cholera in Nashville, gave YOU
a short sketch Of the institution, its faculty,
location, etc. With your permission pro
pose now to repeat, for the benefit of those
who have children to educate, few Of the
points then given. li 4
Manchester college is located at Man
chester, the county seat of Coffee county,
upon high table land or bench of Cum
beriand mountain, near the head walters of
Duck river, surrounded with springs Of
bright and sparkling free-stone water
equal to any in the world The atmos-
phere is pure and good, and there is moth
ing in the surroundings to attract disease,
consequently those DESTROYS of consulting
the health of their children can find no
more beautiful spot 1t was organized and
its first session began in February, 1866,
under the supervision of an active and in
telligent Board of Trustees, with Professor
Carnes at its head, as President. Professor
Carnes is well known throughout the State,
and enjoys reputation as a teacher of
youth of which any man might be
proud. He has long been engaged
in the profession, and being a Chris
tan gentleman has the confidence and re-
spect of the entire community He is
assisted by his son, Mr.. Joseph Carnes, and
his daughter, Mrs. NJ NJ Hill, who has
charge of the female department. Under
his management the first session, notwith-
standing the impoverished condition of the
country, proved a success, and his old
friends and patrons soon found him in his
new location, and of course, again became
his patrons. The beauty and healthfulness
of the location, together with its good water
and pure air shortly attracted others, until
at the end of the second session-that of
the fall Of '66,-he had under his charge
nearly one hundred students, one hundred
of whom we're young ladies. The expecta-
tons of the friends of the institution have
been fully realized in its increased popu-
larity, and it now has a hold upon the
affections of the people, which it we'll de-
serves and which / trust will be lasting
A new and spacious college building is soon
10 be erected capable of accommodating
two hundred pupils and which will be in
readiness by the commencement of
the next spring session. The present
spring session-the third since its
organization has just ended, and
the examination commenced on Wednes-
day morning, the 10th instant The school
this session numbered one hundred and
four students-sixty-four boys and forty
girls-coming from almost everg section of
the State, and from Kentucky and Alaba-
ma, many of whose parents were present
to witness the exercises The examination
was conducted in the Presbyterian Church,
which had been handsomely decorated with
evergreens and arrayed with mnch good
taste
The exercises began with the examina~
ton Of the junior classes in the ordinary
English branches, and continued with
short intermission for dinner, throughout
the day, the audience, which was large and
appreciative, manifesting their interest by
sitting patiently for hours, listening to the
recitatiops, That Prof Carnes has sue
ceeded in establishing a healthful inilu-
enoe over the minds and hearts of his
pupils, is evident to all Having their
love and respect he is enabled to train and
discipline their minds while enjoying the
homage Of their hearts. 1t seems labor
Of love to him, and becomes sort Of plea
suTesble pastime to them.
On Wednesday night the young ladies
read their compositions before a crowded
house. ! have no disposition to fatter
them or over-estimate their productions,
but must say that among the number were
several that, for beauty of style and excel
lence in diction, would have done
credit to much older heads. A
prize of fine gilt pocket Bible
had been offered for the best composition.
There were several contestants for the
prize, and it was a very delicate task for
the referees to decide which of the six or
eight most excellent productions should re-
ceiye it. 1t was finally awarded to
"Memory," by Miss Mary Morley, a yonng
lady of this county, decision which
seemed to be in accordance with the gem
eral Judgment. The compositions of Miss
Nettie Carey, Miss Georgia Hickerson,
Miss Jennie Carlisle, Miss Mary Emerson
and others, whose names ! have forgotten,
showed great command Of language in the
expression of their beautiful thoughts, and
evinced a high order of talent in the art of
composition. The description of "Ram-
bile on the Mountains" by Miss Lizzie
Goade, was especially fine, giving promise
Of great literary excellence in the future
should she cultivate her gift. Mrs. Hill
may we'll be proud of such pupils. On
Thursday the senior classes we're examined,
not on specially prepared lessons here,
there, and everywhere, as far as each
had advanced, the President requesting any
one in the audience to test the thorough
ness of their training by questions
in any part of their studies. Thurs
day night was set apart for the CON
test for oratOrical honors between
the Red and Blue, and really was a
feast to the lovers of good defamation.
Early in the session the students, under the
lead Of two young ladies representing the
| Red aud Blue, were divided into two sec
tons, and nine speakers selected from each
| to contend for the prize-a Webster's I'M
| abridged Dictionary-otfered TO the best
| speaker. The contest was opened by pro-
logue from each side, delivered with con
siderable vim, by boys Of ten or twelve
| both of whom acquitted themselves with
credit to their respective divisions. The
! challenge was given and accepted with the
courtesy and high bearing Of the knights
| of old. The audience seemed as much in
terested as the contestants themselves, and
silence reigned supreme as the first
speaker advanced to his place. He was tbs
representative Of the red, and his speech
the Defense of Blenarhassett, was lis
tened TO by the crowded assembly with
| almost breathless attention, and as he closed
the red rose on the cheek of his lady leader
seemed to blush brighter hue. The second
! speaker, representing the Blue, ended hi
recitation Of the Prayer Of the South" amid
the tears and a subdued murmur Of apPlsus,
by the audience and now, the champions
of the Blue were iubilant, and then ia,
Red again in the thrilling tones Of the i'm
mortsl Patrick Henry "Giye me Liberty
or give me Death, and 50 on Throughout
the list. Mans true greatness" Marius {,
the Romans, 20" Emmetts Nindication,
Impeachment of Hastings" "Spartacus 4
the IGladiaters," Antony over Cesar,
Victory Of Faith etc, etc, till all ha,
spoken Each side afterev speech SCENE,
satisfied with victory, the audience sympa
thizing with the one and the other alter
nately. The flushed cheeks and brigh
eager eyes Of the young lady Captains
cheered their champions Ito do or die
At last the friendly struggle was over, an,
] H. n, dement, If the audienc,, was prig