The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-06-30
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/ One day last week we had the pleasure
fseaug programme of the Atheneup
determination and commencement Ex
Iercises. and resolved at once to attent
by all means, knowing that the Athen
1@um excels in all kinds of literary anf
I musical entertainments. Last SUNDAY
afternoon, four o'clock was appointed foi
the commencement Sermon, and al
though the day was exceedingly hot, thu
thermometer ldancing among the nineties
| aud the clouds threatening rain, the PEG.
rest arrived early and had all opportunity
| of looking around. Without doubt, the
| sAthen@um is one of the most beautiful
places in the South. Nature and art
have both exerted themselves in making
| 1t attractive. The bluegrass lawn, the
beautiful grove of stately forest trees,
the spacious campus, the elegant build.
ings, the splendid halls richly adorned
with effusions of artistic taste, all COM
bined to make the AthenRum one of the
most desirable Schools in the land. We
were expecting to have an exceedingly
hot time, but were shown that the ener-
getic managers of the .,Athenaeum had
recently put six large ventilators in the
ceiling, which succeeded admirably in
moderating the temperature OF the hall.
Inc Work we learn, was done by the
Columbia mechanics, and was al we'll
executed as not 10 disfigure the hall in
the least. We had not been seated LONG
before the procession entered the half
1t was composed of the AtheDmum pu-
Pills, the choir, the faculty and the orator,
rev. VIM. L. Harrison. d. D., Editor Of
the NeW Monthly Mcgazinc, of Nashville.
immediately, the Athenseum choir sang
beautiful and appropriate voluntary,
with JUL and expressive organ accom-,
paniment, by the we'll known orpanist.
Miss Annie p. Harrison, of the Athenae,
um Faculty.
Rev. A. w. Smith, Pastor of the Co
lumbia Methodist Church, conducted the
services, and addressed the throne Of
grace in fervent prayer for the prosperi>
" of the Athen9um, its teachers, pupils
and all connected with it,
The music sung on the occasion and
especially the beautiful b. mns that were
so expressively rendered by all the pu-
pills, showed the care and attention be-
Ihkowed by the, Atheneum on choral
dsic as a duty and as a delightful
1tcreation. f-r7 a't Is
~ DIR. Harrison, after giving notice of the
remaining commencement exercises of
tho Athen9um, delivered most elo-
quent and instructive discourse. With
mastery skill he delineated the charac-
tiers of Vashti and Esther. in such plain
and simple language that little girl re-
marked that cit was the prettiest story
she ever heard,n ..,'-- 9--t avn -
The instructions to be received from
these beautiful characters, and the pres
ent and eternal advantages to be derived
from following their examples, were for
chilly shown by this learned doctor, who
made himself fully understood even by
the children who were present. But we
viii not attempt to give an account otthe
discourse, such q sermon must be heard
in Older to be appreciated. Meme can
deny the advantage of such instructions
at the close OF each school year. s9 Del.
We were SO well pleased with the,
Athena um. exercises Of Sunday, after
noon, that we, were among the first pre-
sent at the examination on Monday
morning. It was remarked by those
who ought to know, that the first days
examination was meyer more largely at
tended. The morning WIS devoted to the
examination of the Pestalozzian
Department, and we, were agreeably
surprised at the proficiency ofthe pupils,
which clearly showed the patient labor
of the teachers, and the thorough course
of instruction. The Chorus "Beautiful
Bell" was very fine, and was charming
ly sung. gsat LaaF-uf af1 --.
The Pestalozzisn French was especial
" worthy of mention. We learned that
the Athenaum teaches tine Primary
clisses the elements of French and
Vocal music free of charge. This in
struction is chiefly oral, and forms good
foundation for future attainments in
these studies. The little pupils answer
sometimes singly, andSsometimesia all to-
gether, and enjoy it exceedingly. ~.
The morning exercises closed at II
o'clock. The Board Of examiners were
perfectly satisfied with the Rotations.
From this beginning it is quite likely
that tue remaining exercises at the
Athenaum Will be unusually attractive.
The managers of this school are the right
men in the right place, and we Heel conf
dent of its fullest success. " r.-. /
I'VE noticed that although most of the
schools have adopted the plan of making
their. sessions only twenty weeks, the
Athen@um continues to work the full
tine, and the sessions still begin on the
first Monday in September and contin-
ues through ten calendar months.
The Atheneum examination will COM
tinue until Friday afternoon, when the
commencement will take place. AS /
expect to remain through the exercises,
you may hear from me again.
s-~ W. r.,