The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-14
THE HAMPTON NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Annual COmmenccment-A Sketch
Of the Origin Of the lnstitution-The
Exercises.

The Annual C0mmenCement-A Sketch
of the Origin Of the lnstitution-The
Exercises.
FORTRESS MONROE, Va, June Is, 1874
The annual closing exercises OF the Hampton
Normal and Industrial School, an institution for
the education OF coored youth, took place today
ut the college building near Hampton AS was the
case last year, q large party OF distinguished
friends OF education and patrons OF the school
were present, and manifested much interest in the
student ana tue working OF the Institution.
ORIGIN OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.
This school was established at aoOut the close OF
the war, under the auspices OF the treedmeu's
Bureau ana was placed in charge On General u. 4.
Armstrong, who still maintains the position Of
esn0a BY w acct Of the ssss
was taken in charge by board OF trustees, COM
posed OF prominent gentlemen, principally MINIS
ably con iucred under their mana cement. large
three story Uri;k building for school purposes was
for admission to tue school quite overrun It's ca
paclty, and for the past year over 100 students
have been quartered IN tents in order to enov The
advantages thus offered. In order 10 meet the in
creased demands new QUILTING, three stories
high. 136 feet long by eighty feet wlde has been
erected and will pe ready Tor occupancy at the
opening OF the iall term. Inc edince Is known as
"vlrglnta Hail." aud was formally dedicated to the
cause OF education this AFTERNOON.
Most OF the visitors from the New England States
arrived here yesterday afternoon on che steamer
Wyanoke rom New York, and TOOK quarters at
Tor the season. Among tue most prominent
were General .. O. Howard anu DR.. Garrett, or
Washington Hon. Edgar Allen. of Farmvile, Va;
DR.. w. II. Rufner, State superintendent vi Ecu
cation. OF Richmond, Va. Rev. DR.. OrmstOn, +. M.
Cravath, James Talcott, william Armstrong and
Edmund King, OF ScrDner's, New York; Professor
Johnson, OF Trenton, N. j.; Rev. Arthur Crosby, OF
Brooklyn, N. T.; A. II. Daggett, OF Boston, and
many others.
the steamer Mystic was chartered to make
hourly trips from tue Tort TO the school for the
commoaalion OF tae invited guests, who a umbered
over one hundred
THE OPENING EXERCISES
commenced at nine O'Clock A. NJ. and consisted OF
Class recltatlOns by tine students. The subjects
embraced beng bookkeeping. mental philosophy,
grammar, history, arithmetic geography, algebra,
&C., and the students acquitted themselves with
great credit in these various branches, clearly de-
monsLraJing that great pains had been taken by
the teachers and close application had been gwen
BY the students to acquire such degree or pro-
hciency. rnese exercises were concluded at hall
past eleven A. NJ, when the classes all repaired to
the large assembly room to listen 10 the rhetorical
efforts and witness the presentation OF diplomas
to the graduates. The assembly room was
crowded to It's utmost capacity by the students,
their friends and the invited guesS. botn from
this section and from abroad
Alter urther exercises and lunch the company
proceeded to the chapel, where addresses were
made by Rev. DR.. Dyer, OF New York; Hon Edgar
Alien, General Howard and Dr. Rutner, State
Superintendent oil Education.