The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-06-19
punahou.


Our college. or collegiate academy. afforded in
struetive and pleasarablc entertainment 20 a thrang
Of intelligeni visitors on Tuesday and Wednesday Of
this week. The institution held its annual examina-
ton. and the proficiency exhibited 10y studeats in
their exercises, would show that teachers we're
thorough and wise in their method Of Instruction,
and that pupils loved their books The analysis Of
Cicero by naidens in early teens was q pleasarable
surprise; none the less 50. that we ia the days Of q
coneeited youth had our patience exhausted by the
great Roman orator, mere than ever his Was abused
by Catiline. We got headaches over the fierce objur-
cations against the great eonspiraior. and the vehe-
ment appeals to immortal gods and eonseript fathers,
whilst here were these conscript maidens smilingiy
lisping 'Quousque tandem abutere,' Sc, like an
easy song, And We say this was a pleasnrablo sur
prise. because we were happy to recognize the fact in
this Institution, that our fairer, purer, snd better
half Of humanity, is fully the equal Of the stronger
and sterner half in every intellectual exercise aud
pursuit. And happy indeed il is, that it should be
so, aud that when the sexes are so blended, as in this
institution, they are eiucated,-the gentler ones at
least.-to be qualified in the future, not merely as
h~elp-maies or slaves to a lordly wil-out helps-meef
to aid presumptiSe 4" lords 10 fulfill the noblest
aims of manhood. Men have not succeeded in this
in the ages past, either alone, or aided by woman
educated apart as an inferior being. The usual
boarding-school miss has been a romantic s%impleton,
and the average collegiate boy q bear with a smatter-
ing Of Latin.
4" Would you your scr shoud be a sot or Ounce
Lsscivious. head-strongs OF AL these az oncei
That, in good time, the stiphngs hnish'd taste
For loose expense aud fashionable waste.
Should prove your ruin aud his own at last;
Train him In public with a mob OF boys,
Else of a mannish growth, and five in ten
In inhdelity and leEdness, men"
But associated with their gentle sisters and fair
cousins, and all guided and controlled by a high
moral tone aud standard. mind you. as in this in
stitution, then you may hope that your boys will
become Christian gentlemen.
The exercises in natural history were most delight
full to some of us elders who have sought out nature
in her life-abounding retreats. The bee, the moth,
the butterfly, the ant, and all curious and common
creatures of earth. sea and air, will be instructive
teachers and entertainers in after life to these young
souls who spoke so pleasantly their well-learned les
sons about so many of the unnoticed wonders of the
infinite creation Of God. With their faithful teacher,
who no doubt loves the subject, this class having got
the first books of nature into their hands, will find
happiness in after life in ransackiug the mighty
library OF God unfolded-
In the teemiug earth,-in rock and tree,
And in the depths OF the boandless sea.
The class in grammar gave evidence Of n very
thorough drill, in its exercises; and it was evident
that O iaright-minded and painstaking teacher had
rendered this branch Of education, which we remem-
Der as cry and dreary to US, very interesting TO her
pupils.
And after exercises on the blackboard by the
arithmet and mathematic class, who solved their
problems with promptitude and accuracy. we had
declamatlons, compositions and readings, all
III ~ chPtAAOt niHhANAs IA 1G
Tense " wis spoken by a half Chinese youth with a
1fuency, ease. and in an earnest and impassioned
tone that would have pleased the heart OF an Irish
patriot. Virginius, and the sacrifice Of his daugh-
ter, was spoken with admirable effect by one with
a voice and tone for tragic. animated defamation.
"Curfew " was impressively rendered by n young
voice that inspires the hope of future oratorical
ability. Elaine " was read ~teHtierly and must
cally. "a hird's-eye view of a royal ball " was a
capital little bit of original feminine curiosity and
criticism; Character f" was another good original
composition, and well spoken. "'Amusements "
was amusing in referring TO the incidents of school
recreation. e Lear y was well read by half a
dozen Students; and then we listened TO an oTigi-
nal composition on the Z" Education of women -
a great theme for a young maiden. But it did not
ton the excellent effect of the higher education of
her sex, and the advocates of her view OF educa-
ton need not fear TO risk the defense OF the cause 4
in her hands in an intellectual tilt with any Of her
age of the other sex who might advocate the con-
trary,--or a lower grade of education for her.
The whole examination was a treat. and reflects
honor on the President, Prof. Church. his Lady,
Prof. Damon, Miss Coan, aud Miss Ravens.
Tender "reminiscences of our school-days were
evoked, as we locked on and listened. / We remem-
bered with love our good teachers, and the healing
balm of time makes all seem good; all, however
severe in discipline, who strove in any way to enlarge
our soul with knowledge. We stood up again in the
class-we felt the eager emulation to be at or near its
head; and refined by association with sisterly minds,
We felt that we were climbing again the bill Of sci
ence, not in the rude, jostling way Of the past,-5ut
with courteous and chivalrous emulation as behtted a
young knight who should climb or run, hand in
hand with his sister.
The pleasing spectacle at once excisez
Such recollection Of our own delights,
That, viewing 1t, we seem almost & obtain
Our innocent sweet simple years again.
This fond attachment 20 the weIl-known place.
When first We started into lf-'s long race,
Maintains its hold with such unfailing sway,