The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-24
Toral SnteIlisenfe.

| TIE WEATHER.-As we close the lsbors Of the
night The weather is quite cold, with fine pros
pect that il will freeze during the night; the skies
are ss clear and unIufiied as a mirror. the stars
shining in all their brilliance though they would
| wsrm themselves. The indication are that
| Christmas will be glorious day the young ones
need not fear being disappointed in their expecta
| tons of fine weather.
TIE FIFTEENTH COMMENCEMENT OF LocQUEr IN
sTIIuTE took place last evening at Odd Fellows
| Ball. IL was well that this spacious building had
been secured, for no other hall in this city could
have accommodated the vast throng ,that was al
tracted thither. The exercises were OF pleasing
| and varied character. Pupils of all ages aud
classes took part 10 the exercises, and so the ab-
| ty and talent Of the school was well displayed.
| Several lady amateurs participated 10 the perfor-
nance. among them Misses NJ. G. and G. w. The
duet, from Norma. by these gifted young ladies
was artisticslly rendered and received hearty ap
| plause. Mrs. Msgioni led the chorus from ''Ro.
| meo ct Juliette" in her usual effective style.
This reporter will not attempt to pariicularize,
preferring. where all did so WE'LL 10 content him
| self with few words of emphatic. unqualified
praise. From the bright-eyed CHEEKY voiced
little darlings Of 10 years TO the elder and more
advanced pupils, sll performed their parts most
| exceilently. New Orleans may well feel proud OF
| an Institution which can make showing euch IS
that Of last night. Our libersl fellowtownsmau,
Mr.. Joseph Santiri, has bestowed four gold med
els TO the Institute, 10 be awarded as follows:
One TO be given the best speler on the last 6atur
lsh composition. on the last Saturday in Febru.
sry the third on the last Saturday of March, to
the best scholar in English elocution, and the
fourth on the last Saturday Of April, to the best
scholar in French elocution.
some TIME AGO, our readers will remember, the
graduating class Of the upper GIRLS High School,
held their closing exercises at the school Chest
nut street. On Tuesday evening the boys had
their commencement at the Lyceum Hall. Their
formal farewell thus taken, both boys aud girls,
dan cd ole OH 20
somewhat more meirily and less solemnly than it
had before been done. The large school room OF
the Central High School on Burgundy street was
transformed into q dancing hail, wherein some
four score or hundred young people kept time
with flying feet to the strains of the music which
filed the room.
The sffsir lasted until nearly dark, and even
then il not without reluctance that the dancers
consented TO break up the entertainment. 1t was
very pleasant way to close school life, as II gave
TO the students their last view of the walls when
they were lined with attractive faces, and made
the last school sounds they heard the merry
laughter of hsppy boys and girls, certainly pleas.
ing "reminiscences and associations TO carry through
life. For courteses extended our reporter. who
dropped in upon them, the young gentlemen of
the reception committee have our thanks.
GERMAN OPERA.-The pleasant antcipations
INDUCED 10 by the numerous friends and admirers
OF Nme Marie Frederci and Miss Clara Zeigler, and
Messrs Himmer, Weinlack, Stenecke and Bach,
forming TO crowded houses at Memphis but will
leave in ample time, 80 Mr.. II. Grsu, the superin-
tendsnt, states, 10 present themselves to the New
Orleans public on the night of the 29th Mr..
EDWARD Hsrting, the popular aud energetic lessee
of the National Theater, will open the box Office
next Saturday morning.
FRIENDS OF HARMONY LoDGR No. 50, F. & A. NJ.
installed their officers for the ensuing year on
Tuesday evening, the ceremonies being folio ved
by pleasant social reunion. The following is
list of the officers irstalled J. Il. Clark, W. NJ;
Charles Z. Whitman, S. W; Hy. Marks, ]. W.. (;
Hid Marks, secretary S. Kaufmann, treasl lrer !;
jas. Goroon. S. D.; +. Sphinx, J. D.; S. Gray,
chaplain 7. r. Fielding and G. W. Adams. ste q.
ards W. q. Leeson, II. Of c.; q. Kruse, tyler.
THE MARTHA A. McNEuL-A Netc Ship and a
Bal on tie Ricer.-At the kind invitation Of Mr.
Alex. Mcneil. the writer repaired on Tuesday eve
ming bosrd the bark Martha A. McNeill. lying at
Poet No. 70, First District. but for what purpose
was entirely unknown to him until he met Capt.
James Watts aud his amable wife, who showed
him around the vessel. magnificent piece of
marine architecture, III feet long. IS feet BEAM
with depth Of hold Of 2l feet 1910 tons burthen,
and capable of carrying cargo of 5000 bales OF
cotton, for which trade she ives built, about one
month ard half ago, at Thomaston, Me. The
writer regrets his utter ignorance Of the nomen-
clatuIe Of a vessel, otherwise he might speak in
more detail of this beautiful bark. Without being
q sailor, cne, however. could judge of the fac
quality Of the pitch pine beams aud posts. white
plete fasteniDgs, which would induce the most
timorous TO venture on the ocean IN her; every
thing on board locks fresh as new pin, from the
large ard 6ne cabin, in ash panels, to the keel
For an hour or so the time was spent in the
cabin psrlor in company with several seafaring
gentlemen, smorg whom was Capt. Gilchrist,
sailing MASTER Of the Maranon. (which Is to tow
the two Peruvian monitors now lying 10 the river
to their destinstion,) from whom we learnt sew
ersl things, which, however. we think proper to
withhold at present We also learned from Mrs.
Watts, who has been the constant companion of
her husband for the last ten years, sharing his
perils on the high seas, that she had tbs misfor-
tune at one time 10 be taken by the Tallahassee
Jrivateer, of New York, about the month of
August, 1864 and to see her husbands vessel the
"Glen Arvon," scuttled and sent to the bottom Of
the deep.
While the conversation was going on, a party
Of from sixty TO seventy ladies and gentlemen,
who had assembled at Mr.. McNeill's house, pre-
ceded by an excellent band, arrived on board. A
great ado was made by the dear creatures when
they found that they had TO 20 down steep steps
into the hold which had been transformed into a
ballroom. Everybody, however. got down without
accident. unless it might have been the exhibition
of a neat and well-shsped ankle. o, that ankle =
but no DEPRESSION. The surrounding vessels had
furnished the bunting for the decoration of the
hold, which was fitted up In elegant style, COM
pletely coDcealiDR the sides of the Martha A.
MCNEIL, and dividing the hold-l60 feet long
into OF least three compartments, the ball room
was perfect.
About III o'clock, the company sat down to a
splendid supper served under the direction of
those two excellent stewards. w. Hynes and
james Mccarthy, 10 whom the writer owes-well
never mind. the writer did get seasick.
The profusion Of clsret and champagne was too
great for the good of several of the party. Some
time in the night niue host, Ande Parle, the right
bower OF Major BdWell-he OF the Academy
both of whom had grscei the ball With their
presence, invited the press members into his car
rsge. and the party drove off to reach St. Charles
street, lust as the flames were bursting from the
| Olympic thester. Some one said that the horse
was drunk and lost his bearings, but that the light
| Of tie fire had placed him once more 10 bis road.
| Altogether we do not remember having spent a
pleasarter evening than on Tuesday. Thanks to
! The kind attention of Mr.. McNeill and Capt.
| Watts and his wife; our best wishes go with them
and with the young lady whose name the vessel
| bears. Long may they all wave.
II the writer has not done Justice to the vesssl
TO its owners and its friends, they are the only
| ones TO blame their treatment Of him was only
too kind and his inability is to be ascribed to that
| Kindness.
The Martha A. Mcneil will shortly leave this
portfo Liverpool on her fist trip across the blue
deem.