The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-23
RICHMOND. va, SATURDAY MORNING,

- INTERESTING EX ER CISE 3 2AT- BETHEL.
SCHooL.-It was our pleasure to attend yes
.terday afternoon the closing exercises for.
the holidays at Bethel School, on T TWentieth.
street,. T. Thomas, principal and when
we express our qualification we but echo
the sentiments OF all who witnessed them,
that they were eminently successful and
pleasing. This school within the past few
years has continued to increase in efficiency
until now franks as one OF the best in the
city, the building having been recently en-
larged and beautified in order to accommo-
date the increased attendance OF scholars.
The exercises yesterday, which took place
in the large asaeInbly-r on the first floor,
were witnessed BY q number OF interested
spectators, and embraced the following pro-
gramme: Song by the school; recitation,
q Boys Rights" by Master Charlie Ander-
SON; song by scholars Of Miss Browns
class; German reading by Miss Mary
Wacker; song, "Too Late" by Miss Ida
Granger (yery sweetly rendered); I" Night
Before Christmas" recitation, by Master
Willie Campbell (pleasingly spoken); song
by scholars OF Miss Pemberton' class; reci-
tation, "All Quiet Along the Potomac z by
little Master Ralph Bingham (the gem Of
the entertainment, being spoken with mod
ulations and infections Of voice, and ges-
ture really wonderful for child Of such
tender years.; song by the school.
This was followed by the distribution Of
several special prizes, presented by Miss
Fergus to the following pupils in her class
Master Lee Cohn, for writing the best letter
In the second grammar grade; Miss Mary
Black, best composition; Master. Charlie
johnson, drawing the best map OF the
United States; Miss Ida Smith, best map OF
Asia. Also, by Miss Brown, prize to Miss
Emma Cogbill for being the best speller in
her room, the fourth grammar grade. at
the conclusion OF these presentations Mr..
James FL. Peay, Superintendent OF Public
Schools, presented to Miss Fergus beauti-
full gold pin as mark Of love and esteem
from her scholars; and to Miss Richardson
q gold cross rs similar token from her pu-
pills.
The children were then marched back to
their respective class-rooms and dismissed
for the holidays. Several Of the teachers,
before dismissing them, distributed hume
rous little presents to the young folks under
their Charge; among these were Misses
Brown and Fergus; the room Of the latter
being, however, the centre OF attraction.
This room had been tastefully decorated
with evergreens, and large Christmas-tree
from teacher to pupils, from pupils to
teacher, and from pupil to pupil. Even
our reporter was not forgotten in this gen.
eral distribution, and he will have occasion
to puff in remembrance Of Bethel school for
some time to come.
One fact connected with Bethel school
which deserves special and honorable men-
tion is the remarkable attendance percent
aoe OF the scholars. From Miss Fer9us's
reports to the principal it is shown that her
pupils have kept up 100 per cent. (al pre-
sent) for nine consecutive weeks. One OF
the boys Of this class (Master W alter Brauerl
with that degree Of commendable pride not
to be the first to break down this splendid
record, walked three miles from his home,
in Henrico, yesterday morning, through
rain and over sleety and slippery roads, to
school. Miss Browns class also shows a
fine record, she having 100 per cent. for FIVE
consecutive weeks, besides two other weeks
previous but not consecutive. The other
public schools Of the city should look to
their laurels.