Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-17
CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE swAUNTON
FEMALE SCHOOLS OF
DIPLOMAS, DISTINCTIONS,
MEDALS PRIZES &c
MEDALS, PRIZES, &C.

| Our city. during the past week. has been en-
lvened by the arrival of many strangers from all
| portions of the South, who have come to witness
| the closing exercises of the various celebrated
female schools, which are the boast and pride of
our State as we'll as of our city 1t would afford
US much pleasure to give full accounts of the
commencement exercises which have taken place
during the past week, but want of space prevents
US from giving more than a general outline o.
what was done, together with a full list of all
young ladies who have received distinctions d.
plomas and prizes.
l. VIRGINIA FEMALE INSTITUTE.
| The commencement exercises of this school
| were held in the recently completed Hall of Mo-
| Fart Institute, which was crowded every night
| during the commencement with a select audien ce
of invited persons. On Monday night. the en-
| tertainment consisted of vocal and instrumental
music and exercises in elocuton, which latter
| branch of instruction forms distinctive and in
| teresting feature of this school, The rendition
of the instrumental pieces generally good.
| and though some slight mistakes were at first
made, yet they are not to be regarded as eviden
ces of want of skill, for the young ladies soon
redeemed themselves, by the brillancy and cor
rectness of their playing, soon as they recov-
cred from the embarrassing effects of appearing
before SO large an audience. The vocal music
| was charming and the readings of VISIONS by
| Miss Neville Irwin, of Pa, "Pyramus and
Thisbe' by Miss Jordan, of Charlottesville, and
''If we Knew by Miss Webb, of Va, were ex-
celently rendered and served we'll to display
| these young ladies' powers of elocution.
The entertainment was, in every way, de-
lightful one, and was closed with the double
;cI,k
On Wednesday night the entertainment was
opened with that grand overture of Mozarts,
''Zauberfoete' futes-whlch was exquis.
itely performed by eight young ladies upon four
pianos. The distinctive feature of the evening s
entertainment however. were the exercises in
the schools of modern languages and elocution,
which consisted chiefly of recitations from the
German and French. The recitation of der
Rosenkranz" by Miss Irwin of Pa, and der
Graf Won Hapsburg' by Miss Molie McCay of
La, showed a good command of the German
language, and the sweetness of their tones lent a
charm to that rugged language which we had
thought it incapable of.
The reading of Lies chateaux Espagne''
and of Nothing to Wear by Miss Emily Min
negerode, of Richmond, was admirable. The well
cultivated voice of Miss Carrie Goree of La, was
we'll displayed in 1.-THE Toast" which was read
with much artistic affect and was greeted with
applause.
The closing exercises on the evening of the
18th wereeven more largely attended than on the
previous evenings, and the performance of the
young ladies was more brilliant and animated.
After the we'll executed performance of the
Overture Miss Neville Irwin delivered the Sa-
lutatory in sweet voice, remarkable for its clear
bell-like tone and distinct utterance. Her re-
marks were suitable to the occasion and were
charactized by their eloquence and beautiful i'm
| agery.
The solo, "Cavatina," was sung by Miss Flor
ence Adams in atsweet, though not powerful,
voice, and was loudly encored, when she sung
| that beautiful song, Annie Laurie" Twill the
new year come tonight was charmingy read
| ter of j. G. Covell.
The song of Robert, Robert" sung by Miss
Grinnan, of Texas, was much admired and loud
ly applauded.
The Valedctory was delivered by Miss Mollie
McCay, in a manner which we'll sustained the
high reputation she has as fine elocutionist and
star medalist of Prof. Scharfs class of las t
year. Her words of advice to her fellow pupils
| were earnest, eloquent and worthy of all praise
Her remarks as to woman's true sphere in life
| were well conceived and full of true womanhood.
She spoke of the influence of Christianity upon
woman's condition and illustrated her remarks by
a we'll drawn comparison between the sensual
life ofAnthonys Cleopatra and the Chris tian life
of f lorenzo Nightingale, whose steps brought
consolation and healing wherever they went
She alluded in trembling tones to the death of
Mrs. Phillips, whose love had been 10 her q
mothers and whose remains now repose in the
vale of Thornrose Cemetery. She then return
ed thanks TO the teachers of the Institute, and
especially to Miss Florence Phillips, who has
taken the place once filled by her mother, for
| the marked Kindness consideration and forbear-
charge. She closed with a touching farewell to
| her old schoolmates, and many hearts in the au-
dience were filed with sadness st the pathos and
| tenderness Of her tone.
| The Response, by Miss S. MCGOWAN, was we'll
delivered. She spoke Of life of voluntary self
| sacrifice as woman's true duty and highest per-
| lection. That her life should be like that OF
the modest violet, sheltering itself under the
rock by the brook-side. Womans greatest glo-
ry, she said, consisted in living for others Her
words of farewell were truly beautiful and pa
| thetic
Major H. M. Bell made the presentation Of the
gold medals, prizes and diplomas, as follows:
GOLD BADGES OF DISTINCTION.
| Pennsamship.-Mary L. Browne, Va; Nellie
| d. Clarke Ark. Bessie Dunbar, La; Mary E.
Fairfax, Va. Mary Fallon, Va; Mary l.. Moore,
Tex; Fannie III. Moore Tex; Alice Polk, La.
English Composition. II: Austin, Ca;
NJ. Adele Austin, Tex; Maggie Q. Duno want,
Tex; Leila Cuttings, Md; Florence E. Jeffer-
son, Ca. Mary Kern, Miss; Georgine LeSas-
sier, La; Maggie K Letcher, Va; Susan E..
| MCGOWAN, s. O.; Sallie w. Richardson, La.
| SchoLarship.-Bessie I'll. Austin, Ga; Emma G.
| Antrim, Va; Hannah Boyle, KY. Susie +. Bu-
| ford, Va; Maggie O. Donavant, Tex; Leila
| Cuttings Md; Bette 3. Hamilton, Miss; Mary
| Bell kiger, Miss; Maggie K. Letcher, Va; So
| phie S. Maddox, Md; Kate M. Milner, Va;
Mary Peters, Va Virginia POindexter, Val
Salie W. Richardson, La; Emma +. Sipe, Va;
Mary e. White va.
DTaDimg.--Nellie D. Clark, Ark; Bessie Dun
bar, La. Mary l.. Moore, Tex; Fannie e..
| G. Randolph. La.
Elocution- Annie Covell, Md; Carrie Goree,
Ala; N. A. Irwin, Pa; Ira Jordan, Va; Au-
| gusta S. King La. NJ. L. Georgine LeSassier,
| La; Susan +. McGowan, 5, c.; Sallie q. Webb,
| Va
Latin.-Leila Cuttings. Md; NJ. Gay Trout,
Va.
Gernsan-Auguata S. King, La; Mamie
| Pritchard, La.
French.-Emma G. Antrim, Va; Susie F.
BufOrd, Va; Fannie a. Boyle: ,Ky5- Hannah
Hamilton, Miss; Bette b. Hamilton, Miss; Lu-
cy K. Ham, Tex; Augusta s. King, La; Mag
| gle K. Letcher, Va; Kate M. Mlllner, Va; Sal
| lie w Richardson, La.