Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-06-08
The Elizabeth Aull Seminary.

as many boarders as the other two, but it
local patronage we believe Il the largest O
the three.
There are some peculIaritlcs belonging I,
this school which awaken the attention O
the hOnors of the school are all written. an,
for each study occupy al entire day. |
gives certificates of graduation On each stud,
and each class OF studies; for xample
pupil who possesses q successful written ex
animation in arithmetic Is given IA prin1e,
certificate Of the fact; and when she passe.
similar examinations In algebra, geometry
trigOnOmstry, comic sections, analytical re
ometry and the calculus she Is accorded ,
certificate OF graduation in mathematics
SO with the other departments. When she
obtains sufficient certificates in all Of tn
schools, she is rewarded with the degree OF
Baccalaureate of Science; and when she
PASSES all the examinations In all the schools,
she has conferred upou her the degree,
Mistress of science.
Another feature of a peculiar character
Is that this seminary does not admit pupils
from other institutions al eundem. Indeed
IL does not divide its pupils into the four
college classes, but requires al! who enter
its halls and wish to receive It's degrees to
pass all Of its written examinations, a5 inftis
al fnem. For instance, it has one graduate
this year upon whom the Baccalaureate
degree was conferred, Miss Ida y. Thomas,
OF PIalisburg, Mo. This young lady was
required to pass all the written examinations
OF the entire course for tnat degree, amount
Ing, we are told, To twenty-five. As each OF
these took IN entire day, she spent one
whole school month and u quarter at the
desk writing her examinations. 1t was "A
great credit TO her that she succeeded.
This institution processes TO have a high
standard for graduation and for all its
hOpOrs. This seems to be borne out by the
fact that 1t has conferred its Baccalaurcatc
degree but seven times in eight years. The
Mistress degree has never been won.
Moreover, il gives at the end OF each year
what is called the certificate of "Univer-
sa! Success TO al! its pupils. who do no, iall
In any OF the written examinations during
the year. This certificate WAS won this
year by but two OF the one hundred and odd
pupils in attendance; Miss Rose Bcatie. OF
"hO l'asStu lOhi cSullllla-
tons, aud Miss Anna Hanna, of Kansas City,
who was SUCCESSFULLY fifteen.
II we are not mistaken. this school was
the first here to offer medals a. an incentive
to exertion. The object is to stimulate all
OF the pupils to pay attention to spelling,
reading and English composition. II is said
that all Of these are sadly neglected in the
primary schools. The medals this year were
handsome. That for spelling, given by Mr..
and Mrs. Wentworth, was II shield with the
inscription P aspera al qStra." and was
awarded to Miss Hanna, OF Kansas City.
The reading medal was an elegantly en-
graved tablet, bearing the legend. "Esss
guam rideri,' and was won by Miss Beatie,
of Higginsville. The essay medal was a
Maltese cross, whose Hebrew Inscription. the
third verse OF the first chapter of Genesis,
Was iniaid with jet, forming one of the most
beautiful medals that WE have ever seen.
1t was given to Miss Lizzie Hutchinson, of
our city. The reading medal was won upon
q field of honor. 1t was our pleasure to be
present at the contest, aud we agree with
the of award in saying that 1.-The
reading Of the entire class was of UNCOMMON
excellence The medal for the essay was
submitted TO 4 committee OF seven of the
most Intelligent persons III this city, who
made their decision III entire ignorance as
to who was the author OF tue prize essay.
Ii was read upon commencement day, anu,
for u school girl, was an almost ~iauItlcsg
specimen of simple, sensible English.
\ medal was also offered 10 the best
pianist. To determine this an original plan
was adopted. The committee of experts
were not allowed to See the Performers,
aud knew them simply as No. l, No. :, &c.
Alter An animated contest, they awarded
the first place to No. 4, who proved to he
Miss Lily jameson, Of LeXington; the second
place TO No. 3, who, to their utter surprise,
turned out to be Rosa SIivers, u little girl in
slort dresses and only some twelve wears II
age. The singing and playing throughout
the entire exercises reflected great credit
GU tue teachers, Misses Craig and Harris.
The medal tor the class of beginners was
given 10 Miss Victoria Smith, of Lawson.
The young men of the Presbyterian
church offered Il metal for the pupil who's,
grade Was the highest i'll all departments,
scholarship AMI department beiu, taken into
consideration 4 ballot taken 10y the faculty
esuItei in the unanimous OF
this highest honor upon Hiss Ida Thomas.
tue graduate. 1t was an elegant, cnamclled
star.
In the preparatory department, Miss Sue
Irigg, the principal, gave two prizes, one
for department to Ada Ballard, the other
for Industry to Master Herman Mark.
This Seminary has no public exhibitions.
Its closing exercises are all held in daylight
At the Seminary chapel. i o these. none are
invited but parents and a few others. This
is not done TO escape criticism. because
teachers aud editors rs well as parents are
cordially invited. The object, as. stated by
President Quarles, is to avoid public dis
play and to save time for study. lie says
that not half HI hour Was taken from the
regular school hours TO prepare for them.
On Wednesday morning the exercises were
novel, though we are informed
that such a test is made every year. The
names OF all the young ladies in the school.
belonging to the collegiate department, were
put into u hat, and a lady in the audience
was asked TO draw those no were to read
essays. The musicians were selected In the
same way. When each reader took her
composition book, the particular number
she was to read was also selected for her.
The object of this, as we understand, Is to
stimulate the pupils in the preparation of
each essay, and to show parents just what
was done In the regular exercises Of the
year.
We ars glad to know that the prospects
Of this seminary are excellent. 1t has the
confidence OF the people Of this community,
and we should be glad to see the rooms all
filled with boarders the ensuing fall. Its
faculty is composed Of eight Instructors In
the scientific department and six In that of
the arts. Miss Gray. the teacher OF eiocu-
ton, enjoys Il superior reputation, well evi.
denced 10y her superb rendering OF Poe's
Bells. Miss Lewis, who takes u place again.
is known here At having no superior In the
West. DIR. Alexander, (the Lexington Ency-
clopedial and Mr.. Jos. l.. Thomas with his
splendid microscope, are to aid in the physi.
cal sciences. Miss Alexander. a distIngui.b-
ed graduate OF the Jacksonville Conserya-
tory, takes charge OF the music, and is TO be
aided by Miss Katie Hollis, who, next to
Miss Boyakin.is perhaps the most cultured
singer In western Missouri. Mrs. Boulware,
the queen Of the fairies, Is to continue to