New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-30
Straight University.

The exhibition exercises of Straight Uni
versity, Wednesday night were witnessed |
by as large an audience as could possibly |
he crowded into the spacious chapel. Every |
seat was filed, all the aisles and passages
were crowded, as well in the galleries as in
the body of the chapel. And the interest
taken corresponded with the large numbers
who witnessed the exhibition.
The music for the occasion was furnished
by Kelly's Juvenile Brass Band, COM
pany of lads whom Mr.. Kelly has for some
time past been drilling, and who promise to
reflect the highest credit upon Lis abilities
as a teacher.
The exercises consisted Of a variety of
readings, declamations and recitations in
French and English. with some dramatic
pieces, which certainly spoke well for the
innate talent of the youthful amateurs.
In noticing these exercises, we DO not lose
sight of the circumstance that maturity of
cultivation must not be looked for from
neOphytes, but making due allowance for
the inexperience of the youthful candidates
for scholastic honOrs, we must admit that
the various exercises were, without eXcep-
tion. extremely creditable 10 the literary
status of the university.
We instance few Of the exercises which,
we are fain TO say, were transcendently
excellent The defamation ''Value of
Time and Knowledge by Eugene Baquet,
was not we suppose, an original compost
tion; the train Of thought was too mature
for SO young a person, but the diction and
delivery were both mastery. In the de-
clamation Thoughts for Young Man" by
j. ID. Kennedy, we thought we detected the
efforts of youth based upon the production
of a mature thinker; at any rate, the pro
dNction was high-tOned, and it's delivery
waAin a corresponding style. One piece,
peculiarly suited to the exigency of the
times, vas the Duty of American Citizens, "
exceedingly well delivered by Master j B.
Hall
One OF TIM finest pieces of the evening
was the reading of Inconsistent Expecta-
tions,' by MiA N. j. Thompson. This
: young lady, formerly pupil now teacher,
: is remarkable instance of the pursuit OF
} knowledge under depressing circumstances
! Indeed, her career stroVgly reminds one OF
' Clifford, the English journalist, actuated by
/ ineXtinguishable thirst fol knowledge, stu
/ dying mathematics when a Aoemaker's ap
$ prentice, by hammering on scraps o
d leather, and inscribing probloSs with al
d awl A few years ago, Miss Thompson, ut
d terly without education, but bulnng witt
ardent desire for education, entered til
; primary department, and steadily wyrke
IS her way up, supporting herself by laborul
It til she had attained such an amount y
n scholarship as to make her an acquisitic
l. in the corps of teachers.
If The star piece Of the evening was "Tl
1t Hoyden" in three scenes. by Misses Matilt
It Wakefield NJ. j. Thompson, Jennie Mile
d aud Master j. d. Kennedy. The performe
y showed a dramatic capacity of no mean 0
II der, entering fully into the spirit of the
d parts.
s. We think the friends of the Straight u
le versity may congratulate themselves up,
e the success which has so far attended Il
re institution, and the promise which it Civ
n. OF greatly extended usefulness in future.