The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-07-15
COMMENCEMENT EXERCIsEs.
FLORENCE sYNODICAL FEMALE
COLLEGE.

The exercises, attending the Examination
and Commencement Of this Institution were OF
the most interesting and satisfactory eharac-
ter, and proved most credtable 90 the distiu-
guished President, Dir. w. IL. MirCHELL-the
Board of Trustees-the Teachers aud pupils.
The classes evinced thorough proficiency ia the
studies, answering all questions, whether put
by the teacher or strangers, readily and cor
rectly. The most captious critic could not
have failed 10 be perfectly satisfied with the
result-shOwiug clearly that all the teachers
that the pupils were intelligent and well
grounded IN their studies.
The music upon the piano, as well as the sing
ing was Of the highest quality some Of the
vocal performances being Of 80 finished u char
acter that it would have graced the best ope-
ratio stage.
After Music, followed the delivery Of prizes
and medals, by Rev. DR.. Steadman, OF Mem
phis, in his usual fclicitous and impressive
! style.
Rev. Dr. Mitchell. This was a noble produc-
ton. IL was the large-hearted, generous and
| noble utterances Of the teacher whose heart h.
| filled with sympathy and affection for his pu-
| pills. He inculcated upon the graduating class
/ to go forth into life with the inspirations Of the
| largest philanthropy 70 be controlled by
| fashion, but TO become useful women. Or.
| Mitchell is peculiarly well qualified for the
/ duties of the position he so ably and honornhly
! fills. His whole soul is wrapped mp the
| well-boing Of those entrusted ~ bis care.
| During the delivery Of his address, aud par
/ ticularly his farewell 10 his class, but few dry
/ eyes could be seen in the large aud attentive
| audience.
! At the close Of his address, DR. Mitchell was
| completely taken by surprise, when Miss AM
/ ME Gates arose, and in behalf Of the grndun-
| ting class presented him "a beautiful gold
\ headed cane, bearing thereon his own name
| and the names Of each member Of the class.
1 With n voice trembling with ahecti0nnte emo
| ton, Miss Gates, holding the cane in her
! hand addressed the Doctor in words elo-
quent and so pathetic as TO draw tears from
| every eve.
Miss Mary johnson, Of West Tennessee, Ia
whom was awarded the First Honor, then de-
livered the VALEDIcroRY. This address was
replete with good sound sense, kindly aud
| whoe-souled.
After which the Rev. H. II. Paine, Of Holly
| Springs, Miss, arose and remarked 20 the au-
dienoe that DIR. Steadman and himself, with
others had been appointed by Synod, "spec-
ial Committee, 10 attend the Examinations OF
this College. and report 70 Synod ~ its next
meeting. He then stated, that he would not
| say il was one Of the best examinations he had
ever attended, bat by far the best lac bad ever
| witnessed for thOroughness Of training and
for the education Of the pupils IN The trn,
sense of the term, viz: 10 draw ont Their
minds" He said ''he had sat and listened iu
wonder, and that If he and DR.. Steadthan had
not been called on 70 prescribe the place,
| where the students should be examined and
the ladies to whom certain questions were q
be asked and ifthey had not themselves beer
requested by the President, 10 take the text
books ana eNnfnlne the clhHrfH-iie ihiEui nav
been tempted to suspect there haa been SOM
collision between teachers and pupils. III
also stated ''that the President had called 81
the pupils, if any Of them knew Of any partic
ular places in the textbooks where they wer
to be examined, any special questions wer
to be asked them, they should bold up thci
| right hands
DR. Steadman endorsed all the Rev. M
Paine had said, and remarked further that III
had tried his best 10 puzzle the class ia But
lers Analogy but did not succeed aud that d
came to the conclusion they knew much NOR
thad he thought they did" He also stated tina
MADAME Marbeau had given us the fines
Concert he had ever attended,
The remarks Of these distinguished gentle
men met hearty response and endOrsati0
from all who had attended the exercises.
There was unanimous expression OF CON
, mendatiOn of the thoroughness and zeal mar
: ifcsted by the President and his assistar
Z teachers-Miss Lou Il. Miller, Miss Eutopi
Heron and Madame Marbeau 20 do their wOrl
n Also of the strictness Of discipline enforced n
' il was with the utmost sympathy with, an
r affection for their pupils, and the fact, Whic
| was plainly manifest, that they inyariabl
= succeeded in winning the esteem and love
y their pupils.
r wehave now imperfeetly given an outline
T these most interesting exercises, and have on
in addition, 20 say that The M0ther Of the II
| stitutiOn Is yet IN her place, bestowing ma
!. maternal care and kind attention - tho chill
rem placed under her charge which will eve
u endear her 10 them and secure their love al
e respect. We know the young ladies who has
q lived with her. will endorse us when "a
that Mrs Leigh is all which parents c0u
u desire a Matron Of the Institution 20 be.