The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-04

rRonorfcd for the DfsDatch,I

Reported for the Dispatch.I
ELK CREEK, GRAysoS COUNTY, VA.
/ Your valuable paper having quite an ex'
tensiYe circulation In our county, and know.
ing that all articles descriptive of school ex'
hibitions are OF interest to you and your
readers, send short and imperfect &C.
count of the exhibition and contest for
prizes of Elk Creek Academy, held in the
Methodist Episcopal church, near the college
house, June 18th.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Smittel; Latin saluta.
tory, w. S. Hale, Elk Creek: prize recita-
ton Of poetry. young ladies contest in de-
clamation, first class and second class; cor.
test In composition, young ladies; contest
for prize medal, senior class yaledictory,
A. G. Porter, OF Wythe county; address'by
Professor r. w. Jordan, Wesleyan Uniyer-
sity, Millersburg, KY; award of medals and
prizes, and the benediction.
1t would require far more space, know,
than you are willing to devote if | should
enter into all the details of even special in
tercst that occurred at this interesting occa-
sion. / would have TO speak of each ndi-
the school; Of the high apparent respect of
teachers of the large and highly respccta-
bic ATTENDANCE there of the genteel and
polished appearance of the young Of both
sexes in this community; of the sumptuous
feast spread out in the grove surrounding
the church, and of the kind "true Virginia"
hospitality extended to every one, and then
tell you of the many entcemcnts of this
beautiful Valley, unsurpassed as it is by no
spot of its Dimensions; in fact, pronounced
BY all who have viewed it Gas perfect gar
den spot of loneliness" inhabited, too, by q
community of high moral and religious
character. | must pass by all these things,
simply throwing out skeleton and leave it
for yourselves and your many readers TO
ponder or come aud convince themselves.
Tue prizes were awarded to Miss NJ. V.
Hale, of Grayson county. recitation OF
poetry; Robert G. jackson, of Grayson
county, defamation, first class ; W. 5.
Hale, of Grayson county, defamation, Sc
cond class: Miss V. V. Carson, Of Grayson
county, composition; L. w. Umbargcr, OF
Wylhe county, original GRAFTON.
The original compositions and many Of the
speeches were worthy of special comment,
showing the attentive and studiouS mind as
well Us careful instruction but to mention
names and subjects discussed would take
more space than you can allow.
Professor II. w. Jordan, Of Wesleyan
University, Kentucky, came, by invitation,
to address our school, and he possesses that
happy faculty-which is the gift of but few
public speakers-of deeply interesting the
young. He spoke Of true education, dividing
his subject into "the blade" /" the corn %
and "the ful-grown eur" interspersiug bis
speech with so much of wit, humor, and
eloquence as to impress every one. The
points in his aluSions-" sending children
too young to 60 to school," "on woman'S
rights" "talk to the scholars" Explanatory
of first love- The said he been all along
there, "Virginia, her educational efforts
winding up with his love for the Old Com
ealth-wiIl be long and pleasantly
recollected by all who were present.
The prizes were presented with very ap'
propriate addresses by The following gentle
men: For recitation Of poetry and dccama'
ton. first class, Rev. Mr.. Bishop, Of the Me-
thodist Episcopal church for defamation,
second class, Professor j. ". Jordan, Ken
tucky; for composition, Professor I. NJ.
Cecil, Emory and Henry College; for origi-
nal Grafton, Hon. s. Longley, Washington
county, Va. ENTIRE Nous.