Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-01

| We can assign no reason why tht
schools Of the country for females should
be less we'll sustained than the male, oil
should be permitted to remain second Ia
dignity to any. Bat, as We think unfor'
tunately for the intellect Of the country,
their support seems to have ordinarily
but q secondary consideration, rarely re-
ceiving the aid Of the State, and depend
| ing on private enterprise mainly for
their success II we educate our girls
for dolls, we shall hardly make up for i
BY extra attention to the boys, who, after
all, about as often rub their backs
against the college walls and come ont
little wiser than they went 10, rs do the
opposite sex. We want intelligent
women as well as men, for, as educators
aud as controlling character aud the flu
ture, they are not second, iftheir agency
is not foremost in importance. And we
are pleased in this connection to be able
to speak so favorably as we can do OF
the Florence (Als.) Syhodical School,
which, by the energy and high qualifca-
tons Of Rev. DR.. Mitchell, who has for
many years had charge oft, has risen to
an Importance and value by no means
uncomfortable, and has been made
already all that private enterprise could
we'll accomplish.
We see from one Of our exchanges
that the commencement exercises which
have just come of attracted large con-
course Of citizens, and We'd in interest
with those of the more pretending
Universities. They were preceded by
concert, in which quite a galaxy oil
charming graduates, Miss Thompson,
Miss Wallace, Miss wynne, Miss John
son, Miss Brock, Miss Stratton. Miss
Coffee, Miss Slater, Miss Mercer, Miss
Bills, Miss Shelby, Miss Bates, Miss
Baker, Miss Houston, Miss Stedmau,
Miss Tackett, Miss Goodwin, Miss Tay-
lor aud Miss ONesl were the stars of
the evening. Some of these names will
be recognized as particularly dear to
some Of the good folks of Memphis.
On Thursday morning the commence
ment exercises were opened with prayer
by Rev. L. B.;,Gaston. The salutatory by
Miss Ella Brock was highly compli-
mented. Rev. 7. D. Witherspoon, DID,
of Memphis, made an address, of which
the Gazette says +" it was an appeal to
the women of the South to sustain the
literary character Of the South," and "a
document of national interest which will
be read by all with much pleasure and
profit" Addresses by Miss Boutwell,,
Miss Currie, Miss Gray, Miss Shelby,
Miss Tackett, Miss Wallace and Miss
Watkins are commended in the Florence
paper in terms indicating very high APP
probation on the part of the audience,
as we'll as on that ofthe writer, who may,
for aught we know, have been slightly
smitten in the scene Of loyeliness and
beauty. We copy as follows:
The beautiful gold medal, presented by
Gov. R. NJ. Patton, the president of the
board of trustees Of the college, to the
one who had excelled in scholarship, was
awarded to Miss Ella Stednap, daughter
of DR.. Jas. o. Stedman, Of Memphis,
Tenn.
The napkin ring, presented by Mrs.
Leigh to the best housekeeper, was
awarded to Miss Bama L. Tackett, of
Goodman, Miss
The gold medals presented to those
who, as representatives of the two music
classes, had excelled in musical attain
ments, we're awarded to Miss Sallie Mer-
Ger, of Madam Marbeau's class, and to
Miss Mary Ella Houston, daughter Of
Hon. Geo. S. Houston, of Athens, Ala,
of Mrs. Boylan's class.
the prizes were presented in an ap-
propriate manner by Rev. j. l.. Bristow,
of Mississippi, and gracefully received
by the young ladies.
Next came the Bdccaldureate, by Rev.
DR.. w. II. Mitchell, the President of the
college, which was written and delivered
in style peculiarly happy and express
sive. 1t was full of Thoughts that
breathe and words that burn, proving
enthusiastically to all who heard it-not
only by its sentiment, but by manner
that his whole soul was centered in the
present and future well being of the young
ladies' under bis charge. His advice was
that of loving father and the expression
of his affection and hope for their future
happiness and prosperity, and his fare
we'll was truly affecting. We could but
say and feel that DR.. Mitchell, as the
President and Principal of the Florence
Synodical Schools, is the right man in the
right place; and in this we know we
have the Endorsement of each and every
one of his scholars, and, also, those
patrons of the school who have had the
good fortune TO attend the exercises Of
the school.
The Bdccalauredte was followed by
| the valedictory, which was delivered by
Miss Ethiopia Heron, of West Tennessee.
Her voice betokened the feelings of her
heart, in bidding her departing associates
farewell. II was full, free and loud, but
tremulous with emotion. Her farewell
TO her teachers was earnest aud abounded
10 love and respect After the valedic-
tory the diplomas we're distributed by
DR.. Mitchell, after which the Board Of
Trustees, through Rev. L. B. CASTOR, ex
pressed their entire satisfaction and graf
| i6cation at the manner in which the stu
dents had acquitted themselves, and at
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