The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-07-01
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
ST s1MEoN's SCHOOL.


The distribution of premiums and closing
exercises of this popular establishment took
place last Thursday in the presence OF crowd
ed auditory. Among those present were some
fifteen or twenty of the clergy Of our city, in
Guiding o number from the Redemptorist ana |
Lazarist Orders, a fact that evidences very en- |
phatically the estimation in which st. Simeon's
is held by those whose endorsement is entitled
to the greatest weight.
It is almost impossible to discriminate where
excellence was so universal. The music can be
Judged of by persons who were not present
from the simple fact that Prof. COlignon was
in charge of it. The policy of the good Sisters
in placing that gentleman at the head OF their
musical department speaks volumes in favor
of their enlightened and enterprising manage
ment.
| In the matter of painting, although 1t Is one
| of the ladies themselves who is in charge Of
this branch, it would certainly be impossible
to find greater proficiency among pupils any
where in the South. After the exercises OF
the day were over we examined specimens OF
pastel painting, water colors and crayon draw
ing that would be generally accepted as
| the work of q master. Several of the
paintings are very excellent portraits of emil
0oSSA
names of some Of the young ladies whose
proficiency in this line and in other depart
ments was most remarkable, we refrain for
two reasons from recording them. First, the
list would be entirely too large for our space
r if accompanied by any ineligible details, and
secondly, we believe the spirit of the Order
Sisters of Charity-is opposed to publicity in
the matter of excellence. Their profession being
, one of charity, their motto seems to be the
, celebrated advice given in connection with
such works: "Lst not thy left band know
what thy right hand doeth.' This spirit, so
deeply infused into their rules, seems to follow
{ and pervade all their collateral labors.
III No enc, however, could witness the ex-
ercises of that occasion without saying to him
= self: This is really education. 1t is not merely
book knowledge, it is knowledge reduced to
practical application, it is not merely worldly
d science that has been impaired, the great
science cf spiritual and immortal truth has also
il been taught; it is not the merely abstract
principles of frelig gion that have been inculcated
g a vital, practical, militant piety has beer
II created by an agency far more potent thai
It precept, the agency of constant, earnest ex
ample, It Is such schools as this that we wan
i, multiplied to save the generation from the rnir
d of worldly f,lly and spiritual Ignorance te
. which it is being condemned by system Of
a education from which God is excluded.
's ST. MARYs DOMINICAN ACADEMY, DRYADEs
D. STREET.
On Monday and Tuesday of last week. tn
evening hour passed into q pleasant and prot
4. A. table memory at the Convent of the Domiui
can Nuns attached to st. Johns church, Dry
ID ades street. 1t was the annual recurrence G
ne commencement time, and the friends of bot
a. the Academy and pupils had assembled il
m large numbers to witness the exercises.
of The numerous GLASSES either 30 spoke or ac'
It. ed as to Handsomely sustain the impression
IL formed at the beginning, that though beaut
n full and chaste looking was their attire, ther
40 was much greater regard had to the decora
in ton of the mind than to the ornamentstion {
ev the body. The parental trust is always safe i
D Jminican hands, and the plant of parents
tea expectation striking root in Christian groun
il like the lily that stands for the order-Boo
-ce breaks into flowers of reward and promise.
nd mnch for literary sttainments whose acquir
he ment is coupled with the study of q biGh
or and holier knowledge and the iDstillation
ss. such saving maxims of divine truth as resto
at or conserve the purity of the ripening heart.
CT This is the particular feature that Impair
,rv q peculier beauty to the face of Catholic teac
on ing and everywhere renders our schools
de- wholesome and superior as to attract the no
,ut Catholic pupil and draw from the mouths
as: honorable opponents the acknowledgment tn
pa 1t ls not ofeol1soie 10 ones 'n'eligence
ers deny the existence OF tne 1ac6'
The varied character and pleasing kind
the the several parts Of each evenings perforl
ca- ance, afforded haPpy entertainment 10 q
the large audience "nion a'Uenoeo ON eaon occ
nee sion' Inc well-tfaineo young ladies' olgnln
old and unaneoted' went SnFougn tneir respec"
of parts with graceiul ana easy oepor'men'' d,
with much naturalness of intona nation and emit
but faultlessnees Oh "olo IN sPlSe Ok Une SeNehi
ign OF the oroesl tnrongn whlon sney passed.