New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-14
New Orleans University Exhibiti0s.

The annual exhibition Of the preparatory
department of the New Orleans University.
il charge Of Mrs. L. J. Hammond, took
place at the St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal
Church Wesley cbapel) on Liberty street,
between Perdido and Poydras streets, last
night. and the neat little chdrch editice was
crowded with persons to witness the exer.
cises.
The New Orleans University under its
present title has only been in existence
about a gear. having been chartered by the
Legislature at the last session. Prior to
that time it was known as the Union Nor
NAL School, and as an evidence Of its pres
ent prosperity it may be stated that during
the past session there have been over 200
pupils in attendance. The names of l6I be-
ing borne on the catalogue at the close.
Only advanced scholars are admitted, and
despite this circumstance the school house
az the corner of Camp and Race streets,
has been found TO be insufficient, and ar
raugements are to be made by the time the
school opens again ION the fifteenth Of Sep
tember,. to enlarge the building and in
crease accommodations.
Last nigh: the church wss handsomely
decorated. chiefly with American flags,
which hung in festoons along the galleries
and entirely covered an improvised stage
hastily gotten up for the occasion, the
union forming background, the bars COW
eri1g the flooring and gracefully hanging
as a curtain over the front part.
Miss Annie f. Seaton, the principal of the
musical department, presided at the piano
forte. and the manner in which her imme-
date pupils acquitted themselves was Of
itself high praise of her efficiency as a
teacher. when the Swallows Homeward
Fly" was remarkably well rendered for a
young lady of her opportunities by Miss
Matilda Jones, who has good voice and an
excellent conception of the musical art.
The chorases were also effectively rem
dered.
Mr.. Frank G. Cummings in charge of the
normal department. had the immediate SUI
pervision of the " ork of instructing in the
art of defamation. 1t may be offered as
general remark that the boys spoke much
too rapidly for effect, but this may be ex.
cused when attention is called to the fact
that the exercise Of speaking has only been
lately introduced into the school, and most
Of those who spoke made their first appear.
ance on the stage. THE Spread Eagle
Speech" by G. d. Bryant. and Webster's
famous Grafton, concludin: Liberty aud
union. one and inseparable. now aud for
ever" by J. w. Bowan, may. however. be
cite,, as excellent renditions.
The most admirably rendered of all the
recitations were 1.-The Maiden's Prayer
by Miss Lizzie Hill. and 1.-THE Gamblers
Wife," by Miss Lizzie D. Williams. The
young ladies threw an amount of feeling
and pathos into the parts that. We doubt
rot. exceeded the expectations OF their
most saneuine friends.
''The University Press" consisted Of com.
positions by the pupils. The first paper con.
tanning a prospectus. an article on intern.
perance and on application, and another on
industry: the second, On analytical sketch
on the Bible, a composition entitled THE
Pleasure. Of Lite,' series OF witty con.
undrums. and series Of ingeneously con.
trived Answers to Correspondents" We
learn that it is intended to give greater at
ten:;on to the art of composition hereafter.
In his closing remarks, the president Of
TIE university, Rev. j. S. Leavitt, A. NJ,
gave running sketch Of the uuiversity's
history from the act of its organization to
to to the present, which showed that it has
steadily advanced in its career of useful.
ness and N extending the cause Of educa.
ton among the coIored people, for whose
especial benefit it was instituted. In the
course of his remarks he stated that there
is connected with the university Sabbath
school, with l6l scholars in attendance, and
also that the night school, designed for
such as can not attend school in the day
time. will be kept open throughout the
summer.