The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-07-01
OUR SCHOOLS.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
THE VIRGINIA FEMALE INSTITUTE.

Inc l0al cAAlplUlOH VI eA1o "oii Aaof' -
Institute came off on Wednesday evening,
the 9th Of June, and was most complete
and brilliant success in every particular. A
large invited audience filled its spacious and
handsomely decorated hall full to overflow, ).
ing, and as the long line Of fair maldens-
beautifully arrayed in the utmost of good
taste and simplicity in decorous or
der across the brilliantly Illuminated stage,
we Thought the whole scene attractive almost
beyond the powers Of description.
The first and larger part O. the evening
was consumed in the musical exerelses-To-
cal and instrumental-the vocal consisting
of chorusses, solos, and every kind Of music
calculated to exhibit and test the acquire
ments of the pupils. The instrumental was
similar, being sextettes, quartettes, &c,
bringing into requisition several lnstru-
ments-two pianos, an organ, and q vlolln
being performed upon, the latter by Prot u.
Leuis, Ide.
We do not pretend to be an able judge OF
music. but if the rapt attention of the audi
ence, the delight visibly beaming on every
countenance, and the intense pleasure we
ourselves experienced be any evidence OF good
music, this was superb. The instrumental
music was especially and remarkably fine
the exact time and the spirit Of the express
sion with which these pieces were rendered
would have reflected credit upon professional
performers of no ordinary ability, and fully
indicate the skill, time and care devoted ~
Prof Idc to the success Of training his class,
as well as the persevering application Of the
pupils themselves.
One feature which was prominently per-
ceptible during the exercises was, that the
young ladies showed The sifeet Of discipline
which must have been enforced throughout the
session, and without which such result
could not have been attained.
Judge Lugh W. Shelley, after delivering
| a sho1t but beautiful and appropriate adj
! dress, proceeded to confer the following med
,al honors, prefacing the bestowal Of each
honor with few well-chosen and exceeding
ly happy remarks: 49,
| For improvement in Writing. Miss
Mary Dunnington, Charles City county, Md
2. Miss Marion Fisher, Richmond CO., Va. 3
Miss L. NJ. Matthews, Staunton, Va. 4
Miss Mamie r. Kirk, Culpepper county, Va
/ Compositiou.-Miss r. G. Benedict, Lees
burg, Va.
improvement in Music.--Piaao.-Miss
Ellen Z. Harris, Louisa county, Va. 2
/ Miss Alice T. Saunders, Campbell county
Va. 3. Miss Margaret P. Walker, Hunts
vile, Ala 4. Miss Belle Kirk, Culpeppel
county,.Ya.
! Scholarship Alice F. Saunders
Campbell county, Va. 2. Miss Margaret F
/ Walker, Huntsville, Ala 3. Miss Ella J
Chapman, Monroe county, ". Va. 4. Mis-
Sallie Upshur, Nottingham county, Va
| Vocal musio-SIiss R. G. Benedict, Lees
burg, Va. .,s.s
! Highest Honors--For distinguished gene
raj excellence.-Miss Jane G. Preston
Montgomery county, Va-Scholarship.-
| Miss Sallie B. Pendleton, Giles county, Va
| Diplomas. Miss Mamie Archer, King &
Queen county, Va. Miss Kate Phillips, Va
| Female Institute Miss Emma G. Hamilton
Tenn. Miss Sallie 3. Pendleton, Gile
county, Va.
4 Honorary Diplomas to graduates on tn
course, excepting music and the languages
not taken in this Institute jennie T
johnson, Staunton, Va, and Miss Grace
Steptoe, Bedford county, Va.
The Principal announced that no sta
medal for music would be given, as no on,
had reached the required standard. w
know, however, that the assembly presen
would stand up for the eminent excellence Q
those who performed during the evening.
/ After the distribution of the honoss cam!
what We regarded as the grand triumph 0
the evening, viz: the yaledictory, Wha
Next" by Miss Sallie B. Pendleton, an,
theresponseby Miss Margaret P. Walker. W
) would not attempt to criticise them NOR
than to say that they were pe'Ject-that VI
could discover no flaw or defect either in tn
compositions themselves or the manner il
which they were read, and that we can, il
our necessarily limited space, convey no ade
quate idea of the eloquent and touching val
edictory, or Of the graceful, chaste and ahee
| tionate response. Either production woul'
have done honor to older heads on the should
-ers ola sterner sex.
The exercises were concluded by singin;
Jerusalem the Golden, !" in full chorus
The benediction was then pronounced b,
| Rev. Mr. Miller, of Staunton. d
| We are glad to say that this noble institu
! ton OF learning is in Aourishirg condition
and has most thorough and efficient corp
| Of 'ofhce1s. During the past session it had a
many scholars as it could accommodate, AMI
we understand that the accommodations ar
70 be very greatly enlarged for neat year.
/ WESLEYAN FEMALE INsaTuTE.
Below we give the names and residences O
the scholars distinguished at this seheol Ths
exercises were highly interesting and PROVED
the complete success of Prof Harris, and his
able assistants, in making this second to nc
School in the State
The following students were distinguished
respectively:
! In the school of English Literature
Miss Dora Padget, Edgfeld Dis South Caro-
lima; Nellie Leith, Loudon CO., Va; Fannie
Hamilton, Lexington, Va Matte Station,
Washington CO., Maryland; Lizzie Kyle,
| Culpeper county, Va.
| School of French.-Miss Annie Fletcher,
Aceomac CO., Va. Mary A. Brown Rocking
ham county, Va. Bette shafer, Augusta
county, Va; Gennie Pitzer, Allegheny CO.,
Virginia; Re5eeca Payne, Frederick county,
| Va: Kate Trotfer. Stauntnn Va Eonn;a