Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-22
lspthei Academy.

| " AEkENIDN, y JuHc -l.-i nc dHuu n
commencement exercises Of Bethel Military
Academy took place yesterday, and were highly
crcditabc TO the institution. We can not say
| too much in praise Of the discipline and thor
oush course of instruction Of this academy,
Which Is now fast rising 10 first place, il it has
not already attained il, among tho schools OF
| the State In popularitYit stands, and Justly,
among the very first. Its faculty is able aud
conscientious, and its advantages in every re-
srcct first class. At an carly hour on yesterday
morninG the spacious and airy public hall was
| filled to OVERLOOKING with an eager company OF
visitors and spectators, the mothers, fathers.
sisters and brothers OF the aspirants to academic
honGls and q general collection OF the good peo-
| pie from al the country round who take an in-
! iercst in Bethel. a brass band from Washing.
ton WAS present TO fill up the pauses during the
! day aud discourscd sweet music aud relieved
| the ovcrwrought brain. At every school or col
| lego commencement | have ever attended
have been struck with The happy effect OF mu-
| sic. The sulilc that lights up the countenanccs
| Of an audience after listening for half an hour
| or moro to the burning clcqnenca or solid phi
! lcsophy Of a youthlul orator Whca the band
| strikes up g lively air, is study for g picture.
The exercises of the day began at 10 a. ~ with
the distribution Of distinctions to the students,
who had earned them in their various classes.
Then heavenly music. Then came the final
orations aud declarations by the selected ora
| tors OF tie two literary socictlcs-the Washing
| ton and the Lee These were most excellent,
| and whatever else may be taught at Bethel
clOcution is certainly we'll attended TO-. One
young gentleman, Mr.. -, who delivered
in c.,la al 1v
on Focs Raven, We would especially compii-
mcnt. At 2::3O p. M there was an intermission
Tor dinner. Many Of the visitors had their cor
pulcnt lunch baskets, and forming groups
around improvised boards about under the trees,
in the park presented The appearance Of huge
picnic Of the ivcest sort, willie hundreds Of
others parlook OF the generous hospitality of
the McSsrs. Smith, the managers aud propre-
tors Of tie school. After dinner came the an
nual address By Gen. Noise, of s. O., Adjutant
General to Gov. Hampton. 1t was very well
put eloquent and appropriate, and kept fixed
Tor an hour the attention Of the large audience,
which ever and anon burst out 10 applause.
Gen. Noise made 4 fine impression en- young
and old as c)urtly gentleman and tlnc speaker.
Then came the contest between the two literary
societies. represented by two dcbators from
each. The umpires were Capt. A. u. Payne,
Rev. J. G. Carroll and DR.. Dinwiddie Philips.
This debate was especially croditable. What
the effect Of the discussion will be one cannot
tell, but all listened to it with qualification and
pleasure. MIR. j. Z. Scott carried of tho hon.
ors Of the argument, and MIR. Moies. of South
Carolina, was decidedly the most finished ora.
tor and elocutionist. After these forensic ex
crciscs We repaired TO the campus martius'
and witnessed an admirable display Of military
ovolutions by the corps of cadets commanded
BY Col. Lightfoot, their most excellent inStruc.
tor. The battalion was reviewed in true army
style by General Boise, and as the radiant sun
sank behind the mountains Of The west We all
bid adicu to Bethel with best wishes for its fu-
ture prosperity.
1t was rumored in Washington yesterday that
Gen. Wells, the United States Attorney Tor
the District Of Columbia, had been requested
by the President to resign. The General is an
excite from Michigan, and has, since 1861,
played many parts, but suited none Of them so
well as chat Of provost marshal Of this city,
when he executed orders for tho cxtingush-
ment Of lights al nine o'tlock at night, and pre-
sided at courts for the trial Of poor women
whose coas had hcen taken up for running at
large