New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-30
STRAIGHT UNIVE RSIT Y
Commencement Exercises
THIRD DAY.

versity took place yesterday morning. COM
mencing at half past nine o'clock. The oc-
casion was one of exceeding and increased
interest, and crowded audience attended,
among whom, as on previous days, we no.
ticed several distinguished gentlemen from
other parts of the State.
After opening music and prayer, the
exercises of the day commenced, consisting
of examinations of the higher classes, de-
signated as "Grade A." Professor Williams,
who is a graduate of Dartmouth College,
New Hampshire, conducted the examlna
tions, and the progress of his pupils showed
that he was "apt to teach" Although Pro-
fessoz Williams conducted the examinations
a1one, YET In u-auhfug nc nud IN able cnad4
tutor in Professor Ebenezer Tucker, whose
name was enormously given as Lucher In
our report of yesterday. The examination
of the advanced classes in spelling, reading
and grammar, were highly satisfactory; but
the great feature of the occasion was the
examin alton of the class in physiology.
The pupils in this class gave, in their
answers. conclusive proof that they had
Maid great attention to their studles.
The answer they gave to var .ous questions
we're not what they had read, repeated uer-
balm: but deductions and differences from
their reading, given in their own language;
Four of these pupils are emitted to special
mention, for the clearness OF their answers
showed that they had fair conception OF the
subject of examination. Their names are
Charles Bourgeois, whose descriptive an
swers were very cIedltable; Sarah Thomas.
who was very apt in answers; Jennie Mil
ler. who is pupil Of great promise, and
Miss Mary Jane Thompson, whose progress
showed that she had been hard student.
This young lady, we are informed. had to
contend with great impediments in her
efforts to gain an education, but these
efforts will certainly be successful.
After the class in physiology, which num-
bers forty-fiye pupils, had been examined,
"The Flag of the Free" was sung. This
beautiful song was arranged as solo (sung
by Miss Brunette). duett and chorus. AT Its
conclusion, short recess was taken.
We notice, as something to be regretted,
that all the examinations were not arranged
80 as to be held in the chapel, in rotation:
Unfortunately, for some reason we could
not comprehend, while one examination was
| taking place in the chapel, another was 60
| ing on in one of the recitation rooms above,
| so that the audience were prevented from
| witnessing the exercises in full. We nope
that this will be remedied in future, so that
| all the examinatiOns can be made IN one
room, in consecutive order.
| The exercises were resumed by examina.
| tions of tie classes of Mrs. Mary V. Mar
shall. being the higher grade OF the primary
department. This examination, as well az
| the preceding one, showed greatly to the
credit of both teacher and pupils. In fact
the method of Mrs. Marshall in teaching
and her aptitude in adapting her mode o.
1 Al nf
| with whom she is dealing, mark her as 8
| teacher of first class talent.
| Greatly to our disappointment, We were
prevented by attendance in the chapel,
| from witnessing in full the examination o.
the classes in the higher departments o.
| arithmetic and in mathematios. Bot was
we were enabled to witness, con-
| fciency of the pupils. II was evident tt
anv Intelligent spectator that the pupils
| had made no special preparation for the oc-
| casiop, nor any, indeed, except their Ordln-
arv studies. The mode of study appeared
| calculated to develop the faculty of thought
| comparison and deduction to high degree
| Interspersed with the examination were
| the following recitations:
| Opening Address-Miss A. Warning.
| The Last Leaf-P. Taylor.
| Somebody's Darling-A. Castill.
4 Dirge-Miss o. Castill.
Psalm of Life-Miss N. johnson.
| The Tempest. Lewis.
Trust and Try-M. Bosquet.
| Soliloquy-L. Tardois.
Ballad-E. Gill.
| Vacation-F. Dawes.
| Closing-W. Nolascer.
| During the foregoing exercises, various
pieces of music were sung with fine effect;
among others Golden City,""We know not
what's before u.s." IA friend that's ever
near. n.sBue Birds" and 'Die on the helt
of battle, )" which last is a great favorite.
| A closing address was delivered by Col
onel Mason. It was very short, ana dweil
chiefly upon the educational 'IeUerd9e tne
colored race had now acquired. which, win
out infringing on the rights OF others, pu
their own destiny, for good or for evil, II
their own hands.
Colonel Mason was followed by Reverend
Father Maistre, one of the faculty o! tne
University, who spoke in French. The Rev
erend Father said, in effect, that the great
revolution which had endowed the coloreo
race with all the rights that belong to mer
and to citizens, brought with them cores
bonding duties. That no human power mac
wrought the wondrous change. 1t was the
power of God. That the entranchlsed ract
should so perform the new duties now In
cumbent on them, as to call down the bless
ing of God.
Rev, Mr.. Turner succeeded Father Maistrt
in short but very interesting address, CON
| tanning some information OF the origin o
Straight University. He paid well de
served compliment to Colonel mason ano
the Rev. Mr. Healy, whose zeal and ABILITY
had been the head and front OF this educa
tional enterprise. He deprecated the ma
lign influence OF fanaticism, or anything
that looked to antsgonism OF races. Al
one of the colored race, all he desired OF
claimed for that race was an equal chance
and a fair start. He concluded by congratu
lating the audience on the hopeful prospec
that had now opened to them. and predicted
| a large increase of educational means.
Here it had been intended, we under
| stood, to close the commencement exer-
cises. But the interest Of the large
audience was so great, that the meeting Wa:
continued for some time longer. mr.
Craig was called on, as gentlemen VIII
had largely interested himself in the cause
of education. He responded by few we'll
timed remarks, congratulating the chlldrel
| and their parents on the success OF the plal
of academlcal learning in which they thel
stood.
Miss Jennie Miller was then called on to-
recitation. She recited 'The Pen and tn
Press,' in q style of elocution rarely sur
passed. even in assemblies of far highe
pretensions. We say this advisedly. Tn
tone, the emphasis, infection OF voice
gesture, were as near perfect as is possible
The young lady impressed as as POSSESSING
talent of high order.
Mr.. Healy made some pertinent remark
on the power of the press, and called on tn
only representative of that power presen
for speech. The REPUBLICAN responds
in short address upon the benefits OF edu
cation, and the popular error Of considerin
education merely and only as means