The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-09
THE NoRMAI-sCHooL EXERCISES.
A NOBLE DONATION.
Interesting Proceedings.

Interesting Proceedings.
In accordance with an announcement in
yesterdays issue the commencement exer-
cises in the Richmond Normal Institute, r.
NJ. Manly principal, took place at the Insti-
tute last evening, and at the close thereof
the Institute was formally presented to the
city. The neat Gothic hall Of the Institute
was filed with an interested audience, COM
posed mostly OF our most respectable CO.
lored citizens and their families, while
Mayor Kelley and many OF our prominent
city officials and citizens were also present.
On the stage were the pupils in full dress.
The proceedings were opened with the
song. Sounding the Watch-Cry'; which
was rendered with excellent effect by the
/ pupils, bliss NJ. L. Patterson presiding at
the organ. This was followed by prayer by
President R. NJ. Manly. Then followed the
order Of exercises, as follows:
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Anthem; n-Vanity-Jennie
Semmes; Reading-Centennial Troubles
Elizabeth Brown; Song -" Temperance
Call"; Recitatlon-JohnM Maynard
Watkins Composition-Life a Voyage
Victoria Pollard; Recitation-Independe
Bell-Jennie Semmes; Song" Ring, Ring
the Bells %; Recitation Xcelsior-Emma
Smith, Benjamin Graves; Dialogue-O -Ortho-
lgraphical Troubles-J. Fl. johnson, Mary
Lindsey, William Field, Laura Burrell !;
Song-H Hurrah for Water!" Compost
tion-A Good Cause Makes Stout Heart
Emma Blunt; Song-"Who is Brave
Man 20 Decamation-The Public Schools
James 81. Johnson; Recitation-Closing
Thoughts-Lucy Brooks; Song "Vic-
tory"
It would OF course be impossible to par
ticularize as to each OF the efforts enumc-
rated in the programme, and we can only
say that they were all very credtable and
gave evidence Of great proficiency and intel
ligence on the part Of the pupils.
THE GRADUATES.
The diplomas were then awarded to the
graduates.
This is the fifth year in which diplomas
have been awarded to graduates, it requir-
ing three years to go through from the jul
nior to the graduating class-thatis, il the
proper degree Of efficiency is reached in each
year of the pupils progress. Thus far there
have been but few failures, most OF the aspi-
rants having obtained their diplomas within
the required three years. The teachers are
Misses Maggie E. Stratton, Mary L. Patter-
son, and Fanny N. Manly.
The following is the list OF the graduates {:
William W. Fields, Benjamin A. Graves,
Jennie Semmes, Emma c. Smith, Martha =.
Sampson, Emma V. Jones, Victoria Pollard,
Laura j. Burrell, Lucy G. Brooks. Cornelia
f. Brown, Elizabeth V. Brown, Emma q:
Blunt, Mary NJ. Lindsey, James II. johnson,
Hester A. Willis, Richard A. Combs.
Medals were awarded as follows:
Junior Class: Gold media, Mary Holmes;
silver medal, Anna Wallace.
Middle Glass Gold medal, Daniel VIII
liams; silver medal, Josephine Turpin. -
Senior Class Gold medal, Emma Blunt;
silver medal, James Johnson.
The following scholars were honorably
mentioned as having been present every
day throughoutthe year: Augustus Brown,
Walter Fitzhugh, Willie johnson, Miles
Jones, James Randolph, Martha Cooley,
Ida Hall, Mary, Holmes, Missouri Reese,
Lizzie Shildy, Andrew Bowler, Daniel Will
| liams, Hester Cheatham, Kate Dabney,
Mary Reese, Emma Blunt, Lucy Brooks,
| William Fields, Benjamin Graves, James
Johnson. :
mayor Kelley presented the diplomas and
medals, and in doing so made q neat little
address, in which he stated that he had at
| tended many Of the commencement eXer-
cises Of this school, but he had never at
tended one at which he had observed so
large and intelligent an audience as was
then present. This was an evidence OF an
increased interest in the fortunes OF the
Normal School which was truly gratifying
to him, and he hoped that that interest
would still increase until it was felt by
every man, woman, and child Of both colors
in this community. He complimented the
declaimer of the evening, James d. John-
son, upon his spirited defence Of the pubic
schools, in reply to the attacks that had been
made upon them through the public prints,
and concluded in his usual graceful ana
| pleasing manner.
THE GIFT OF THE SCHOOL.
After the singing Of the song "Eictory'
with much taste by the pupils, Mr.. Manly
stated that there remained but one thing to
be done to conclude the exercises OF the
evening. 1t was not often that man gave
away his own child, and it was an eXcep-
tional instance in which man felt that III
making such a gift it would be to the adj
vantage Of the child. He felt in that position
tonight. He was about to convey the title.
deed Of the school to the city. The tltle-deed
covered the ground, building, and all It's
educational appliances. The school had eX.
listed for nine years, until it had an entity
and a history, and now it had wants, and
looked to the city Of Richmond as to a
father. He rejoiced that he could place it
in the hands of Mayor Kelley, who, though
he had but short time to represent the III.
ture father Of the school, had manifested
such warm interest in the cause OF educa-
ton as to elicit his warmest admiration and
most sincere personal esteem. He therefore
asked of the city, through its worthy Mayor,
the acceptance Of the school from the klch'
mond Educational Association.
4 Mayor Kelley, in accepting the tltle-deed
assured Mr.. Manly that he was not givne
his child to step-father. Whatever ne nae
done in regard to the Normal School mac
met with cordial response from every true
citizen OF Richmond. lie alluded IN a com
.plimentary strain to the services OF that gen,
tleman as member Of the School Board OF
the city of Richmond, in which position ne
had shown warm interest and great enclen'
CIV, It was source Of great gratlhcatloI
that he would be retained as principal o!
the school for many years, and that ne "ouio
watch over it's interests in the future Us IL
the past, and to that gentleman's honor, De
It said, that he would undertake
this delicate service without charge
He gave to the institution that devoted In
terest that true father would give 10 III!
child. He appealed to all parents presen
to strain every nerve and make every enor
in behalf of the education Of their children
A virtuous girl and an honest, sober boy