Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-22
COMMENCEMENT Exercises Last Night
. az shelby Female Institute.

| AhoWs not the weight OF sleep or Wearlness,
| And nights deep darkness has no ehaih TO bind
His rushing pinion."
Twelve long, and to many of US weary
months, have passed away since crowd
assembled in those halls to witness the
closing scenes of a college year. Autumn
has kissed the forest leaves with its car
mine lips, and flung. them trembling on
| the frosty gale. Winter has breathed his
icy breath on. the falling shower, and 10,
the forest and hills glitter with robe of
diamonds. Springs merry song has been
heard over hill and vale, and the violets
again peeped out from under the snow.
Summer is again here with her luscious
fruits and crown of flowers. How apprC-
pirate that word commencement" when
applied to graduation. The beginning has
just been mode. The key to the great
temple of knowledge has only been OBJ
tanned. It's overwhelming, eyer-ex-
panding halls are to be explored. The
laurel wreath should only be given to those
who have threaded every avenue of the
its frescoed walls. Truly graduation is
only the commencement of life and study
and toll
The exercises of the evening opened
with prayer, followed by trio from
II Gaaraments-" Gently falls the dew of
eve" Then followed the salutatory to the
senior class, by Miss Edwards, which was
sparkling with hopes and redolent with
the memories which ever hallow the dear
days of our school life. Next upon the
stage Miss Latimer appears to wave sad
adieu to the junior class, but only sad for
the moment, as another session will bring
them together again. Then a pisno solo,
from II Iraudtore, by Miss Banner. Miss
Stewart then eSsayed "a peep at the world
from school girls window" From this
window she saw miniature world float
ing by in the pursuit of fame and wealth,
chasing the painted bauble of pleasure or
grasping with tremulous fingers the phan-
tom of happiness, which was ever eluding
its grasp. Many things can be seen from
school girls window" and not unfre-
quently school girls are seen at the win
dow-when the teacher don't want them.
Next in succession came that splendid
solo, Paseppa Nightingale Song" by
Miss Ella X. Phillips whose sweet voice
never fails to charm an audience. The
next essay, by Miss Read, The feelings
with which we should regard death" was
full of beautiful thoughts, clothed with tbs
most charming language.
Then solo from Strakosch, I'm Carni-
val a'Naples Polka"
Next essay, by Miss Carson, My Boat
is launched" was fine production, evinc-
ing a well stored mind and an exuberant
fancy.
Then a Duet by Misses Phillips and
Butler, when the heart is sad and
weary" was rendered with much sweetness
and grace.
Which was followed by harp solo, Ma
zourka Des Trainaux.
Then the yaledictory by Miss Banner,
which was fall of tenderness and pathos,
and contained many valuable hints on life
and its duties. -
After the valedictory, the audience were
delightfully."- entertained with several beau
tiful songs and piano solos, and then came
the address to the school and graduates by
the Principal, Mr.. Geo. G. Butler.
THE ADDRESS
Ii is impossible, at this midnight hour,
to give even an elaborate outline of the
admirable address. The subject was " Fe-
male education and the duties and respon-
sibilities Of woman" Ii abounded in
much practical wisdom, exhibiting pro-
found research in the history of the dis
tinguished of ancient times, and was
enforced with an earnestness of manner
which interested all. His picture of the
young lady of fashion, which, By the way,
ho 10
true to the life. On this subject he said
The future offers you, young ladies,
three choiees--you may be persons of |
fashion, mere ladies, or women in the
proper sense. 1t is to be hoped that you |
will not become the first A person of |
fashion is one who sinks the natural in the |
artificial She does just as the world does. |
She means by that phrase, not the great !
mass of mankind, but that small portion |
of it, who have blood in their veins, long
purses in their pockets unexceptionable |
dresses on their backs-the entrie to So |
ciety, and all perfectly orthodox in Ell |
quette. Her world consists exclusively of |
bank stocks and plantations, compa-
ny and admiration, silks and iewelry |
and feasting and laughter She has a |
nominal home, but she feels more in her |
element when abroad. Her home is but a |
place for occasional retirement, from which, |
ever and anon, she sailies forth to create a |
and make her demonstrations on
the public. She is never still, but is in |
motion between the carriage, the |
street and the fashionable store and the |
crowded saloons, the ball room and the |
opera box. Her time is taken up with |
dressing, singing, dancing, |
uttering small talk, attending public |
amusements and reading novels. Pleasure
and the qualification of vanity is |
business Of fashion drudgery, fatigue. |
and an ennm. She is the god of her own |
idolatry, and her only worship is to gaze
at herself in the looking-glass. She smiles
only on those in the magic circle of "gen-
tility." She is graceful, but it is a carpet |
grace, all by rule. She converses volubly |
and melodiously, but there is nothing in |
what she says She has picked up current |
phrases and scattered fragments from topics |
of the day, but she is in reality Ignorant |
She will undertake to criticise artists or |
performers, but she comprehends neither
the significance of music, nor the high |
designs of art. She judges of human na.
ture merely by the style in which it per-
petrates a bow, or makes a fortune. She |
looks at the world only through the cur
tains of drawing room or an opera glass. |
She has but little real taste, but perhaps |
more of that than conscience, for she is |
more shocked at a want of arbitrary deco
rum, than of morals. She may be out
wardly refined she may be peeress by |
birth, but she is far from being true wo-
man, because the BETTER portions of her |
nature are withered from disease.
We wish We could give further report |
of this sensible speech, but the lateness of |
the hour forbios. Five young ladies re-
eeived diplomas Misses Banner, Stewart,
Read Edwards and Carson 4