The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-30
School Commencements.


'sAbont this time, as the almanac maker
would say, look out for the first crop Of
school prodigies. 1t is about maturing now,
and its abundance is fearful. For the past
week or more the examinations at the pub
lie schools have been in progress and will
continue for several weeks longer. Every
morning the little shavers may be seen ar
rayed in holiday apparel and loaded down
with roses and wreaths and bouquets, wend-
ing their way to tho school house. The girls
generally have an extra ribbon around their
hair and sort of older sister supply OF
airs, whilst the boys are under the torture
of clean faces, and exhibit other signs OF the
martyrdom of examination. The effect is
also visible on the teachers. They seem to
have kind of far off enjoyment, as ii the
| pleasure of commencement exercises was
| more in anticipation that in the passing
ecstasy. You can notice that change has
TRANSFERRED during the day, and when at eve
| ming you see them marching homeward
laden with flo wers, there is an ''alnlsst
there" expression about them which leads
passing observer to believe that the chief
charm Of teaching crops out just about the
close of the commandments.
We have not had the time Eor courage to
to attend these exhibitions. It requires
more OF the vertebrate than was bestowed
upon US to calmly contemplate four weeks
attack of commencement. And then, after
the affections Of the day, to go ia silence
and secret at night, and manufacture IA
bes for the qualification OF the few and
condemnation of the one, is more than this
poor weak flesh and weaker human nature
can bear. In broken doses, school COM
mencements might be endured, and men
as three a week, but when they putt in a
steady stretch of three consecutive weeks
every day and almost every night, the slow
torture of the old thumbscrew and rack no
longer cxcites our horror, and by coLnpari-
son would scarcely claim notice. In Sltann-
ton there are about 20 public schools, four
large female Seminaries, one male high
school, some half dozen private schools, be-
sides che D. D. & B. Institution. In the
county there are about one hundred s, nd
fifty public schools, one female seminary at
Willow Spout, and number of priva tie
schools. The effect OF a lengthy report 'o1
the closing exercises of each Of these w0uN d
be worse than an epidemic, and the morta.A
ity assessments of mutual life insurance.
companies in this community, would bank.
rupt all who were not fortunate enough to
realize on their policy and find rest beneath
the daisies. Nothing in this wide world
would afford us more pleasure than to bring
the flush Of pride to the cheek Of every pa
rent in the town and county, by publishing
in display type, how his John Hen
ry was ce rtainly the most wonderfully re-
markable scholar, of the most accomplished,
erudite and extraordinary teacher, OF the
superlatively managed and altogether grand
department OF that magniiicently imposing
and inexpressbly sublime institution &C..
but then you know the VIRGNIAN goes
into almost every household, and if one
scholars name was omitted, or the adjec
tiyes had been exhausted before it was
reached, there would be anger and heart
burnings whilst on the other hand osend
each particular star off with long train o f
verbal brlliance would make the comet
business monotonous.
And so we have concluded to share both
our readers and ourselves this year, and ii
any desire an extended report we respect
fully refer them to last years files, where
by the mere substitution Of names and
dates they will find delightful columns de-
voted to the charming and altogether glori-
GUS beauties of the commencement season.