The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-21
THE HOUNG LADIES NORMAL
SCHOOL.
ANNUAL PUBLIC EXERCISES.

In the routine OF reportorial duties il has been
ours to attend very many public school exhibitions
and examinations from time to time. And ii was.
therefore, with no unusual anticipations that we
yesterday visited the school house, No. 80 Bur-
gundy street, to listen to the various exercises at
tendant upon the close of the session Of the Young
Ladies' Normal School. But how sgreeably those
anticipations were disappointed, how ieetly and
pleasantly three or four hours passed away and
found rs still lingering, in Short how thoroughly
gratifed we were with the proficiency displayed
by the pupils in all that they undertook, we shall
now proceed to tell.
Entering, we found the larger hall room Of the
building filled with guests. Upon or around the
platform sat Superintendent Rogers, Prof. Dimi-
try. State Superintendent Lusher, Messrs. Kelly,
CIonan and others Of the Board OF School directors
and the following ladies' and gentlemen compo.
sing the faculty OF the school, viz: Miss Shaw,
English department; Miss Watkins, French de-
pertinent; Mrs. Matthews, English grammar and
botany Prof. Curto, musical department; Prof.
Heyer, penmanship and drawing; Prof. Seaman,
mathematics and geometry; Prof. Percival, rhe-
toric and Prof. Hopkins. natural sciences.
in the body of the ball, facing the platform,
sat the pupils, the other portions being devoted
to the guests who were present in goodly num-
hers. Such an assemblage of fair young beauty
as was collected there nvoluntarily reminds us Of
that beautiful ode which Mrs. Hemans once wrote
u6hcIlDlDg bOmeWndL similar scene. There
were fresh flowers, too, upon the teachers desk
tributes which some fond pupil had brought
doubtless in token of respect and affection, At
the piano, facing the audience Prof. Curto pre-.
sided, performing the accompanimeDts TO the vo-
cal music which at intervals gave a pleasing
variety to the programme, which in turn was as
follows:
l-Chorus-Le Comte ory
him that givetb hm that tsksth Miss Kate Cooasy
s-Enginh heeitatiOn-Edinburgh sitter Fodden.
4-Music: Duet-voices Of the Night - ''..'''
s-Frsnch Composition-Temps Perdu - Mss Nolsa.
6-Engish kecitston-Which shall it bef Miss NJ Bishop.
English Composition-Ioh necessary to Success.
S-Music: Duet and chOrus-Flse Bird unto the '''
s-Frsnch RscistiCn.LXmcar dune Mere
lO-Engish COmpO.tOn-TO be useful is 70 Be
n-Muslc: Dust-Pae Moon Misses Ames and Coonsy
l2-English Compositiop-Is old Autumn in the misty
moon moon stand sh~dOwless, like SILENCE isening q
ls-FIencG Admiral de cosny co"''
l4-Mu,ic-Le Continue de Noel i' O'fA NeeeI'
lS-English COmpOstiOn-fhe Philosophy Of History.
l6-Engish Rectation-Mother an Poeess ms p Tones
l-Chorus-La Charlie (soo) Therese Nolan
We hesitate in referring to these different exer-
cises to specify any one of them as having been
more meritorious than any other. Certain it is
we have never seen exhibition where SO little
space was offered upon which the closest cdh-
clsm might find foothold, and we defy any one
have remained there an Indifferent listener. Each
young lady, as her name was announced rose in
her place and read or recited there, without any
undue diffdence, or mduudiSe honte, and yet,
witbal, timidly facing the ordeal. There was not
one mishap TO mar or interrupt the carrying out
of the programme from beginning to end, and
we knew not which were most delighted the
audience, the teachers, or those to whom they
listened.
We may, however, pause for an instant to ad.
mlre the very excellent reading and pronunciation
of Miss Cooney, the pathos and feeling with which
Miss Bishop recited her little poem from domestic
Life, the admirable accent in which Miss Neeleyre-
cited, In French the death OF the white haired ad-
miral, and the new power and beauty which Mrs.
Tomes's recitation infused into that touching poem
OF Mrs. Browning, Mother and Poetess.n But
we might go on thus and mention all who took
part, for. In truth there was bat ttle IL any, Op-
portunity for comparison. Disdaining as we do
indisoriminate laudation, we can, nevert less, In
this instance, speak superlatively Of all.
Some excellent crayon sketches, including one
by Miss c. Watson, representing landscape scene,
another by Miss Woodley, Washington when a
boy" and others representing the Holy Family,
and st. Theresa's Church, in This city, were upon
exhibition, snd reflected much credit upon the in
struction given in this branch by Prof. Heyer.
An address, explanatory of the objects of the
Normal School, ana teeming with interesting
facts concerning 10, was delivered by Mr.. Super
iniendent Rogers, who stated among other things,
that although when the school was first opened in
january Onfy 1oFy hahes nad been enrolled,
there sre now one hundred and forty pupils, and
the number at one. TING had been one hundred
and ninety-fve. The list of awards was then
read, after whicha Testimonial OF the respect and
love borne by the young ladies toward their in
structors, was read in their behalf by Miss Nora
Collins. The tears whichvstos aunbidden from
many an eye when that reading ceased showed,
more plainly than words could, the tbdhd Of sym.
pathy which had grown up, as 1t inevitably will,
between pupil and teacher.
Some afectionate, friendly, closing remarks
were addressed by Prof. Dimitry and Mr. Lusher
to the young ladies, and then the guests were In
vited TO partake Of a choice repast which had
been quietly spread in one of the adjoining rooms.
Then the piano was heard giving forth the merry
notes of polka, and, in trce, the chairs having
been cleared away, that happy gathering of fair
young girls and their company were wbirling away
in the dance, forgetful of botany, trgonomery and
the elements of criticism, while laughing in spite
OF themselves, the staid professors looked on and
lived over in memory their school days long
gone by.
In conclusion, we beg leave TO return unnum-
bered thanks TO all the young ladies who were so
attentive, and the number of these was not two
nor three, nor five nor ten either, and to express
the modest hope that the Normal School may
remain permanent institution, and ourselves its
permanent reporter for years to come.