Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-18
MEMPHIS LADIES' INSTITUTE.
Memphis Club Hall Last slight
Essays ana Graduates.

For fourteen years past we have been
accustomed to see gathered together at
the commencement exercises OF the
Memphis Ladies' Institute, an elegant
audience, and to hear from the we'll
trained pupils of this most excellent
school more than ordinarily Interests
ing programme. But last nights en-
tertainment was the most agreeable of
any that it has been our pleasure to at
tend. And while we have neither time
nor space to enumerate all the attract
i've features Of the entertainment we
can not iOrgO the inclination to mention
the leading parts as taken by the grsdu-
aling class. The graduates are Misses
Lizzie Ray, Katie d. M'Gehee, Minnie
Phelon, Emma Frank and Katie Spicer,
and more beautiful bouquet of female
loneliness could scarcely be found any
where. But they are possessed of charms
more lasting than beauty, and they will
go cut into the new life, upon which
they have now entered, armed with in
tellectusl powers that will always be felt
in its elevsting influences, upon the cir
cles in which they dwell. Their several
essays were Of more practical and sub
stantial character than is usual with
young ladies under like circumstances.
Miss Phelan read an essay on 1.-THE
Power Of SOng,n and it was but a reflex
of her modest but sympathetic nature,
sweet strain from gentle, womanly
heart that echoes back in metrical soft
ness what would otherwise be the harsh
discords of our daily lives. Miss Kate
MGehes read an essay in FrenCh-sub-
ject, " France land no native of that
lovely country could more forcibly pOr-
tray the virtues OF her people, or more
periodically extOl the greatness Of her
heroes and emperors. Coupled with rare
personal beauty, Miss Katie possesses an
intellect and demeanor that marks
her for one of our sOCiety's queens.
Miss Emma Frank read an essay
"Earth's Benefactors." To say she read
it we'll would but poorly convey to the
mind an idea of the impressive force of
her delivery. Orators and advocates
might learn useful lessons from this fair
elOcutiOnist, as she now and then with
drew her eyes from the manuscript and
spoke with all the warmth OF her wo
manly heart the eloquent words in
which she had clothed her subject.
Such practical wisdom in a young lady
Of her age is rare indeed. Miss Katie
SpiceT's subject was "What Shall 1
Say" and she read it well, and an
swered her own interrogatory with
words Of wisdom scarcely to be ex-
pected from one SO young and in
experienced in life. Petite, piquant, and
beautiful as Miss Katie is, she cannot
fail to please under any and all circum-
stances. Miss Lizzie Rays was the
closing essay-sUbject, "The circle is
finished; is the work cOmpletem 1t
was well read, and most admirably was
the subject treated, showing the refined
culture of a solid, womanly intellect,
entirely free from schoolgirl" fancies,
and moulded to pious as we'll rs prscti-
cal forms. We would be pleased to no.
tice some of the Rotations and songs Of
the juniors with which the audience
were RECALLED, and from their applause
we might say delighted, but time and
space forbid. But we must say that they
give promise that in future the annual
commencement OF the Memphis Ladies'
institute will be fully up to the past, and
to any reasonable expectation of the
public.