Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-18
MEMPHIS LADIES' INSTITUTE.
Its Fourteenth Annual Commences.
ment.

An immense concourse of people
gathered together on last evening to wit
ness the commencement exercises Of the
aforementioned Institute and testified
to the high standing of the school by the
patient, critical and appreciative etten-
ton they bestowed upon the interesting
programme offered. The litersry exer-
cises we're Of the very highest order and
again argued for the excellence of the.
Institute. Each ofthe.four graduates, Miss
Phelou, Miss McGehee, Miss Frank and
Miss Spicer, read an ably written essay,
Tread and enuneiated, as we wished for
many years graduates would, J with adeep.
sonorous voice, fine elocutionary pow
ers and a feeling of confidence assuring
the audience that the essay presented
to the public was the offspring Of hers
or their " minds, hers or their own
thoughts and information.
The literary exercises altogether were
superior, the dialogues, individual and
class Rotations being ~faultless as to rem
dition, etc. What we mainly wish to
dwell upon, however, is the character Of
the musical exercises of the commence
ment. Without timidity, aud with all
modesty as to the demands of any Sc
lected audience, the principals Of the
school could have we'll ventured to pre-
sent the musical part Of the performance
at any of our best concerts given in the
city. The tout ensemble of the musical
talent is almost equal to that usually
met with in Conservatives. Miss Phe-
Ion played Wehli's Amazone March like
a finished scholar. She is a little artistic
and must become more prominent here
after in musical corporations. Let tie
Mendelssohns look after such talent.
Miss Kate McGehee, we'll and favor
ably known as an active member Of the
Mendelssohn Club and organist of St.
Lazarus Church, distinguished herself
prominently as a v%ocalist and instru-
mental performer. She sang Flowers
by the Way" (by the way, one of the
very best compositions of the king Of
ballads, Abt,) so beautifully in every
sense that she may well be proud of her
work. The fidelity to the text, the
soltness and tenderness of expressions
in song, characterizing the efforts Of
Miss Hates vocal teacher, Mrs. Boylan,
was clearly discerpiblo in the pupil, and
proves c~onclusively the merits of a fne
instructor. To say the rigoletto of Miss
McGehee was a piece of suberb exc
cution is but due and justice to the fair
executant. She played this extremely
difficult solo with a finish creditable to
q master Of the science.
Miss Lizzie Ray sang very sweetly in
deed, and has a very rich, flexible voice,
with plenty Of coloratur, but to be
brought ont.
Miss Katie Spicer, one of the fair
graduates, deserves a great deal of
credit as a pianist, and did very, very
Welt in the two duets played during the
evening. There is a great deal of mH-
steal talent in the two beautiful Spicer
sisters-one such a splendid vocalist,
the other four respected gralaate) so
good an instrumental performer.
The singing of Miss Kennedy was,
very fine indeed, e~liciting immense ap-
plause AID encore. Miss Katie spicer-
likewise, as she always does, sang very
sweetly, and received showers Of bou-
quets.
In closing, we must not omit TO allude
to the various teachers of the Institute:
Professor Winkler, one of our best
known musicians, always and every
where s~ustains his high position. Mrs.
Edmonds stands high as a musical
teacher, and always shows fire scholars.
Of Mrs. Boylan, our ~iavorite Memphis
soDgstress, we can hardly speak with
sufficient praise; her class and her
pupils, each of the students confded to-
her for instruction, did e~xcellently.
Since Mrs. Boylan's %sojourn in New
York during last summer, when she
completed her studies under the famous
Professor ErraDi, she is ackuowl-
edged to be one of our foremost v-eal
aud instrumental teachers. Her
method Of imparting what seems to be
innate to herr soitness and tenderness Of
expression, sympathetic with true con-
ception Of the science, is a qualification
which few possess, and she excels in.
She is much admired for her fidelity, in
dustry and love for the art she has
chosen to follow. Professor Whitman is
the linguist Of the Institute, and is a
fine scholar and master of modern aud
ancient languages. To the principals,
Mrs. Southworth and Mrs. MoGehee, the
thanks of the community are due for the
manner in which they conduct their
school. Mrs. Southworth and Mrs.
McGehee (t needs no mention at this