Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-07-05
Commencement Exercises.

ing last, and call attention to it now thro'
mencement is an event of such significance as
to require volumes, or even communication
of moderate length, TO be written upon it, but
because this was one Of such unusual interest
and Importance as to deserve the notice of the
whole educational public of our section of
country. All who attended on this occasion
could readily enjoy the exercises and appre-
ciate the system in the preparation and ar
rangement for the evening, but few were really
cognizant of the hours and days of unweared
labor required to bring students up to such a
standard of excellence MS was exhibited here
almost without exception. For week before
the commencement the examination had been
going quietly, but satisfactorily on, showing
the utmost proficiency, not merely in declama-
ton and elocution-branches in which the
public had an opportunity of judging for
themselves, of the progress Of the students,
but in the not less useful and important de-
partments of mathematics, classics and bellies
lettres.
Nothing can be more painful and harassing
to the mind Of a student than the conscious
ness Of deficiency at the close of a school sea-
son, as result of msspent time and neglected
opportunity nothing more pleasing and de-
ightful than knowledge that every possible
effort has been made that no time has been
frittered away, and that by vigorous and I'M
RENTING application, his whole duty to him
self and friends has been discharged. No one
could fail to see which of these feelings CHAR
acterized the students of the Rockville Acade-
my. They were full of animation, delight,
zest for the occasion. The evening, the spot
selected, the season of the year, were all aus
picous. AT about eight o'clock Hon. RIcH'
j. BOWIE, one Of the Board of Trustees of the
Academy, Che having been selected to preside
on the occasion) arose, and in a neat introduce
tory address welcomed the visitors and invited
their closest attention. large stage had been
erected in front of the Speakers stand in the
Fair Grounds, and had been carpeted and mos.
beautifully decorated with wreaths of shrub
berry by the fair hands interested in the pros
perity Of the Institution. This stage brough.
the action OF each declamer in full and easy
view Of the audience The Rockville Brass
Band was in attendance and discoursed most |
excellent music throughout the evening. An |
appropriate Salutatory was well delivered by |
Master W. w. Russell, whereupon the decla-
nation proceeded. Each speaker, and the Sc
lection he was to declaim, were appropriately |
by Judge BOWIE, and each received |
the applause he deserved, while the ladies pres
ent manifested their appreciation of the elo-
quence from time to time by the bestowment
of great profusion of choice flowers and bou-
qnets. Where all did so well, it would not be
in taste to make critical comparisons 1t may
not be amiss however, to say that Master G.
w Prettyman, G. R. Darby, and Frank AL
money, showed particular excellence in their
familiarity with the rules of elocution, and par
tlcularly in their action. 1t was clear that
this department of the school had been CON
Quoted by some one who had made thorough
ness at each step his groundwork Cor success,
and it was not known that young member
OF the Rockville bar had during the past year,
most commercially given much of bis time to
the instruction offs class in this branch, until
the fact and his name were announced by the
gentleman presiding, with much evident graft
fication to himself, and all present
The next feature in the entertainment was
the distribution of medals and these were
disposed of not as is sometimes seen in private
schools as new bids for patronage, and accord
ing to the pecuniary capabilities of the donees
or their parents, butevidently according to ac-
tual merit. Those chosen to receive them had
no previous intimation whatever of their good
fortune. They were called up and formed
class in the following order
First Honor, Academy Department, awarded
to Frank Almoney.
Second Honor, Academy Department, award
ed to W W. Russell
First Honor, intermediate Department. TO |
j. Maury Dove.
Second Honor, intermediate Department, to
A. j Almoney.
First Honor, Primary Department, to Rob-
ert Ball.
Second Honor, Primary Department, to A.
Muncaster
First Honor, in Penmanship, to H. Hurley.
Second Honor, in Penmanship, to N. D.
0futt, Jr
These medals were supplied and awarded by |
The Trustees of the Institution
The Principal, JESSE D. ABRAHAMs, ESQ.,,
lad supplied most handsome and appropriate
MEDAL for excellence in elocution which was
bestowed most deservedly upon G. W. Pretty
nan.
The array of these young gentlemen upon
he stage, confronted by the gentleman pre-
siding, who now arose to address to them a
ew remarks was most pleasing spectacle, and
must have been particularly gratifying TO their
friends. In a few beautiful and well chosen
words, and in manner peculiarly elegant and
pleasing, Judge BOWIE then congratulated the |
class upon their success, their progress, and |
the honors of which they were recipients i'm
pressing upon them the important fact, that the
Trustees and the Principal had appropriated |
these medals as an incentive to exertion and |
tribute 70 merit, not as mere ornaments to |
foster their pride and vanity but as genuine |
badges of the honor conferred
Seldom has there been larger, more re- |
Specialize and brilliant, or more profoundly |
attentive audience assembled for any purpose |
than we're present on this occasion. They had
evinced the deepest interest from the begin
ming, and were evidently 10th TO retire. The
Trustees were therefore called upon for ad-
dresses, and Judge BouIo, GEoRGE PETER, and
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