The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-11
FAIRMONr NORMAL SCHOOL.
Closing Exercises Of the Tcrm-An
Interesting Letter.
FAIRMoSr July 7. 1878

the State Normal School completed ar,
other year oI its existence. The clos,
ing exercises commenced on Sunday
the Doth ult, with the annual address
by DR.. Blair-a very scholarly perform
ance 10 perfectly good style aud taste,
and thoroughly appropriate to the oc.
casiou.
GA Monday evening musical enter. .
taiument was given by the class in mu-
sic under the direction Of their teacher,
Miss Alice V. Hewes. Although the
selections were from the simpler mus
ical compositions, the execution WAS
good, and the class gave satisfactory ev.
idence OF skilful and careful training,
and altogether the concert was com-
mended by competent critics IS a very
creditable school performance.
On Tuesday evening an address was
delivered before the Literary Societies
OF the school, by Hon., B. +. Martin
OF Taylor. Mr. Martin was listened to
by large audience and his address was
in every way worthy to rank with the
best OF its class.
Wednesday aud Thursday were de-
voted TO the commencement aud gradu.
ating exercises, and these were entirely
similar to the same class OF exercises
in other schools and colleges. The
graduating class embraced twenty-siI
in all-thirteen ladies and as many
gentlemen. They were young ladies
, and gentlemen OF more than average
good looks, and their performances
were fully equal to what the standard
requireSand as il is not precisely certain
what the standard does require, will
say, in lGss duh:2us language, that all
the orations aud essays were prepared
with care, and were delivered in siugu-
larly COOL style and manner.
Indeed il would be diff
cult TO find thirteen ladies who ex-
hibited greater number OF the graces
and excellencies OF good reading than
the thirteen who received their diplo-
mas on Thursday.
The diplomas were delivered by Col,
B. w. Byrue. the State Superintendent
OF Schools Colonel Byrne performed
this duty with neatness. and with appro.
pirate remarks, complimenting and en-
couraging to ;hc school, the teachers
and the scholars Everybody was
pleased and there WAS not an incident
visible or audible to mar the perfect
deccrum and good taste with which
everything was done. Dr.. Blair has a
perfect appreciation of that part OF
Hsmlets instructions TO the players
which directs that in every act they
should acquire and beget temperance
which may give ii smoothness."
o. Wednesday night there WAS An
address or lecture hy Rev w. Z.
FaIconer. upon subject which seemed
10 be Progress" Mr.. Falconcr is one
OF the most active skirmisbers in the
vanguard OF progress aud reform This
age is prolific ofthat class OF men. They
are smart at least; whether they are wise
is quite another question. Mr.. T. is all
squsrely up with the foremost and
seems to be reaching out his adventu'
rous antenne FAR into the unkenned
arcaua otthe future. Upon the woman
question he made The original sugges-
ton that the Sayiour-tbe Son oi God
was neither male or female, leave
his proposition just where he left it.
Upon the same subject his reverence
was very unfortunate IN sn allusion 10
the manners and apparel OF the wo.
man OF the present age "a compared
with those OF their sisters OF q few CEN
turies ago. Some OF bis hearers be
cause OF their old fashioned prejudlces
and want OF sympathy with modern
smertness) thought the sllusion was
little coarse, and that the lecturers
aesthetic culture bad been neglected.
After all there WAS very much Of tbis
lecture that was very good and il will
DO good 10 say 80. because Dir. Falcon
er will believe it And there were a
few things in it that were very foolish
but il will do no good tn cay so for Mr..
Falconer will not believe II. He is
certainly an acute thinker and has n
happy accuracy Of language.
lie took side & ance at the greatprog
ress the world has made in the phys
ical sciences, and the application Ct
scientific truth 10 the practical concerns
OF lie lie fears no difficulty between
fossils and texts, and knows how 10
make the mastodous support Moses.
In this briei notice ] have found il
impossible TO make special mention oil
each member OF the graduating cINa,
and Of their performances a. ] should
likeit do. | must dismisslbem with
the assurance that the large audience
who Witnessed the commencement ex-
ercises were well pleased. and the con.
gratulstiobs were general upon The cue
Gees OF the schooI. After the exercises
were concluded the school presented
DR.. Blair with a handsome gold noun
ted cane, and Mrs Dickey and Miss
Strider, the assistant teachers, each,
with 2 valuable book--pleasing eviden-
ces OF the kind relations between teach.
ers and students.
In conclusion-(how much pure
gratitude has that most consolstory ex-
preston inspired-it is the balm Of
hurt mind" moves us TO forgiyDess
of our persecutor-it 10 more truly a
benedic;ion than the Ben1dicin itselD
in conclusion. then, let me cay that
the Fairmont Normal School, with its
new building, and its eff
cient management, is one of the mos!
useful institutions OF the State, giving
abundant promise OF continuing pros-
perity and increased usefulness
Yours truly, GAuis.
IL Arizona editors are treated by the
public with great consideration and
liheralitv The condnctnr NJ the Re-.