Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-07-06
----------.------------.- the Spectator
VIRGINIA FEMALE INSTITUTE.


the Commencement Exercises of this Institu-
ton took place on the 24th of June The audi
ence filed the beautifully decorated Hall and
crowds of disappointed persons, unable to get
near the doors, were reluctantly compelled to
leave. The undergraduates entered the Hall a
few minutes before o'clock and precisely at 8
o'clock the graduating class entered to a bealrti-
ful march, by Prof. Ide, Junr. and were recciv-
ed by the whole school standing The various
classes were distinguished by satin rosettes fas-
tened with gold Maltese badges. The elegant
appearance Of the pupils was the admiration of
the entire audience Their refined bearing. Dig
nifed composure and graceful ease surpassed
even that of former occasions, and have become
marked feature of this Institution, plainly show
ing the value of daily training. -
The Musical Salutatory-R ossinis Overture of
Wna TeL-with two pianos, organ and VIOLIN
was beautifully rendered by Misses Yancey,
Kirk Kinney and Radfurd on the pianos; Miss
s. Thatcher on the organ, and Prof. E. l.. Ide
on the violin. -T ASST ThFr9TTr
We were fortunate in sitting where We could
distinctly hear Miss Yancey, Of Georgia, read the
Salutatory, in which she eulogized Music with
great beauty and force. 1t contained passages
that would honor any writer, and showed, all
highly cultivated taste. We shall not soon for
get the beautiful passage on the music OF Nature
der reading was unusually clear and impressive
Labritzky's Waltz Observation-Disclosures ad-
mirably performed by the Misses Hansbrough
OF Albemarle on the piano; Miss Upshur of
Northampton, on the organ, and Prof. Ide, Sr
on the violin. 1t IT had fault we could not de-
lect it.
The same remark applies to the Amoretten
Tanze- WGttz, by Gung rendered by Misses
Leavell and Lowry on the piano, Miss Roller on
the organ, and Prot. Ide on the violin Miss r.
P: Kinney sung beautiful solo from Arditti
with great sweetness and beauty.
Meyerbeers Coronation March, from his
Prophet, was rendered by Misses Shackelford
Walker, Perkins and Nelson on the Pianos Miss
Lockwood on the organ, and Prof Ide on the
violin. The time in this as in all the difficult
pieces played during the evening" was fauItless
We observed the performers all counted and gave
striking proof of daily training in this essential
element OF music 81 zt
Prof. E. l.. Ide more than met our high expec-
tatlcns of his compostion-Ihe BeLts-poetry by
K. A. Poe The brilliant and difficult accompani-
ment was executed by Miss Yancey of Ga, and
Miss Belle Kirk of Culpeper county, Va. Tho
vocal parts were admirably sustained by twenty
pupils The beautiful adaptation of the music
to the sentiments of the gifted poet, the perfect
time in the complicated parts and the expressive
emphasis in the difficult execution, impressed
every one present. The whole piece was render
ed with fautless taste. F,
Our reverie of admiration was broken by Au-
ber's Overture-Le Cheual de Bronze-splendidly
rendered by Miss Thatcher, of Shreveport La,
Miss Paul. Of Rockingham, Miss L; Hans
brough, of Albemarle and Miss Pritchard, of
New Orleans, on the Pianos, Miss Leavel, OF
w. Va. on the organ, and Prof. Ide on his vio-
lin. This is a magnificent composition, and its
difficult passages enabled the performers to ex-
hibt their skill and taste tofhe admiration of the
delighted audience
After rich treat of beautiful classic music,
the Hon. H. w. Shefey was introduced to the
audience and addressed the pupils of the Insti
tute in his very felictous manner. We have not
he Dyn q fine nd
Jud &c Shelley is always happy in such efforts
He fully sustained himself and was listened to
by the vast audience with unbroken attention. =
After the address he conferred the honors of the
Institute, addresslngln the most appropriate style
few remarks to each happy recipient We were
much gratifed to observe, on the stage. Miss PEN.
dleton OF Giles. the accomplished Valedlctorlan
at the last Commencement, assisting her friend,
Miss Phillips, in distributing the beautiful med
ais ye.s-~ - p At&9@
GOLD MEDALS
WRITINe;-Mlss E.. NJ Jenkins, Baltimore;
Miss j. A Birchett, Prince George, Va
COMPOSITIONS l. w. Pendleton. Bed
ford county, Va Miss Y. L. Hansbrough Miss
L. q. Hans brough, Albemarle county, Va.
Miss Ada Robson, Easton, Md. (This last med
al was Inadvertently omitted by the transcriber
of the copy used in the distribution, and will be
conferred ON the re-openng of the school, on in
augural day Sept 20th.)
SCHoLARsHIP.-Misse e. NJ. Pritchard New
Orleans; Nettie B. Stribing Staunton; Amelia
ham, South Carolina; Lizzie Radford, Bedford
county. Va. L. w. PendIeton, Bedford county
Va; V. L. Hansbrough and L. q. Hvnsbrough,
Albemare county, Va
MUsIc-Misses Mamie H. Brown Richmond
Lizzie Radford, Bedford CO., Va; V. Q. C'yce
Lexington, Va. G. Wilingham, South Carroll
ma; Ella Paul, Harrisonburg Belle hi k, Gull
pepper county, Va; E. NJ. Pritchard, New Or
leans r. 2. kinney. Stanton; V. l.. Hans
brough, Albemarle and G. S. Schackelford, Rich
mond county, Va.
WRITING AND ScHoLARsHIP.-hIisses Maggie
Shelley, Staunton; Mollle Strlngfellow, Hanover
county, Va.
NEATNEss AND RULEs-Misses Josie Cowan
and s. A. Roller Rockingham, Va
BIBLE CLAss.-MissS :. Z. Upshur, Northamp-
ton county, Va
Mrs. PHILLIPS STAR MEDAL.-Miss Gussie G.
Finlayson. Monticello. Florida.
CoMPosITIoN STAR MEDAL.-Miss nj. P.
Walker, Huntsville, Ala
MUSIC STAR MEDALs.-Misses NJ. L. Yam
cev, Ga.; s. Thatcher, La.
NEATNESS AND SCHOLARSHIP STAR MEDAL.
Miss Lizzie NJ. Dawson. Cahaba, Ala.
SCHOLARSHIP AND Observation-Disclosures NJ.
P. Walker, A.a. and NJ. l.. Yancey, Ga
FIRST HONOR-STAR MEDAL.-Miss Sallie
2. Upshur, Northampton county, Va.
Misses L. NJ Dawson, Ala G. G. Fnlayson,
Ela + P Kinney Va N NJ A k NyeI w W.
Ella i: Paul Va; G. s. schackelford Va, Mol,
P. Upshur Va. NJ. P. Walker, Ala. NJ. L.
Yancey. Ga
VALEDICTORY.
Miss NJ P. Walker read The Valedictory, writ
ten with faultless taste. She read the Response
to Miss Pendeton last Summer, and we then
predicted for her, great success. We are happy
to see her fulfill our prediction. valedictory
is difficult to write. Miss Walker evidently drew
upon her own heart for the beautiful sentiments
of this fine composition; and the deep attention
and evident emotion with which it was received,
showed with what generous fulness her draft
had been honored. She felt every word and so
did her audience, whose sympathies she secured
from the first sentence.
THE RESPONSE.
The Response was read by Miss v. L. Hans
brough of the Intermediates and we hesitate
not in view of this and her other honors, to pre-
dict her perfect success as a writer.
The grand old Gloria E:rcelsis cordially
sung by pupils teachers and the audience, the
Rev W. f. Pendleton pronounced the Bene-
dicton and closed an erlterti: nlent that will long
be remem bered by those who were fortunate
as to get within the crowded hall. Y.
For the Spectator.
FINAL EXERCISES OF EASTWOOD SCHOOL
Prof Pike Powers. A. NJ, Principal.
We had the pleasure on Friday, the 18th of
June of attending the closing exercises OF this
school in the chapel Of the d. ID. q b. lnstitu-
ton. Mr. Powers explained to the audience that
he had not, until three weeks before the Conn
mencement of his examinations, announced To his
,,,Dil hi, nrnoSe ot making Dubiic ui,trI buttons