National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-13
FREE EDUCATION TO ALL.
THE SCHOOL PLANTATIONS YES
TERDAY.

FIRST COMMENCEMENT OF THE NORMA
scHooL-INTEREsTINe AND ENTERTAIN
!. ING MISREPRESENTATION PUPILS Il
i THE OTHER CLAssEs-Hew THE CoLoREl
SCHOLARS ACQUITTED THEMSELVES.
o Lincoln hall presented an unusually beautifu
9 and brilliant appearance last evening-the occi
!, sion being the frst annual commencement Of tn
9 Normal school. The auditorium and gallsrie
2 or the pupils. On the platform, besides the youni
= ladies Of the graduating class, (1y in number,
3 were seated Gov. Shepherd, Rev. Dr. Rankin
Hon. John L. Eaton, Com missioner of Educsttcn
n Superintendent John o. Wilson, and the commit
!, tee on ths school, consisting of Messrs. R;
!, Detrick, E r. French, A. Hart and q. Y. AtLet
The floral and other decorations Of the rostrun
!. were exceedingly beautiful Along the mont va
bright array Of the most fragrsnt, sr0sSs Will
u pended rustic basket allied with tho choices
evergreen euclrcllng the figures artistcall.
Q made Of roses, and on the opposite side was
tho Union, while inscribed on the rear vail wer,
4 the words ''Let her works praise her." The Ms
4 tional colors also embellished the walls.
{ hne orchestral music by Donch's band, were
. opened with prayer BY Rev Or; RANKIN. An n.
: B. DERRICK. chairman Of the COMMITTEES, in the
course Of which he gave an interesting sketch oil
the rise and progress Of the school, which was es
June 2S 1873 for the purpose Of specially prepar
: ing for their work young ladies educated In the
the same. The school is taught BY Miss Lucilia
E Smith, and was opened last September with
twenty pupils.
read by Miss Alice E.Cooksey. This was followed
by another fine essay on "The Grass Of the Field,
BY Miss Alice Simpson: A Parting song, wit II.
class lied by Professor Joseph Danie,) and, after
long -continued demonstrations Of applause, was
Williams then pronounced her valedictory in .
clear, musical voice and with much impressive
ness, touchingly referring to the pleasing Incl.
thanking the Governor, the sup.rintesdent and
teacher for the interest they had manifested In
the school, closing with warm tribute to her
At the close Of Miss williams beautiful ad.
dress, Superintendent Wilson presented Governor
Shepherd to the audience The Governor made 9
few felicitous remarks, highly eulogizing the
Normal school, which, he said, had inaugurated
new era in our public school system, and Of
From his heart he wished it godspeed: The
Governor then proceeded to confer the certificates
Msrs
Evans, Roberta Freeland, Isabelle Halliday,
Mary E. Little, Ida A. Lord, Sarah E Meredith,
Ralph, Enc R9dieE, Alice Simpson, Sarah E.
Tal6ert Annie Il. Whitsmore, Ada h. Wiley,
At the close Of this interesting ceremony, dur.
ing which the young ladies were the recipients Of
many beautiful floral offerings, Superintendent
latIng them upon being the pioneers Of the Nor
NAL school, detailing the advantages Of such an
Institution, and imparting some wholesome sd-
| honorable profession Of teaching.
Gen. Eatbn was next introduced, and delivered
NJ Interesting tmpr0pptp sddress. He remarked
s sdas af X @ ,srs atSs o1
sui General Hitl, who was presspt, sp9ks ths
S%RSs0Ty esSGstGn mot only Of SS!dfsn, Ss.
| for education In the District, as had been we'll
said BY the Governor, and he thanked him for the
system Of education adopted By Frederick the
| Great, which brought the instruction Of the
seh0Ols into the, national policy Of Germany.
SS' o SSf Sssn !ssS S n pu6
sch SOO system We haS he's schools
This s9Splsd tbS 9rest want or proper inter-
mediate i1stitption He closed By contrasting the
present scene with one that he had Witnessed .
mouth New Hampshire. There the sS pupils were
surrounded BY snow banks; here they were enyi-
ronsd by flowers. He trusted that this would be
the fairest flower among the public schools OF
Washington. and that It's excellent teacher would
"Iet her works praise her.
The orchestra then performed q eslop, during
which the audience fingered to drink in the sweet
sounds, while many ladies aud gentlemen stepped
to az the hSPRy 6 s
annual school eommencements.
THE MINOR GRADES.
The interest manifested IN these closing excr-
cises of the school year BY the public yesterday
seemed in no degree abated. In many instances
it was impossible to gain admission to the rooms,
owing to the fact that every available space was
occupied at an early hour. The weather being
much more tolerable than on several previous
days, the rooms were pleasant and rendered most
attractive by the smiling faces, merry songs and
beautiful costumes OF the happy children, who
are Just on the threshold Of the long, joyous holt
days. most lavish supply Of floral decorations
added to the appearance Of each room and bur-
dened tho atmosphere with fragrance.
BY typographical error In The REPuBLIcAN
o. Yesterday the Normal scnool Sas maze h 70 con
tive examination from the Fourth school district;
It should have read from the four school districts
FIRST DISTRICT.
Female intermediate, No. 8, taught by Miss
Ellen Gibbs, In the Franklin building, was ex-
amined yesterday morning by Trustees Harris
and Hart, assisted by x.Tfustee Stuart and Mr..
A. T. Stuart. This school Is most sxcellently
snce The singing with which the exercises were
interpreted was noticeably fine. Miss Gibbs
has BY six years Of teaching in the public schools
the trustees and patrons Of the schools She is an
accomplished graduate Of the Normal school At
Boston. Mass. FIfty-three scholars are on the
roll, Of whom 50 are ready for advancement TO
higher grade schools. 1t was Miss Hattie Reed,
Of this school, who won the scholarship for pen
Which was
yesterday. Miss Rosa Watson received the medal
Tor the year, and the following were awarded
Clara HsyI9un. Lizzie u. Rich Sarah sPanier,
Mary NJ. Finney, Rebecca Wenger, Lillian
Maesrty, Myra 0ura1d, Alice l. HOrpor Anna
Annie p. Iuttrell. Susan Z. Sutphin, Sarah Z.
Tenlon, Emily J: Cox, Johanna T. ScherEer,
Catherine p. Killlnn, Whtllmina E. Scherger,
Tulfa C2etz and DELLA p Woodruff.
Male Secondary No. Q, taught BY Miss Sue G;
Hickey, in the building corner OF Twenty-second
and H streets. Miss Hickey is lady Of four
effect Of which was visible in the ereditable map
ner in which the pupils acquitted themselves In
structsd. Specimens Of drawing, including origI-
nal designs by the boys, were exhibited, which
were worthy Of more advanced years Tbs ac-
compliEhed teacher was the recipient Of many
velf-deseryed congratulations. Trustee O'Drs.
coll and Captain Stuart conducted the examina-
the following received diplomas Philip Minnix,
Harry KIdwell, Edwin Davis, stephen McArdle,
Edwin French, John French; Ro6t. Palmer,
sented books to Edwin Davis and Hadrian Ryan
for attention to study.
SECOND DISTRICT.
Female Primary. No. 1.-The examination OF
this school commenced at 10 o'clock, in the pres
pupils 81 and many friends Of the teacher miss
Bond, the instructress, Is graduate from the
Female Grammar school OF this dietrlct, ana ID
in every way worthy to fill the position she occu-
pies Her scholars exhibited marked proficiency
in their studies, and reflected credit on their
teacher and themselves. The examination was
conducted by Trustee DIETRICH, assisted by Prof.
W. p Gage and DR.. Bond. There were 90 names
on the roll; all the scholars were present. and IS
will be transferred. The following is the merit
ROLL Medal, Alice V. Collins; diplomas, Amelia
S. Fisher, Mary 5. Fitzgerald. Julia A. Boyee,
Clara NJ. Esch, Josephine killlgan, Annie X.
Bond, NJ. Agnes Wilson, Csthsrlne Allen, Caro-
line Basschlin, Ada A. Fowler, Mary ]. solsan,
Mary A. King, Nettie Lauxman, Virgins s.
Mackey, L. Robin Fletcher, Clara Sharp, Eunice
Neyins, Minnie Richardson, Minnie ]. Austin, e.
| Lnnie Austin, Catherine Meek, Augusta Pheb,
A. Caroline Turpin, Annie E. Fitzgerald, Mar
garet @. Loefler, Agnes NJ. Nohe, Annie E.
Walker, Virginia Fitzgerald.
Female Secondary No. Sat $50 o'clock the
examination Of this school was begun IN the MIL
Ter building, and continued for about three hours
Trustee McLellal being the examiner, assist ed
| by Trustees Wolf and Woodward. Miss Ida n.
Rowe, the teacher, has been in the charge Of the
school for several years past and during her term
OF service showed marked ability in her position
and those characteristics that note o superior
teacher. She graduated from the hands Of the
late Mrs. Amidon, q lady that was respected and
beloved by the entire community, and many Of
| whose pupils now occupy teachers positions In
thepublic schools OF this lady's ability little h
required TO be said, as the scholars, in their ex
| animation, acquitted themselves so Handsomely
f,,rl "A sha fnl n