The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-17
commencement Of Martha Washing
ton. Female College.
Reported for tie !itspatch.]
ABINGDON, VA, July Is,

ABINGDON, ~, July lo, 1911,
The commencement exercises of the Mar
tina Washington Female College closed to-
day, having been continued through five
days.
On Sunday last the sermon before the
graduating class was preached by Rev. DR..
BEDFORD, Of Nashville.
On Monday evening the Sappho Literary
Society held their annual celebration, con-
sistipg, as is usual on such occasions, of
music, essays, dc.
On Tuesday evening the annual ceIebra-
ton Of the Vernon Literary Society came
off with exercises similar to those of the
preceding evening. On this occasion the
audience were much amused, as we'll as en-
tertained, by the recitation of a poem by one
Of the younger Vernons, giving q history OF
the society, its name, and motto (Essdyez).
and containing humorous illusions to the
individual members of the society, and the
contemplated exercises of the evening.
The essays on both these occasions were
really above what is usually heard from fe-
male %collegians. There were not so many
attempts at poetical sentiments, and more
ideas, real ideas that were calculated TO bet
ter both the essayist and the auditors. l
would ascribc this evidence Of the employ
ment of their minds, ina practical manner,
to the instructions of one Of the professors
of the college, Rev. DIR. w. G.. T.. Cum
nyngham, an erudite scholar and amiable
Christian gentleman, who after spending,ten
years of his life as a missionary in China,
returned home at the close of the war and
shortly thereafter accepteda professorship
he is now one of the most valuable sup.
ports. - Z'&A
On Wednesday evening the graduating
class gave q grand concert, which, so far as
your correspondent is capable Of determin-
ing, was also q grand success,
The musical part of the different enter
ta,nments was conducted by Professor +.
L. Funk, who, with a-corps of female as
sistants, has charge of that department of
the college.
To-dny the commencement exercises
were held. Thirteen young ladies gradu-
ated-Miss Maggie G.. Ward, of this place,
dictory; whilst the second honor, being
equally contested by Miss &c. H.. Page, OF
Campbell Courthouse, and Miss Ida Bailey,
Of Lyncbburg, both were declared entitled
to it, and salutatories were read by them,
that of the former in English, and the lat
ter in French. y 90
EAfter the delivery of the diplomas 3 gold
medal was awarded to Miss Eliza 81. Lenoir,
of Lenoir, Tenn, for best English compost
tion. The medal WAS furnished by DR.. T.
r.. Brown, OF this place. and, to avoid
g foreign intervention" and place the con.
test above the suspicion Of unfairness, the
following plan was adopted: y
The graduating class was informed that
the members would be permitted tocontest
for the medal; after which DR.. Cunnyng-
-hpm called all The contestants into Q reclta-
ton room, allowing them only the use OF
pens, ink, and paper, and gave them sub
ject, upon which they all prepared on
essay. at the end of On hour the essays
were written. The Doctor then told the
contestants each to Sign fictitious names to
tier rssass sud, further, to put their real