Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-07-10
For the journal
"H VHO UUHTnaI.
PTTrsBoRo', N. c., June %. 1863

tSaielgh Sentinel
For the Journal.
PTrrsBoRo', N. c., June 30, 1868
Messrs. Editors Thinking that sbo,4
item from this part of the world mivbt
prove Of some interest to your numeron,
readers, many of whom are connected with
some of the residents of our little town
have concluded to attempt an account If
the exercises and attendant festivities Of
the Annual Commencement of the Pitts
boro' Scientific Academy, which clo.ed
here on last Friday night.
On Thursday morning the exercises ,,o..
opened with services at the PresbVtario,,
Church, the students, preceded by BAN
of music, marching there in Procession
That evening very large audience &C
sembled at the Academy, where exercises
in defamation were the order for tbo 40
casion. These exercises WERE for tbc
most part, from among the junior members
of the school, and reflected, in the truest
sense of the word, great credit upon their
tuition as we'll as upon their own efforts :
The Academy building was beautifully
decorated with wreaths and garlands AMI
flowers, the result of the labors of tho
young ladies of Pittsboro', who all an.
peared to take the greatest delight imagi,
nable in the event.
On the following Nriday) morning the
senior members acclaimed to large as
semblage, in the beautiful grove which en-.
virons the Academy.
Five of these were original essays, and
10, -,
in the analysis of the several themes. They
Alfred A. Thompson The Noble Dead, by
VIM. NJ. Nettles 50 Palnaann qUi meyui
.ferat," by John L. Cowan: The Rising and
Setting San (Poem), by Robert Cowan
Valedictory, by VIM. A. Berry.
On Friday afternoon Major RICHARD
WAT YORK, by invitation, delivered before
them one of the most beautiful and chaste
specimens of oratory that it has been our
good fortune to hear for many years. After
the conclusion of this. Captain G. p.
benson, Principal Of the Institute, de-
livered the "Duxs" to those to whom
they pertained. This terminated the schoi-
astic commencement, and pleasure was
then declared supreme. That night grand
display of fire works, manufactured to
order expressly for this occasion, was made
on the grounds, to the largest crowd that
have ever seen assembled in our town at
any one time, after which the happy young
people repaired to the Academy, where
Terpsichore was crowned as favorite god
dess over the grand finale of commencement
Nor did that goddess resign her sceptre
until the light of another day had dawned
upon the world, when, almost satiated with
pleasure, the tired dancers wendell their
way homeward.
And now, having given you description
of all that was done here by the students,
let me speak a little OF the school itself,
and of the worthy gentleman who is its
Principal. The foundation of success in
the endeavor to train the youthful idea has
truly been said to consist mainly of u mu-
tual respect and good will, and a thorough
confidence between the teacher and the
taught. This principle is more beautifully
illustrated here than L have ever known it
elsewhere, and one and all of the students
love and esteem the Principal. The pro-
fciency of some of them has been most re.
markable, and with none more So per-
haps, than is the case with the three young
gentlemen from the Cape Fear, Masters
Thomas G. James, Harry Loeb and John
d. Lloyd. In this I speak from per-
sonal observation. The Principal Of the
Academy, Captain G. 3. benson, is
a gallant Confederate, one of those
who followed for four long years, through
good report and through evil report,
the star of our common country. His
accomplishments and abilities are varied
and thorough, and honestly believe him
to be one of the most competent teacher,
that can be found anywhere in our dear
Southern land. He has also gathered
together many aids to instruction in
the way of Astronomical, Geometrical
Chemical and Philosophical apparatus,
large garden plot filed with the rarest
botanical specimens, and an excellent col.
lection of meteorological specimens.
Pittsboro' is a quiet, healthy town, re-
moved, in the nearest direction, some
twenty three miles from the line of railroad,
with healthful climate, and with the very
best of society, presenting, altogether, q
delightful situation for school, and with
the very best of influences to surround the
scholar.