Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-06-24
OUR SCHOOLS.
BRISTOL AND SULLINS
FEMALE COLLEGES.
Commencement.

llODS occupied SeNeTdl OF Jne previous
days, and the week has been one of
both fame and profit to Bristol, which
from its ruins, has in & few years
leaped into the public observation and
patronage as point prominent for
its educational advantages. AS late
as the year 1868 there had not
been laid within it, so much as cor
ner stone to education. that great en-
CINE of all civilized power, which had
never more than bare development
in the South, and which for eight
years of gloom had been totally subver-
ted on our border. Our inspiring aud
sublime scenery, where mountain and
valley join in perpetual wedlock the
god of wealth and the GODDESS of health,
was almost wholly unadorned with
those. palaces of the immortal mind in
which art and science were destined
to hold their princely courts,
and from which were to descend that
royal purple, which drawing its au-
thority from the fount of letters, is
yet to make queens of our daughters
and rulers Of our sons.
a single short bound of five years has
given us King College, and Sullins
College, and Bristol Female College,
about whose walls this little age of
generous and wise activity has al
ready thrown q radiance which is
more powerful and potential than the
blind inactivity which preceded it
Such to Bristol have been the kindly
blessings of nature and accident, that
this young and beautiful city, stands
geographically midway between Van
derbuilt's TEMPLE at Nashville, and
Jefferson's at Charlottesville, and no
com animation at all likely to occur, can
prevent its becoming their classic
and literary coworker for S. w. Va,
and Z. Tennessee.
Bristol Female College is the child
of the Lebanon Baptist Association,
and has already become the focal CEN
tire of the educational efforts of that
denomination, TO which it is both a
necessity and an honor. 1t will here
after, in still greater and greater de-
gree than it has even done in the past,
draw to our town, the annual pilgri-
images of the fathers and daughters of
that large and increasing denOmina-
ton of christians, a thing of no idle
nor mean import. The institGtion is
located on the Tennessee side of our
Main Street, and there are large
grounds, and three very comfortable
and slightly buildings which will soon
be very greatly enlarged, and improved
according to a beautiful artistic design,
drawn by Prof. A. e. Bruce, the most
accomplished architect in the country.
Elder Kincanon, who founded the in
stitution, has undertaken the great
work of its completion, and we know
of few men. likely to do so much in
shorter time or in better style.
We were unable to be present at tie
exercises on Tuesday evening, which
was devoted TO the reading of essays
and the exhibitions of the classes III
music. On Wednesday evening GER
of distinction were awarded to
the young ladies and four Gold Medals !
were awarded. Miss Bette Simpson
of Bristol obtained the Gold Medal for |
the best composition and Miss LYDIA |
Duncan of Tennessee one of equal val
ue for the second best composition.
These Medals were awarded by Mr.. |
L. l.. York, whose remarks were con- /
ceived in good taste, clothed i'll chaste
language and delivered with a self-po-
session and emphasis which made al
excellent impression.
Two Gold Medals were awarded for
and punctuality in atten-
dance. Miss Lydia Wolford of Sulli-
van Co. Tenn, received the Medal for |
and Miss Alice Clay of
the City of Richmond the one for
punctuality in attendance. These |
Medals were awarded by Prof. Rein
hart, who galso conferred degrees on /
several of the young ladies who had |
the course, and then deliv>
cred valedictory address TO the young |
ladies of the institution, which, it |
seems, he is now to withdraw from. |
This we regret to learn, for his address
and the performance of the several |
other duties assigned him for the eve
ming, marked him in our estimation /
IS eminently suited and capacitated 1
for his position. The musical exer-
ercises of the evening were good and |
we were pleased to note very decided |
in this Department.
The College has made year of very I
decided progress and we wish it large
success in the wide field for 1874.
President Morrisette will remain and
we think the board of Regents will do
well to induce Prof. Reinhart to face
about and remain.
There was in attendance on these
exercises very large audience, one
which the Baptist Church building
was inadequate to accommodate.
SULLINS.
Thursday afternoon was pleasant,
md as evening came, there were seen
ong columns of citizens and visitors
vending their way to Solar Hill, the
locality OF Sullins College. The pro-
yramme embraced the exercises of the
uniOr class, and filed the interval
twilight and period close
I'D to midnight. The long Chapel Of
he College was packed with persons
Interested in the educational enter
lrises of our town. A large number
allied TO obtain room within and took