Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-07-01
BERKELEY FE1fALE SEMINARY.
TILE CLOSING ExERCIsEs

~ 49, - ~
that will at least accommodate a fair
proportion of our people and thus
render a public gathering a pleasure
instead of a pushing, jostling toll.
If there is any one thing that people
take an interest in it is the education
of the youth of the country, and we
are proud to say that the people Of
Martinsburg seem to be animated by
this noble impulse, and yet here is
| the second annual commencement of
this year, and each has had the NOR
LITIGATION of seeing friends and SYM
pathisers turned away, for want of
| even standing room. Add thirty feet
to the length of King Street Hall
between now and the next annual
! exercises of "The Berkeley Female
Seminary" and let us start our re-
| port thereof with a congratulatory
introduction. Excuse the depression,
and follow the scholars of the Semi
nary last Friday evening jas headed by
their accomplished matronly Princi-
| pal, Mrs. Harrison land accompanied
by the other scholarly Ewes of the
Faculty they push their way through
the hosts of friends and well wishers.
AS they reach the door of the Hall
sweet music greetsthe ear, and those
acquainted with the science of melo-
dious sound, at once recognize Co.
ria's brilliant "Triumphal March,"
as rendered by the skillful hands of
the accomplished instructors Misses
Hunter and Harrison. This very diff
ficult music was executed with won
derful ease and grace by the perform
erS.
This was followed with prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Hoffheins, after which the
school sang the old Quaker Poets
grand Centennial Hymn every
line of which is almost a living sem
Itiment, or at least undying golden
thoughts, commencing SO properly
| with
''Our father God from out who e hand
The centuries fall like grains Of sand, u
and closing with the unparalleled
invocation
Oh, make Thou us, through centuries long,
In peace secure, in justice strong
Around our gift of freedom draw
The safeguards of Thy righteous law,
And, cast in some diviner mold,
Let the new cycle shame the DID,.
The music was by Dudley Buck,
and is known as a grand choral, and
suited in grandeur and sublimity to
the poets rhyme, and was rendered
with considerable feeling and SEEM
ing inspiration.
Then Rev. d. H.. Riddle, Of Vir-
ginia, was introduced and addressed
the audience. His remarks were
brief, but abounded in good sense,
sound and exemplary advice, careful
and well-digested ideas, well calcu-
lated to exercise a beneficial influence
and to inspire renewed energy in par
| ents and children that the cause Of
education may receive closer and
more persistent attention. Thought,
| diction and delivery were common
dable, and elected general approval.
After the address Berg's ''Grand
| Triumphal March," a quartette
played by Misses Thrasher, Sharer,
| N. Robinson and Dollin perfect time
and ease.
An excellent composition, subject,
"Ruins of Time," was read by Miss
Alice Robinson, evincing considera-
BILE thought and purity of expression
on the part OF the young lady.
Then came the chorus clark, APP
polio Strikes the Lyre !" which was
sung very eXpressively, showing fine
conception and careful training on
the part of the teacher. A musical
critic at our elbow says the crescon-
dos and diminuendo's we're perfect.
Tie Misses Poore and e. Kapp then
sang very sweetiy Muller's Come,
Oh! Come With Me-" These little
girls deserve praise for their effort.
"Amaryllis, an air composed by
Louis XIV, was beautifully rendered
by Miss Shearer.
Wyman's duet" Souvenirs de
Scotland, "a combination of old
Scotch airs, was then executed by
Misses Robinson and Doll, and was
highly appreciated by the audience.
The next was Gottschalk's I'll
Tro%vatore,n and was played by Miss
jamie Nadenbousch with amazing
expression and grace. Considering
the difficulty of the piece and the
performers years, her skill was real
ly extraordinary. Depth of feeling
being the chief characteristic of the
music, the expression given it by the
performer showed that 8sthetical cul-
ture had not been overlooked by the
instructor.
"The Mountain Bugle, "a duet by
Hewitt-was next nicely sung by
Misses Emma Scheu and Elvira
Kapp, and was followed by Wells I'll
C~orricolo," under the skillful manip-
ulation of Misses Vroom and
ThraShar