The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-06-22
FROM SPENCER COUNTY.
Commencement Exercises Of the
RockpOFt Collegiate Institute.

Institution Of learning, offwhich the
people of Southern Indiana have
reason to be proud. The property
which is worth some $40, 1000, is under
the general control Of a stock com
pany represented by a Board of Trus-
tees, while the educational interests
are under the supervision of the In
diana Conference of the NJ. E. Church.
Thus is insured both financial sue
cess and an efficient management of all
its interests, as we see in the fact hat
the Institution is free from debt, and
the students during the past year
numbered 165. Prof. o. H. Smith,
A. NJ, is a model educator, and has
been ably assisted by w. F. Gilmore.
A. NJ, and Miss Lou. E. Huron, NJ.
Il. s., in their several departments.
Professor Gehre, teacher Of Music
and German, having served but one
term ten weeks), is Of course com
paratlveiy a stranger among US, yet
he has proved himself a master of his
.pEOfessiou and made many friends.
1t IS understood that the corps of
teachers viii remain as~heretofore. ex-
cept that Mr.. Gilmore will enter the
Indiana Conference as a travelling
minister. Mr.. q. is a gentleman of
fine literary attainments, and as a
pulpit orator will doubtless take rank
among the foremost of his age. His
many friends in this vicinity part from
him with regret, and will follow him
nth Ahrfu e-rr.oNhTa- --f n-awrlrH
Who will be chosen to fill the c0nse
quent vacant chair Of Mathematics,
is not certainly known.
The various exercises incident to
the close Of the year we're so varied
and interesting, that it is utterly i'm
possible to do justice to all in the
compass Of a single letter-a bare
sketch must suffice.
At 104 A. NJ, on last Sabbath, the
Principal read a very impressive dis
course, which was replete with stir
ring thoughts. However, like many
other public speakers, he was greatly
cramped in the delivery by the manu-
script. Few are able TO overcome
this difficulty, and read as huentiy
and readily as when speaking erteDl-
pore, because from childhood We are
taught to read without gesture, In a
cold, ~passionless style. and according
to the rules of art. while every day Of
our lives, following the behests Of
nature, we utter u words according
to the passions and feelings OF the
soul, and gesticulate In like manner.
Hence the greatest orators of this. or
any other age, are extempOre spe8kers
At 3 p. NJ. of the same day, Rev.
H. Gilmore, A. NJ. delivered the
annual lecture IN behalf OF the cause
Of education. Ii was, indeed, a we'll
wrought argument IN favor Of q high
standard of mental aud moral cul-
ture, and was listened t0 with great
interest. His reading, t1o, was iu
marked contrast with his well knOW1
popular style In the pulpit. On Mon
day evening Rev. +. AndrRs. Of your
city, addressed the two l|IteTarv ao1.e-
ties-PIatonean and Philomatheau-
In the presence of a large aud apl.e-
ciative audience. liz was one OF his
happiest efforts. and deeply impressed
his ideas of " true manIiuess of chaE-
acter upon all his hearers. The So
cieties were certainly very fortunate
to secure the services of so able q
lecturer for their annual convention.
The examination of the various
classes on Monday and Tuesday,
showed system and thoroughuess il
the methods of imparting knowledge,
and gave evidence of devotion to
their studies on the part of the stu
dents. On this "wednesday mern.
ing) the first senior class of the In
stitute came before the public to re-
ceive academic hOnors, and 90 forth
into the active scenes of life. 1t was
an occasion of deep interest
to all concerned, as it was the
first Of the kind in the his
tory of the Institution. The
graduating class acquitted themselves
well, Git numbered but two, Misses
Veatch and Sabin,) Miss Y. bringing
tears to many eyes in prOnouncing
the valedictory. There was some
thing Of the fervor and vigor of
speech which are so characteristic of
the public efforts of Gen. Veatch,
whose daughter she is. President
Smiths b~acealaureate was a model
composition, brimful Of practical
thoughts concerning The true
sphere of educated woman The
College chapel was crowded with
parents and scholars, who came to
enjoy. the delightful exercises Of
the closing scene. Prof. s. was at
home, and seemed inspired with
the surroundings, and though the
manuscript was used as before. there
was ease, freedom aud graceful ges-
ture, which, coupled with his impas-
stoned u~tserancss. swayed all hearts,
and suHased many eyes with tears.
The occasion viii not soon be forgot
ten by those who enjoyed it.. Prof.
Smith d~eservedly ranks among the
best educators Of the dav- and-nnder