The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-07-20
The Commencement at Due West.

Female Colleges at Due "es'
came off on Wednesday and Thurs
dav last. AS usual we had the
pleasure of attending, and can
bear willing testimony to the sue
oess of the performances, and the
unabated interest ard qualification
with which they were witnessed by
the large crowd in attendance
The attendance, we suppose, was
fully as large as usual, and the per-
formances fully up to the usual
standard. TO say this-is to award
no common compliment, either to
the interest of the occasion, or the
SUCCESS of these Aourishing instl-
tutions.
To swell the crowd, and to pro-
vide for its accommodation when
present, more than ordinary prep
aratious had been made. The
Greenville & Columbia Railroad
with its accustomed liberality had
granted return tickets for one fare
to all visitors, and as a consequence
brought bright array from this and
the adjoining Districts; these Were
conveyed in hacks to the vii
lage of Due West, where the ho-
tells Of Messrs. Hawthorn, Mays
and Pratt were filed to overflow
Ing. In addition, private vehicles
brought many from far and near,
and private hospitality was taxed
to its utmost capacity. But as
usual, Due West was equal to all
demands made upon her, snd. en-
tertained most literally. ,:
We havo attempted before to &C.
count in q measure. for tho unabated
interest with which these Commence
ments are hailed, in the union of the
two celebrations, Male and Female, at
the same time, with tho ordeal Of pub.
lio examinations before the Same com.
mittee, and public exercises witnessed
by the same expectaDt throng Of rela'
tiyes and friends. Whatever differ
once of opinion there may be as to
the propriety Of uniting the sexes in
the same school or college, we think
there can be mono as to the increased
emulation which is excited. by public
coutests in the presence ofeach other
As too the audience is larger and
more varied, a greater interest is
awakened both in performers and
spectators, and the efforts made arc
commensurate with the anticipation:
formed. Whatever be the reason
J the Commenccments at Due West
awaken an interest and are rewarded
with o success, which are equalled BY
few institutions Of tho land.
In the death of President Grier, the
eloquent divine and able administra,
two officer, Erskine College has sui;
fored the the loss Of one whom ii
could i'll spare, but we have no doubt
that the Church can furnish o sue
cessor worthy to bear his mantle and
to sustain the character and pros
perity Of; her cherished institution
1t is well represented now by such
able and successful instructors as Pro.
.fessors Pressly, Young, Hood and
Lowry, with Captain Cochran Of the
Preparatory Department.
In the Female College, President
Bonner, with his accustomed ener.
gy and tact. assisted by corps Of
accomplished teachers, well sus,
tains its past reputation. An ad'
mirable disciplinarian, be temperz
the severity of the law with the
kindness and affection Of the pa
rent, and secures as we'll the love
and respect of his pupils. lie
finds earnest co-laborers in Prof.
Kennedy, and Misses A1cQuerns,
Morse, Nixon and Galloway, and
under their successful management
the. College is each yearpresenting
new claims to the public patro-
mage, which it has already SO large
1y enjoyed.
The Examinations in the. two
Colleges commenced on Friday,
the 7th inst, and closed on the fol.
lowing Tuesday. They we're each
conducted in the presence of
Joint Committee, and in the pres
ence Of the other College. We
= vere not present, but learn, that
they were entirely satisfactory, and
highly creditable to all concerned.
Tuesday evening, at candle
fighting, witnessed the opening