The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-21
Richmond COlcred Normal school
Closing Exercises-List or Graduates.

Closing E1ercises-List or Graduates.
Speeches, de-, 6c.
The closing exercises of this institution
took place yesterday and occupied the time
from 10 Am. to pm. They consisted of
examinations Of the scholars In the different
branches OF study through which they have
gone during the last session--viz. Botany,
physical geography, descriptive geography,
and.map p-drawing; Latin, arithmetic, algebra,
grammar, with analysis of sentences, and
chemistry, conducted by the principal and
| teachers.
The examinations showed a degree of pro-
1dency which would do honor to many
schools whose pupils were more favored by
previous condition than were those of this
school. There is no colored school of higher
grade than this In the State, and we venture
TO assert that there is no school where more.
pains are taken in instruction than in this.
At the conclusi on Of the examinations all
| were invited into the assembly room, where
the closing ceremonies were take place and
the awards of the deplomas were to be made.
These exercises commenced with song,
the whole school joining; after which came
the literary exercises of the pupils, consist
ing Of defamation, by Albert V. Morrill,
Subject: "Politics Poor Profession" An
4
another on !" Our School," by Fanny Roane
| another on :'The Road out of the Woods
by Virginia V. Brown; defamation, by
Junils l.. Adaips-Subject: "The Bible in
the. Common Schools" An essay on 4" The
Teachers Profession, ,"'by Maggie r.. Wool
folk; then colloquy, "If 1 Were You,"
participated in by Richard F. Hall and Kate
E. Archer, two of the smaller scholars, and
rendered very amusing by their manner !;
then followed recitation by Lucy +.
Thompson; closing with an essay on the
subject, "Is our Education Finished" by
DIaria l.. Bowler. ALI the original matter in
the literary portion of the exercises was
on subjects dictated TO the pupils by the
principal, and the majority of them of such
character as would do credit to scholars
much further advanced than they.
I After another song by the school, the list
of graduates was called, and diplomas con-
ferred by the principal on the following:
James II. Bowser, Rose l.. Dixon, Betsey G.
Mason, Maria l.. Bowler, Lucy Thompson,
Junius l.. Adams, Emma C. Chinn, Mary +.
Johnson, Josephine Shields, Burrill y.
Blackburn, Albert V. Morrill,, Alberta NJ
Brooks, Mamie j. Merriwether, Laura A.
Parson, Fannie Roane, Maggie +. Wool
folk. 3,
The standing of the whole school, as COM
piled from careful analysis of their writ
ten examinations, was then read out BY the
principal. The maximum QOO) was OBJ.
tained by no scholar. Eight reached as high
as 90, some OF them getting 96; twenty 1.-TWO
received numbers varying from so to 80.
MIR. Manly, in comforting the diplomas, re-
marked that it was the first time they bad
ever been given in thisschool; that they were
only awarded to those whose scholarships
had reached 70, and who had taught sue
ccssfully in the model school, and whom the
directors believed were well qualified to do
v bat was indicated in the diploma. c.,
"teach in the public schools of Virginia.
His remarks to the graduating class were
very timely and appropriate. He said that
the friends of the school will look with
anxiety to the future conduct of the 9radu
ates to see if their decisions regarding their
character and attainments were verified
Their course in life would be watched with
the confident hope and expectation that they
would do honor TO themselves and the schOo
which had sent them out. He concluded
by eXhorting them 10 remember that IA
| teachers, members Of the church, or mem
bers of the family, they were always and at
all times under the care Of their Heavenly
| dflIl llt "Ouiu iuFOhC IlCllCS
| blessing upon them all.
Mr.. Andrew WaShburn, president Of the
Board vi Directors, then addressed the
scholars, expressing his qualification at the
progress which had been made during tht
year and the success which had attended
some of their number as evidenced by tn,
award to them of diplomas. He told then
that in order to make good teachers they
must learn us well rs teach, and if such wa:
their spirit he would warrant success, ant
"your success in future life will be a success:
| for u.s."
Rev. J. l.. NJ. Curry having been intro
duced us a gentleman who could say goot
words at the right time and place, remarked
that words of wisdom were words o.
Thought, of study, and often of prayer. II
was a great satisfaction to see so many o
them going out qualified as teachers. Thank:
| were due to the teachers for the good, prac
teal. patriotic, Christian work which they
were here doing.
| He continued "VTginia needs just such
as YOU for teachers, and in your welfare and
success she feels deep pinterest. The prayers
of all interested in the literature and morals
of the State will bless you. Reproduce
abroad the influences which lave beer
brought to bear upon you here, and thai
| influence will be felt all through the coun
4 try" fa -.-.,
| had felt deeply interested in the exercises o.
the day. and exhorted them TO rightly ust
the two most wonderful of their faculties
4 SIGHT and hearing, and impressed upon then
! the importance of rightly exercising thesf
great faculties. not only now but during
/ their lives. ...... -.
Rev. C. C. Biting, D. D., he'd only time
/ to say that he thoroughly indorsed what ht
had heard from those who had preceded
him. "You, as teachers, are doing worl
which we of another race can never do
You are exerting an influence over those o
YOUR own color which is to permeate no
only our homes in this State, but spreat
| through all the country. This work beins
| do oe here is great work, and one which
appeals to our sylnpathies as one that il
en,aobling creatures of our common
Cr Gator. and who are governed by the same
laws as ourselves" The moral sentiment:
expressed in the compositions breathed the
right spirit, and he fully concurred in those
sentiments. From bis heart he thanked the
teachers engaged in this work, and with al
who loved the truth for its own sake he bad'
them God-speed. .a..s.
Mr. James ii. Binford, superintendent o
public schools, came on the stand, not. bt
said, as the organ Of tbe teachers, the pulpit
or the press, each of which had been repre-
sented, but as the organ of the scholars, who
| with desire to express their af1ectlon 1ol
the principal in II more substantial. form
| than mere words, had bade him present u
| him in their name silver goblet; following
these remarks UP in an exceedingly neat ano
appropriate little speech compllmentar.
alike to teachers and pupils.
Mr. Manly acknowledged this token o
esteem on the part of his pupils IN ie"
| .or>n ~ 0f his Dratlt1<,a