Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-07-24
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pennalPs schooLtt Union Academy. In toinp
our expectation was that it would Lc a pleassu,
way Of spending long summer day, by rcInxiuc
our HIin1s for The time from the caree Of
aud meeting old friends in neigl.bofhood noted
for'is hospitality. All this aud much more was
renl'zed: On our arrival hi the place our. sut-
prise was excited by the assembly Of 70 large
crowd: Their coming togeti,er coaid:only- be
accounted for by the woll known re pu,atiod ot
Miss Fennal! as u teacher. lIer,school consists
81 some thirty "r forty girls nnc Boys, most OF
| them small and in the primary departments
Severni gentlemen were called on 81 urt us nh
Examining Committee and by them we were
requested to draw up a report Of the exercises Of
| the day for publication iD the District papers
These exercises commenced with the cxami-
nation OF the classes in Grunmar, Geography.
Arithmetic aud History. The prompt and ac-
| curnte answers given TO the various questions
proposed exhibited indubHable evidence that the
pupils had been taught 10 study aud were well
drilled III the branches which they had pursued,
| and that Miss Pehnal had NOT acted the part of
| n mere hedrer Of lessons, but that Size Ind
sedulously fulfilled the onerous and responsible
duties Of fcuoher. -
Then, inteispersed with the recitation OF
poetry by little girls and buys. folio ed the reud
ing ot original compositions, by nine girls aud
six boys. We P"rposely abstain from calling
them y m"g ladies and gentlemen, because they
were too young u be called, aud we wish
them still to be girls and boys for some time to
come Tncse Efforts Were inJe creditaLle to
the young writers, but not entirely free from
Tho faults of youthful compost ion. The COM
nittee had also submitted to them a number of
lot,ers written 10 their friends ly little girls who
did not aspire to the dignity Of having their cor-
POSITIONS read in public. These were neatly and
'ld'ly written, and were particularly pleasing to
Tie committee as showing The, early efforts Of
these little girls to detail the incidents OF every
day ie in simple, artless language, free from
the use OF big 'cords which would have betrayed
that they had "coLbed" or "got helr" and as
giving earnest OF lulure success in that. 10 u
lady, most useful branch Of education, epistolary
composition.
This brought ds to the hour Of recess from
this feast OF reuson, 10 refreSI, our bodies with
more substantial fare. Or this part of the rcr-
lorniance. ii need only 10 DO said tha, it fully
sustained the reputation, Of the nrigh5orloi.
pro'c'bIui for their liberal provision of what is
good and nice. After II euaie:cnt time given to
these thIngA, the c'j"ymont OF which was ell
hanced by snciul intercourse with friends. we
were again Summoned to the at hour, anil were
entertained with exercises iu deciamatio by the
boys, and two Dialogues We were much
pleased with The beauty and srprop, iateness of
the selection Of pieces for recitation uId i.cama.
'ion, several Of them having particular reference
10 the times in which we live.
We have avoided mentioning any ofthc pupils
as exceiiins; we pref.rto sny, that each and all
performed we'll their !rparts. and that the high
expectations we were led to cherish We're fully
realized.
The exercises of the eclioo, having closed
Capt. j. S. Co:Lran, who had been selected as
Orator ot the Day. held the assembled crowd
enchanted for al hour in an ndlress Of soul
stirring. .e'oquence. urging them by the memory,
oi the past md the hopes Of the future TO
throw off that spal,y which had for three wears
unnerved all effort ud to grid themselves for the
coming conflict, aud SO 10 discharge their duty
as to aid1n restoring to the South such glorious
iutureas the past warrants us TO expect. lie
was succeeded 10y Rev. Professors Bonner and
Young, who, being called on. each delivered
good aud appropriate address, which was We'll
received. -.
Tire skilIfal performances of an amateur band
OF young gentlemen from the village of AbJr-
vile, wI'a attended by special invitation, len.
HER willing servic-f. and at suh able intervals,
discou'sed sweet music, vocal and instrumental
added much to the enjoyment OF the occasion.
+ Thus ended a day OF pleasant and rut,onal cir
joyment. The attendance Of so large d crowd
and their close attention to the excreis were
silent but eloquent and well deserved compli-
ment to Miss Pcnnal. We copciud. this conf
I munication in }he Iansuage,of on 9 Of those who
addressed the audience. by congratuatipg The
neiChberl,ood OF Union Acuremy in having
aIn"ngst them such teacher rs Aiss P-iuoll
and congrntuating Miss PennaIi that sire hns a
Board of Trastees who support aud enco urnre
her ID The discharge Of the ar.,uousdu.ies of her
profession, and that she exercises her talents in
| community wltrr She is properly appreciated
and sustained. -.
in behalf Of the committee Of examination.
r. II. WARDLAW.
- - J. N. YOUNG ;.
Abbeville, July 90. 1868