The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-16
@tAuntOn.
CLOSING ryERcisEs AT THE VIRGINIA
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF DIPLOMAS &C.

etaunton.
~.n,,>,o rvr,rrsrs At THE VIRGINIA FEMALE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF pIfIo"N''
ADDRESSES OF TIE YOUNG LADIES.
rro-,.sron,,enoe Of the Richmond Dispatch
srAuSroS, June ID, 1873:
r.. ,,o.,,c exerctses of the Virginia re-
-,ole Institute were Of a peculiarly INTEREST
lao nature. The large crowd present,
a srs whom we noticed the relatives OF
many southern pupils, and the excitement
,rc;ient ia the bestowal of the diplomas and
nrizes which are always kept secret until
thew are announced publicly, rendered the
evening an interesting one.
The opening piece was an overture from
"Semirainis," which was well executed, and
was followed by the Salutatory," delivered
bv Miss Neville A. Irwin, Of PENNSYLVANIA
IN a clear, sweet voice, In which she "el-
coined the arrival Of commencement uus,
and yet regretted that it brought Win II ns
sorrows as we'll as its pleasures tnaS when
the feet wings Of time haa ooIne sns'a w
20 another anniversary many ianlllu ,aoe %
ronld be missed and the golden chain OF
memory broken. She spoke touchinsly OF
the asect,onate regard she had for her fellow
pupiIs., and the remembrance of them would
stand forth like diamonds in memory chain.
The address was beautifully written and well
delivered. :.
The solo " Caratina. from " Ernanis" was
sung in rich, sweet voice by Miss Florence
Adams, Of Virginia, and was loudly encored.
Great excitement was created among the
audience By the passage Of cage containing
3 canary bird as an appropriate Offering
from some young gentleman to Miss Adams
for the sweetness of her song. To the con-
tinued applause she modeStly yielded, and
sang with exquisite sweetness that Eeautiful
song Bonnie Annie Laurie"
OWN the New Year Come Tonight"
YVES touchingly read by Miss Ample Covell,
The youngest daughter Of J. c. Coyeli, for
merly the principal of the Deaf, Dumb and
Blind Institution in this city.
The selections from "Lohepgini," ar
ranged by Professor E. Louis Ide, and the
overture from civilian TELL" were per-
formed with marked success and to the de-
Light Of the audience.
Then followed the distribution Of distinc-
tons and diplomas, a list of which sent
you yesterday. They were presented by
Major Henderson Bell in most happy man
rer, fully explaining the value and signlh-
canoe Of the different degrees.
Two volumes of Beethoven We're pre-
scented By Professor Richards to Miss Susan
-. ACSCWdu, vi QUILL 5SuC19
excellence and department.
The wishes of Mrs. Phillips, deceased,
were carried out in be>towing medals upon
Annie C. Randolph, of Louisiana, and Carrie
Gorce, Of Louisiana, for department and gen.
ersl excellence during last vacation-these
young ladies having been selected by Mrs
Phillips previous to her death.
hiss Mollie Mccoy, Of Louisiana, received
ayolden medal for general excellence during
Eve years, it being announced that she haC
not received q single demerit during thai
time.
In awarding the diplomas it was an
rounced that there were no full graduate:
this year, and that there had been but one
since the foundation of the school-vIz.
Miss Hansbrough, of Albemarle county
Virginia, but that the diplomas given were
for graduation in the different schools, some
what upon the plan pursued at the Uni
yersity Of Virginia.
The yaledictory was delivered by Miss
llolIie Mccoy, of Louisiana, and was beau
tiful piece Of composition, and delivered i'll
manner to reflect the highest credit upon her
Evolutionary powers. She spoke briefly ana
elouuently of the true mission of woman, and
compared the condition of woman before and
since the spread of Christianity had brought
her out of bondage and elevated her to the
high position she now occupies. She COIN
pared the life Of Cleopatra to that Of Flor.
ence Nightingale, and showed the superiority
OF the spiritual woman over the sensual
She paid glowing tribute 10 the memory Of
Florence Nightingale, and held her up to her
fei,ow-pupils pc q model well worth initial
ing. She spoke OF the happiness of school
DAYS, and warned the young ladies not to
rush too headlong into the enjoyments OF
the world. She spoke Of the azure-hustl
future that spread itself before schoolgirls
fancy, and also alluded to the SORROWS they
would meet where they only looked for hap
r!ness.
She alluded with trembling tones to the
death of Mrs. Phillips, whose love had been
10 her as that of mothers, and whose re-
mains now sleep in the walls of Thomson
Cemetery. She then returned thanks to the
teachers of the Institute, and especially to
Mics F. Phillips, who has taken the place
once filed by her mother, for their marked
Kindness and consideration, and the forbear-
ance shown to their waywardness. She
closed with a touching farewell to her old
Gchoolmates, and feelings of solemnity and
sadness filed the hearts of the audience.
The response by Miss $. MCGOWAN, Of
South Carolina, was very appropriate. She
urged upon her schoolmates the necessity of
se,f-sacrifce in this life, and maintained that
woman's true position was one Of endurance
md selfsacrifce that she required protec-
ton and support, ike the violet that shell
:er5 itself under the rock by the brook-side.
She said that woman's perfection consisted
in living for others. With these few words
of advice she babe a touching farewell to
her old fellow-pupils.
"Home, Sweet Home!" was then sung,
the benediction pronounced, and the session
of 1e72-'73 at the Virginia Female Institute
was over. DICK.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AT TIE BAPTIST
sCRooL--FLOURIsH1NG CONDITION OF TIE
SCHOOL.
STANTON, june IA.
The Baptist school, although but recently
established in StauntoD, Is in very flourish
ing condition, and bids fair to take rs promi-
nent a position US any Of the larger schools
in the city. The pupils number this session
some forty-tve boarders and large number
Of day scholars. The principal, Rev. John
Hart, is an A. NJ. of the University Of Vir-
ginia, and is celebrated for his learning and
executive ability, which can have no greater
recommendation than the success which he
has met with since the removal Of his school
to Stanton. The closing exercises of this
school took place ON the evenings of the 18th
and 18th instant in the Baptist church, and
were attended by large audiences. The first
evening was devoted to exercises in vocal
aud Instrumental music and was very
charming affair. The concert last night was
very enjoyable, and the following graduates