The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-12-11
sOIREE Ar BETHEL.
A Happy People, a Happy Oc-
casiOn, and Happy Time.

a Happy People, a Happy Oc-
casiOn, and a Happy Time.
BY Invitation we attended Soiree at
Bethel Institute last Friday evening, the
occasion being a winding up OF the
closing exercises of that institution for
its FAN session. We got Off the train at
Prospect, and procuring a horse, in
company with several gentleman, we
soon found Ourself in sight of that IA
nous village with which our readers
who have never been there have been
made SO well acquainted through our
valued correspondents at that point.
We were met after we dismounted by
DIR. II. B. Gardner, the Principal of the
Institute, who extended to US a very
warm welcome, and were Immediately
ushered into the lower hall of the build
ing, where had already gathered a large
concourse of invited guests, and speed
lily recovered from the effects of our
chilling ride. "A very few minutes after
we arrived supper was announced and
we were invited into the large hall up
Institute, together with the ladies and
the Masons in regalia, who had meet
ing that night in their hall in Bethel.
The tables were arranged in form of q
cross, and EXTENDED across the hall in
each direction, with side tables laden
with meats and general substantials.
The hall was brilliantly lighted, afford
ing a fair view of the magnificent re-
past spread lavishly upon the tables, of
which we could-nOt say more than that
it was, in quality and quantity, suf-
ficient and good enough for kings and
cOurtiers. All manner of meats, ele-
gantly served, cakes magnifcently dec
GRATED, condiments in profusion-in fact
everything that generally goes to make
up a supper prepared for such an occa-
sion. After a blessing by Rev. Thos.
Brown, the gay throng fell to mutila-
ting the artistic arrangement of the
good things so invitingiy spread before
them, and we, with the balance, did our
share of said mutilatioD. The supper
was prepared on very short notice, the
school having determined only week
previous to give the entertainment. At
ter all the invited guests had partaken
of the good cheer to their hearts, or
mouths, content, the company assem-
bled in the two large halls below, and
then commenced a season of refreshing
enjoyment to old and young. Pleasant
chit-chats, plays, in fact all manner of
innocent amusements usual on such oc-
casiOns, were freely INDUCED in, the
throng dispensing at late hour after
an evening spent in the most delightful
pleasures.
Bethel Institute, under the Principal
ship of DIR. r. B. Gardner, is in the
most flourishing condition, the average
attendance being about sixty pupils,
though many more names are on the
roll. DIR. Gardner has the very able as
sistance of Mrs. Rev. Thos. Brown in
the literary department, while Mrs.
Watts, nee Miss Kate Edmundson, has
charge of the music department. The
Institute is situated right in the village
on the banks of Sugar creek, the sides
of which in that neighborhOod are
hemmed in by as fine farms as Middle
Tennessee boasts.
We cannot express the obligations we
are under to the Committee of Invita-
ton, to DIR, Gardner, and, in fact, to the
whole people of that beautiful and pros
porous country, for.the manner in which
they entertained us while in their midst.
but we shall remember their kindness
for days to come, and shall ever revert
to our visit as one of the most pleasur-
able evenings we ever spent. Long may
that good people 1--we pe,enjoy the frnits
of their honest labors, and may Oeca-
sions like the above be frequent with
them, unmarried, as this was, by the least
discOrd, and replete with joy and har-
mOny