The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-22
Anderson, S. c., Thursday, July 22.
Carolina Collegiate Institute.
| GRAND COMMENCEMENT.
FIRST FORMULATING CLASS--FIVE
YOUNG LADIES.
BRILLIANT EXERCISES.
GREAT INTEREST MANIFESTED.
500 PEOPLE PRESENT.

sion, in her midst, which has caused her
citizens to rejoice, and brought in. the
realities of the present bright recoilec-
tions of the past. Many of our readers
remember the fourishing institution of
learning, known as johnson Female
University, which, lent so much interest
to our town before the war, and placed
it prominent among the places of female
education in the State. They also re-
member that during the war the Institu-
tion was closed, and the property sold to
Messrs. Trenholm, Wagner & Co., and
our town left for years without charter
ed school. In 1873 school, under the
charge of Prof. w. J. Ligon, Rev. L. NJ.
Aver and Rev. D. E. Frierson, was
founded upon the theory of a co-educa-
tdoR of the sexes. 1t was taught in the
spacious buildings of the old University,
and called the Carolina High School.
Pleased with the plan and workings of
this school, a number of our citizens COM
bined in a joint stock company and pur-
chased the property of the johnson Fe-
male University, with the determination
Of inslituting a school of high order,
where the youth, both male and female,
ssigiss study together, learning to emu
late each others virtues and graces, and
be enthused BY wholesome emulation of
enc another in the attainment of knowl-
edge. In tie latter part of 1878 the COM
pany organized by electing bord of di-
rectors, with Judge Reed as President,
and the College was named The Caro-
lima Collegiate Institute. The services
of Prof. w. J. Ligon and Rev. P. F. Ste
phens as co-principals of the faculty
were secured, and in 1874 the charter
was obtained, under which the Institute
has since been conducted. The first
year of its existence passed off to the en-
tire satisfaction of those acquainted with
Its course and system ofinstruction and the
results therefrom. In November 1874
Col. James A. Hoyt was elected Presi-
dent of the Board of Directors, and Prof.
w. J. Ligon chairman of the faculty
selections emanently wise and we'll cal
culated to give confidence to the patrons
of the Institute. Under this manage
ment the session of 1875, which has re-
Gently closed so brilliantly, was conduct
ed. So much for sketch of the Institu-
tion's origin, brings US to the particular
occasion which forms the subject Of this
article.
Wednesday Evening, July 14th, 1876.
SPEECHES, COMPOSITIONS AND MUSIC, BY
UNDERGRADUATES.
Early in the evening OF Wednesday
many eager and smiling faces could be
seen vending their way tothe University
Chapel "to. be in time to get a seat" to
witness the exercises of the first night of
the Commencement. Upon ascending
She hill upon which the buildings stand
a beautiful sight met the view. The
front windows of the University building
were illuminated by rows of candles,
which gave it quite an imposing appear
ance. Upon entering the vision of beau
ty continued, for the Chapel walls were
sastely decorated with wreaths and fes-
toons of evergreens, and the old stage
had been remo@cIled, by taking from its
center the post which stood there, and
elevating the platforms sonse two or three
feet. 1t is some smaller than the old
platform, and is very prettily constructed
its walls are after the Downing style
of architecture, and we're very prettily
decorated within and without. 1mmedi-
ately over the stage in front were the
words "Carolina Collegiate Institute" !"
on the rear wall was commencement of
1875" and, "Welcome, thrice welcome" :"
on the left Excelsior" and on the
right "Age quad Agis," each of them
being in letters of pasteboard covered
with evergreens, and presenting a fine
appearance. The exercises of the eve
ming were opened by the Anthem, "Sal-
vationto Our God" which was beauti-
fully sung by a number of the young
ladies of the school, after which prayer
was offered by Rev. J. S. Murray. The
exercises of the evening were then gone
through with as previously announced
by the following programme:
H. Gaines Scudday-a speech-sub-
iect, "Mental Culture"
Miss Ida G.. Bewley-composltIon-
subject, "The Soothing Power of Music"
i. Ernest Brown-a speech-subjecs,
"Inhuence of Woman"
Miss Rosa Ray-composition-subject,
"Where is thy Home"
+. Walker Knight--a speech-subject,
"Education."
Miss Mary 4. Chamblee-composition
subject, "Ho!y as Heaven-a Mothers
Tender Love"
James b. Vandiver-a speech-sub-
ject, "The Late War"
Miss Mary L. Towers-composltlonI.-
subject, "Appropriate Sphere OF "o-
man"