The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-06-24

Annual Soiree of the w. F. /
=. We zelesed=our report of the W. F. I. com
mencement, last week, with the entertainment
of Tuesday night, being obliged to defer the
most charming feature Of the exercises, which
was given on the night following; until this is
sue.
| The Annual Soiree of "Wednesday night was
pronounced by all competent judges to have
been the finest display OF instrumental and vo'
cal music ever given by this school, and this
school enjoys the reputation of having the best
musical talent in the city. Indeed it would be
difficult to find inside or outside of the State,
such collection of voices, and it would be
equally as difficult to discover another such
instructor in vocal music. as Miss Lizzie Dan
icl, to whose skill, in conjunction with that OF
the instrumental teacher, Prot. Rubenstein, is
due the splendid success of Wednesday night.
Each of them have witnessed many brilliant
triumphs in their profession, but none more
brilliant than that which closed the session OF
'74-'75, and rewarded their arduous efforts OF
the year with such an abundant return.
OF the instrumental pieces, the finest were
an Overture, Fidelio, executed by Misses Thorn
burg, M. Harris, P. Echols, B. Harris, Camp
bell, E. Yelyerton, E. w. Jones, Ida El.erbe
and L.. Cole; the Marche Miltaire, by Misses
Furr, Wilson, johnson, Collett,e Mills, Fitch
etc, Afford and Reed, and the duets, Hochzeits
March, by Miss B. Harris and Prof. Rubin
stein, and Rondeau Brilliant, by Miss Thorn
burg and Prof. Rubinstein., all Of which were
performances requiring the most practiced and
delicate touch, and were rendered faultlessly.
Besides these were several other instrumental
pieces executed with excellent skill and
the greatest precision, 'eviiicing a careful
and thorough development of the talent Of the
artists. g.
! OF the vocal pieces, it is scarcely necessary
to say more than that they were rendered by
Miss Daniels class. and the solos by Misses
Mary Collett, Agnes Furr, Cora Turner, Thorn-
burg and Jones. Miss ThornbIrg hi the solo,
.Theme De Rede,' exhibited her sweet voice to
the greatest advantage, as did, also, Miss Tur.
ner, in the solo, 81 ain Titania.' It is seldom
that one listens to notes so singularly clear and
musical as those Of Miss Turner, and the "ap-
plause which greeted tile close Of her song,'
bore testimony to the impression made on the
audience. Miss jones' solo, ''Waiting, 'received
merited applause. The magnificent contralto
OF Miss Furr, which was pronounced by Prof.
Harris, in comforting the medal. as the finest
ever heard within the walls Of the Institute,
found ample latitude for the display of its
wonderful depth and compass in the solo-'Car-
rier Dove'-and we doubt it the difficult song
was ever better given ~ ="
To determine Miss Collects particular ele-
ment in vocal music would be a task which
few could undertake. "Her every tone is MIL
sizes own," and it matters not whether in the
highest or deepest notes, she seems equally at
home-throwing into all that vigor and
strength Of which she is absolute mistress, and
breathing over all a something more than melo--
dy. s'Il Bacio," her solo, enraptured the entire
AUDIENCE, and never was there more wealth of
music thrown into the song, Its last notes
were responded to by vocifereus ENCORE and
perfect floral shower. II
"A rather novel performance was given by
DR.. Deems, who in speech of about ten min
utes, stated that he had talked great deal dur
ing his stay in Staunten, but as yet had done
nothing, and that now he proposed to raise, by
collection, $500 to be devoted to the erection Of
two fountains in the beautiful grounds of the
Institute. This, he said, was entirely the plan
of his own head, seco1ded by the voices Of some
of the girls, and was altogether unknown to
the Principal and faculty Of the Institute. 1t
was afterwards made known by the Rev. Mr..
Landstreet, that the fountains were to be nam-
ed|''Minnie and LOUISE" after Mr.. Deems
daughters, and upon learning this DR.. d. took
his seat in the back ground, About $50 dollars
was subscribed, and as final proposition, Hon.
VIM. Mines said that he would give s50if the
remaining $3.50 could be raised in three
weeks.
THE LAST NIGHT.
Even the hard rain did not prevent the
We were unfortunate enough to be detained
until nearly all of the essays had been read,
only arriving in time to hear the German essay
Of Miss Campbell. which was said by a cultiva-
ted German present to have been admirable;
both in composition and delivery, and the
beautiful valedictory Of Miss Matte Harris. -
Miss Willie Hutchinson, of Texas, was the sall-
tatorian, and the class essayists, were Miss Ida
Steagall Of Texas, Miss Florence Read, Of Arr
kansas, Miss Lizzie Cross, of Virginia and Miss
Ella Yelverton, Of Texas, The Stonewall Bri-
gade Band furnished excellent pusic.
The distinctions Were delivered to the young
ladies by Prot. Leonidas Poyntz, gentleman,
who as instructor in mathematics and the
Sciences, has met with the most flattering sue
cess, and the diplomas conferred by the able
President Of tho Institute, the Rev. WIN. A.
Harris: A list OF the graduates. &C., will be
found On the first page. :
with that fine old song, ',Homc Sweet
Home;'' closed the exercises of the session of
'74-'75-a session that has been one Of unus,,--
al PROSPERITY to the Institute and profit to the
x..,,:J, xlia