Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-02
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.


COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
The commencement exercises of Kings
Mountain Military School, for the school-year
lust closed, we're held in the hall of the York.
Vile Female Institute, on Thursday last
The corps of cadets, preceded by a band of
music, and escortng the faculty, officers and
graduates, marched under command of Lieut.
Reynolds to the hall, where large audience
awaited their coming. The room had previ.
ously been tastefully decorated and otherwise
prepared for the occasion, and presented alto
gether pleasing appearance The exercises
having been opened with prayer by Rev. r.
P. johnson, Col. Coward the Princi pal of the
School, delivered short address, appropriate
to the occasion of its first public exhibition
since the war. He alluded to the founding Of
the institution by the lamented Micah Jenkins
and himself, to their original aims, their diff
culties, and their ultimate success-a success
soon checked by the breaking out Of war in
which both deemed it paramount duty to
take an active part Speaking of the reopen
ing since the war, he said that his constant
aim, and that of his assistants, had been to re-
cognize and enforce those principles, both Of
mental and moral culture, for the inculcation
of which the institution had been first estah-
lished. The address was tasteful, forcible and
chaste, and received from the entire audience
most attentive hearing. The Cadet speak
ers were then introduced in the following or
der: Withers Adickes, of the Second Glass
"The Fireman )" Leon NJ. Williamson, grad
uate-The March of Intellect; M. w. Culp,
of the second class-Macbeth's Soliloquy;
J. Robert Lindsay, graduate-The Influence
of Woman Robert F. Jenkins, of the second
class 1.-THE Raven" j. Stanyarne Wilson,
graduate -Oratory. The defamation of the
members of the second class was highly
creditable, giving signs Of faithful effort, and
elocutionary talent of no mean order; while
the original essays of the graduates showed
that, in addition to close attention to their
regular studies, they had found time for the
special study of English composition and of
such matters ofgeneral information as cannot
we'll be embraced in stated course of in
struction. Their ready command and critical
knowledge of English proved the great ad-
vantage of constant drilling in rhetoric and
composition, such as they had received. At
the close of this part of the exercises, the
graduates came forward and received their
diplomas at the hands of the Principal, who
accompanied their presentation with appro-
pirate remarks and brief farewell to the re-
cipients. The exercises we're closed with a
benedicton by Rev. Robert Latham, after
which the Cadets marched back to their bar
racks.
On Thursday night the Cadets and their in
vted guests enjoyed themselves at chop" at
the school building There were large
number of ladies and gentlemen present, not
only from Yorkville but from other portions
of the State, and everything passed off de.
lightfully.
Thus closed the first commencement Of
Kings Mountain Military School since the
close of the war. Nine years ago, the exer-
cises of the institution we're resumed, under
the management of the present Principal,
after suspension of nearly five years-a sus-
pension due to causes with which our readers
are perfectly familiar Since that reopening,
it has been the constant aim of the Principal
and his Jealous assistants, to bring the school
gradually, yet permanently, up to standard
of study and fullness of curriculum which
would give it place among the leading col
leges of the South. Those branches of edu-
cation and those methods of instruction have
been adopted which seem best adapted to the
changed condition of our people and the pres
ent needs of the Southern youth. Modestly,
yet energetically pursuing its course, both on
ward and upward, the school now contains all
those features that are necessary to attain the
end in view. Under many discouragements
naturally incident to the times, with many
obstacles to overcome, and many difficult ends
to accomplish, the Principal has succeed in
placing his School on that basis of solid, prac-
tcal learning, when mas peeh the constant
object of his wishes and exertions. Nor have
his labors been without visible fruit-a fact
clearly shown in the literary productions Of
the class just graduated. With the beginning
of the next term, on the 1st of February, 1876,
the school will present additional advantages,
in many respects, both to those who may desire
to complete their education under its fostering
care, and to those who may wish, after mas
tering its prescribed course of study, to enter
an institution of still higher grade-such as
the University of Virginia, Princeton College,
Yale or Harvard The curriculum is to be
still further extended and improved, and such
features added to the general organization as
will ensure the greatest possible advantage to
the student, and keep the institution fully
abreast with the times. We sincerely trust
that when the new session opens, the condi-
ton and prospects of the school will be much
improved in all respects. Its merits certainly
entitle it to full share of patronage from
the people of this State and of the country at