Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-06-13
EPISCOPAL

EPISCOPAL
HISTORY OF THE VIRGINIA FEMALE INSTITUTE.
On cold New Years morning, twenty-nine
wears ago, several of the prominent citizens OF
Stanton, had meeting with the object OF es-
rkablishing female school, called the Virginia
Resnale Institute" which should be in the in
ptepGst of the Episcopal church Among them
were Hon. "A. Fl. Fl. Stuart, DR.. F. J. Stribling,
tho late Judge Thompson, John B Breckenridge,
TThos J Niche and others, whose names, living
cor dead, are household words in the community.
They established tho school with two principals
Rev Jas. McElroy and Mrs. Maria Shelley,
plhe former being, also, professor OF English and
classical literature and the latter professor OF
French and the professor of Music was Signor
George, an Italian, afterwards we'll known in Vir
pinia and the father of Madame Bonavita now
a fanUag opera singer in Europe The Rev l.
T. Castsman was made chairman of \ commit
tee to prepare "a circular and advertisement"
by which the attention of the public might be
called The old board seems to have been a go
ahead sort of set, for they made provisions for
aicabnet of minerals, hydrosatic bellows, cheEll-
ecal apparatus, &C.. which was enterprise in those
days The institute chartered by the legs-
latuae, and among the subscribers to the STOCK
out of Staunton, were Jos. R. Anderson, and Gar
ter johnson, of Richmond VIM. G. Rives, Min
lister to France of Albemarle; and ochele de We're
and other Profei surs at the University. The trus-
tees resolved to build school not to cost m ore
,4han So, 600, and Edwin NJ. Taylor was chosen
aas architect. The experiment, however, was not
"a perfect success. The institution languished,
and brought the owners in debt. Mr.. B. B.
Minor was elected Principal, but didn't make it
sueceed. About $780, 600 had been spent by the
stockholders aald they appealed to the Diocese of
Virginia for aid, which that body responded TO
NV taking So. 600 of stock and individuals agree
ing to raise $4,000 which was done In
ls4s, Rev. R. H. Phillips, then Principal and
owner of tho Landon Institute in Mary land, was
brought on to put life in the otherwise eying in
,titution, bringing about 30 scholars with
him, and instituting new system of things. He
w.et On adding buildings and other improve
.rnen, advancing SIS, 600 to do it which was to be
repaid out of the rent. The war brought the in
gtitution to dead stop, it being taken by tho
government for the pupils of the Deaf Dumb and
blind Institution, and Mr.. Phillips being paid
Cor the furniture in confederate money. After
the war Mr.. Phillips took the place again, put
it in reaa;r and now has l27 scholars from Virgin
ia and sreyy Southern State. Of the stock of the
Institute the Diocese .ofNirginia owners through
trustees s5 shares, sad tie corporate stockholders
SO shares, though the Episcopal council at
Winchester fell into the erEor that the Diocese
owned the whole Of it,
STUDIES OF THE SCHOOL
This institute ranks in its standard of studies
with the highest in this country, save ono richly
endowed institution in New York, which is
designed for young ladies who have graduated
elsewhere, with means and leisure for the pur-
sniff of literature and science to the fullest ex-
tent. The Virginia Female Institute embraces
ten schools containing series of studies select
ed by soma of the first educators in the Southern
States Its graduates are scattered throu ghout
the country, ard many of them from their edu-
cation are enabled to fill very remunerative sit
uations. The graduates in the different schools
of the institute are numerous, but there has been
but one full graduate-a graduate in all the
schools, since the commencement of the nstitu-
tor, AID that WAS Miss Hansboreu III, of Vir-
ginia, who graduated last year.
OPENING EXERCISES.
The opening exercise, of the commencement
took place at the Mozart Institute, in the just
finished music hall of that building which was
crowded. Much attention had been paid to
STYLE in the matter; the entree made with tickets
printed in gold, the young gentlemen officiating
as ushers, with their white vests and blue and
white satin covered batons, the rows of bril-.
liant gas lights in the ceiling and floor of til,
stage. the music stands ornamented with ittl,
lamps of white and silver, the array of lovely
girls in white on the platform, the stylish look
inv women in the audience, and the general fora
decoration formed misi en- scene rarely witness
ed out of large cities On Monday night tn
concert was enjoyable The Fest overtur
~ith panos 2 organs, and q violin was wei
given with the exception of piano bak, an
the overture from "Marco Spada'' by Auber
pianos and two organs, after little roug
PLAYING. in the first part was almost perfecto
to the end The symphony in fat by Hayden
after Largo, which was not sustained, was CAPT
tally rendered 1t will always be observable i
the performance of young girls in public, tia
though they may verge on pronounced fasct
in the first movements, their ability returns wit
their confidence and the piece ends well. OF tn
vocal mns;e slGasta Diva" was well rendered