The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-06-30
Commencementof the Raciifncnd Fe'
$ male InsaasFste. s.s4s

No house in Richmond seemsste be able
to hold the crowd whirh annusily Assem-.
bles to witness the commencement OF the
Richmond Female Instsl ute. Whetherthe
reason is tound in the rational entertain.
ment always served In the essays
| OF the fair graduates. or In the
array of beauty displayed in the irnnt
benches on either side of the. mlddla
| aisle, or whether there ia some other rea-
son, we will not pretend to suy. But we do
| know that Nilsson in oil her glory did not
draw half as large q crowd in Richmond as
Professor Winston did last night. The at
tendance of young men was particularly
large, hundreds being unable to gain seats,
and many standing on the steps and under
the windows happy to catch even word
Of the young ladies' charming literary
efforts. s..
The pulpit was on this occasion occu-
pied by q number Of prominent gentle
men, and Governor Walkers handsome
head was conspicuous in the audience,
much to the delight of the girls and to the
| discomfort Of numerous young men, who
wished him to pay for enjoying himself by
making speech. He very properly de.
clined, however, to notice the loud calls
made upon him, and sat quiet spectator
until the benediction was pronounced.
The exercises were commenced, as usual,
with music. after which the venerable and
! Reverend DIR. Witt, of Prince Edward, Of
| fered prayer. The essays offour graduates
were then read in the following order:
"The Untried World" by Miss Bette
Walthall read by Rev. DR.. Burrows.
Language" by Miss Mary S. Wright
| read by Mayor Kelley and hev. DR.. Bur-
rows. .--.-
"From Shore to Shore" by Miss Alice
2. Bacon read by DIR. Geo. ". Bagby.
Valedctory," by Miss Eva Puryear ;
| read by Major Stiles.
All of these essays reflected credit upon
| their young authors. "The Untrled
| World" was very we'll written and marked
ly considerable degree Of originality.
Miss Wright treated Of Language %
| with much sprtehtliness, but the es-
say also abounded in traces OF an o.
serving and rejecting mind. Her compli.
| ments to the newspaper men were ap-
plauded by all (the newspaper men) in the
4 disintcrested standpoint, we may add
| that the compliments to which we refer
| were really deserved.
From Shore to Shore" was idealfstic,
fancilul, and withal Il good piece Of com
position and the Faledictory Of Miss Pur-
year was in admirable taste and we'll writ
| ten.
After the essays were read, Prof. Winston
! made some appropriate remarks, and con-
ferred diplomas upon the following school
graduates of 1871:
Miss A. Mimic Adam, English Litera-
ture; Miss Alice p. Bacon. Latin and
French; Miss Florence Cocker, Natural
Sciences; Miss Clara Cottrell, Natural
Sciences; Miss Adelaide L. Courtney,
English Literature and Natural Sciences !;
Miss Lizzie NJ. Garlck, Natural Sciences !;
Miss Florence G.. Hutchinson, Natural
Sciences: Miss Kate McCurdy, English
Literature and Natural Sciences; Miss
Matte S. Murray, French; Miss Nam
ME Newell, Natural Sciences; Miss
NJ. Nettic rleasanLs, English Lltera~
ture, French, and Natural Sciences !;
Miss Annie j. Pritchard, French; Miss
Eva Puryear, Latin and Mathematics Miss
Julia S. Reins.. English Literature and
Natural Sciences Miss Julia B. Spence,
English Literature, Moral Philosophy, and
French; Miss Susie l.. Starke, English
becca Turpin. Natural sciences Miss Fan
nie h, 1llrpin, Natural Sciences Miss
Belle Walthall, English Literature, French,
and Natural Sciences; Miss Ada B. Win
free, English Literature and Natural
Sciences; Miss Mary S. Wright, English
Literature. Moral Philosophy, and Natural
Sciences Miss Mary T. WORKMAN, Natural
Sciences,
Miss Eva Puryear, the valcdictorian, was
the only luli graduate.
Rev. DIR. 3. Sears, of Staunton, distin-
tineuiShcd friend OF education, was then
Introduced, and made an interesting adj
dress, full Ct good advice for the young
ladies, and so h'ppily put as to be heard
with pleasure by all present. The eXer-
cisos rvero closed with the benediction by
the Rev. Dr.. Jrter.
We had almost forgotten to state that
Prof. Thilow presided ut tue organ, and per-
formed on that instrument with distinguish
ed skill.
CLOSING EXERCISES OF GENERAL LANES