Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-18
PittSbOrO' Scientific Academy.

luonal matters, / propose giving you her
= short account of the ceremonies attend
; ant upon the Fourth Annual Commence
ment of the Pittsboro' Scientific Academy
which occurred on last Thursday and Fri
day, the 10th and 18th instant. It is one
OF the few great annual events which We
know here, but it is the grandest of them
all, and nothing stirs our little town to itf
centre SO completely as its regular recur
renee. 1t is an event of great interest tc
us. as well as to the many parents of the
students, for whose general benefit an
writing to you.
Both days were beautiful and pleasant,
and it seemed as though that renowned in
dividual-the clerk of the weather-was
especially lenient towards our good people.
Grand and unusual efforts had been made
by the worthy Principal. Capt. G. B. Den
son, to make the present occasion eclipse
all of its predecessors, and the result
proved that he was eminently successful
The ceremonies were inaugurated on
Thursday morning at st. Bartholomew 8
(Episcopal) Church by the delivery of the
Commencement Sermon by Rev. r. g..
Sutton, the eloquent and gifted Rector
The students, with the Alumni in front
and with Rev. Mr.. Sutton, Col. A. A.
McKoy, of Sampson, the chosen orator of
the occasion, and Capt. G. B. benson, the
Principal Of the Academy, in their midst,
and preceded by band of music,
marched from the Academy Grove to
the church, where Mr.. Sutton delivered to
them, and very large audience besides,
one of the most beautiful and instructive
sermons that it has ever been my good for
tune to hear. At the conclusion Of the
church services the procession returned to
the grove, when they dispersed.
That evening all of Pittsboro' and the
residents of the country for many miles
around, gathered together at the Academy,
which was packed to it's utmost capacity,
many persons being unable to gain an en-
trance to the building. The Room was
beautifully and tastefully adorned by the
fair hands of a number of our fairestl ladies
love for many days previous Ever
green's and garlands. enlivened here and
there with rare and beautiful flowers,
were placed around in graceful plenty,
while the STAGE, with its mimic machinery,
was adorned with classic mcttoes and
pictures and rendered perfectly redolent
with the odor of the rare exotics gather
ed from the garden and green house of the
Principal, and which lent their beauty to
the glorious scene. The evening was de-
voted entirely to declamatory exercises of
derful proficiency in that new national
n oorkY nyaf nF q n6T &c
all American youths. Some of these
exercises were composed of dramatic
scenes, taken from old standard dramas
and rendered in character. Others were
humorous dialogues, bearing principally
upon matters of most interest to the pub
lie mind at this time. The evening closed
happily and pleasantly with few remarks
from the Principal, addressed to the pa
rents aud friends of the students.
In the forenoon of the next day friday
g. large concourse assembled in the grove,
where the exercises were continued. Prin-
cipal among them were the delivery of fine
original essays by John l.. Clegg, Of Ar
kansas, and Chas. B. Rogers and James d.
Brooks of Chatham.
The valedictory fell to the lot Of Robert
Cowan of this place, but formerly of your
CITY, and think / can safely say that it
was one of the most beautiful essays I
have ever known to emanate from stu
dent. Its concluding part was in verse, and
in verse too that would put to shame
many of the productions of those whom
the world ranks as men and poets of merit.
In the afternoon of the same day your
late gallant standard bearer in the con-
gressional campaign came forward, under
brief introduction by Mr.. H. A. London,
Jr., and for more than an hour held us all
entranced with the elegant thoughts he
uttered, clothed in the most beautiful words
that our language knows. I would not, if
could, attempt to give you a synopsis of
his remarks as no words can do justice to
his effort. An earnest and a sincere thinker,
q practical man and with mind we'll
stored with the greath truths of this and of
past ages, Col. McKoy was we'll qualified
for the part which he had undertaken to
perform, and have never heard u CON-
mencement address more earnest in its
delivery, and more respectfully received.
Well may your section be proud of him,
and worthy, we'll worthy was he to wear
the trust of the people to which the voice
of the white men of your district would
have called him.
At the close of Col McKoys address
Capt. benson made, himself, brief ad-
dress preparatory to the delivery of the
honors. which interesting ceremony closed
the scholastic part of the commencement
exercises.
Then followed the pleasures always
attendant upon such occasions, but not
always so heartily enjoyed as they are here
where festivities do not SO rapidly follow
each other as is sthe case with your and
other cities. At about nine o'clock the
night being dark and we'll suited TO the
purpose, the annual pyrotechnic display
took place. Our little town was filed !
s'chockf full with the country peoplefor ma
ny miles around here, who came in to wit !
ness the fireworks. These were in great vari-
ETY. and of unusual magnifcence, several of !
the scenes having been manufactured ex-
pressly for this occasion. Rockets of va
rious hues, roman candles, blue and red !
lights. parachutes, verticle wheels, mines, !
snake monsters and balloons being among /
the principal ones. But the most beauti- !,
full of all were two large frames, bearing, !,
respectively, the letters P. S. A., and the !
name Of McKoy, which burned with a beau !
tiful and variegated lust1e and which sent /
off in every direction into the air brilliant
rockets.
The great. grand closing event of all, !