Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-06-04
AUGUSTA FEMALE SEMINARY.

Again we find ourselves in the midst of COM
mencement festivities. and once more our city
among the hills" is enlivened by the presence
Of many anxious fathers and mothers who have
come from all parts of the land to participate IN
these neutrality-suspicious. to witness and re-
joice in the well-earned triumphs of their own
fair daughters.
A Commencement Is always an occasion OF in
| terest, and more especially are we prepared 10
| maintain the truth of this proposition against
all dubitants and disputants, as regards the an
| nual closing exercises of the Augusta Female
Seminary. We feel a sort of fatherly pride IN
| the lovely young maidens who form the cnle1
element of attraction in these bright scenes. for
many of them have grown up under our edl-
| torial eye, and have, by their successes from
year to year, in the various departments OF
literature, furnished US with many an interest
| ing ''item."
The annual sermon to the young ladies was
preached by the Rev. DR.. Witherspoon, of Pc
tersburg, on Sunday night in the First Presby-
terrain Church. To those who have ever heard
| DR.. Witherspoon, it would be needless to say
that the effort was fine one. The subject was
admirably selected and handled with mastery
skill-in way well calculated to gain the at
tention and win the hearts of his youthful
hearers. The music on this occasion was very
superior, and, as the choir was composed al
most entirely of the pupils of the Seminary. we
had fair opportunity ofjudging of the musical
| training which they there receive. We cannot
stop to speak particularly of all the heaven
born melodies that seemed to lift our souls a.
| bove the things of earth-"Come Holy Spirit"
Rock Of Ages" Jerusalem, my glorious
y
mention of Miss Crawford's solo so admirably
and feelingly rendered. Her voice, we think,
| never sounded better, and, with those who
know her, this is high praise.
But we must hasten on to the programme for
yesterday evening; and most charming and
recherche programme it is-one that does credit
to the taste and judgment Of the musical Direc-
tor, Prof. Koerber, and his accomplished col
leagues. We went at an early hour that we
might secure good seat, but we could not re-
sist the temptation to linger fora few moments
before entering the already crowded Hall ofthe
institution, to drink in the exceeding loveliness
of the scene around us. The breath Of June.
waiting the blossoms scent across the fresh,
green grass, the babbling fountains. the gentle
moving Of the evening wind among the aspens
grey, hetwitter Of the birds, the merry laugh
| boA Va UAIuC yOuuS near " uOdblAS Oub HUN
open easement on the summer air-all conspir-
ed to WOO usinto pleasing reverio, from which
the stirring strains of Singers March, the open
ing chorus, aroused US. What flood Of glorious
melody was this. Just think of it. Seventy or
eighty fresh, young voices. all attuned to per-
feet harmony, accompanied by an orchestra
consisting Of six pianos and two organs. Truly
this was a fine beginning. Next came the
Overture from Martha" on four pianos and
two organs and then that charming little can
tatrice'' Miss Florence Goyer, gave us only
One Kiss by Cell. Her voice is clear and
f1ute-like and her execution of the roulades and
trills, in which the piece abounds, was graceful
J and artistic.
The Overture from Tampa was rendered with
precision and skill creditable alike to the fail
performers and their accomplished teachers
and then followed the double chorus from
Auber's Masaniello, with It's touching solo
which finished part first Of the programme.
The second part opened with praise to God, ,
a semi-chorus composed by Prof Koerber, and
given in excellent styleby several of his pupils.
The Concert Overture" which is also one o.
Prof. Koerber's compositions, ELECTED loud ap-
plause from the music-loving portion of the
audience. After zone Word" q very pleasing
| vocal duet given in most pleasing style, we had
| the ALLEGRO Finale" from Beethoven's 9Th
symphony. In the rendition of this most diff
ficult composition, the young musicians ac-
Quilted themselves with great credit, and, as we
watched their dainty fingers flying over the
keys, we thought of the grand old Maestro
| who had left us such precious legacy Of har-
mony, and fancied, that even he would have
been pleased, could he have seen how graceful
ly and faithfully these irmaidens interpreted
his own musical thoughts.
The ATTRACTION" ofthe evening was, undoubt-
| eddy, 1.-THE Bells,' melodrame composed by
Prof Koerber. adapted to Poe's famous little
poem-'The Bells" 1t is one of the best de-
scriptive pieces we ever heard, and as the
/ Naturalization (which unsteady wells'
greeted our ears, we could almost fancy that We
were. in truth, listening to the :.sledges with
their bells" The tolling of the iron bells, and
the "shrieking" of the loud alarum bells, pre-
pared US to appreciate more fully the delicious
harmony of the mellow wedding bells" with
which the concert closed.
Truly, as we remarked in the beginning, a
Commencement at the Augusta Female Semi
nary is an occasion Of no ordinary interest.
Tonight the programme opens with the
beautiful choral song directing to Spring. fol-
lowed by a duet, 'Come to me-" by Misses ].
Junkin and J. Fletcher. The reports In the
various departments of the school Will then be
read and you will find out, who got the most
dement's and who got the fewest, who is the
tidiest GIRL who was the most perfect in hel
Rotations, and who attended to her duties
the most regularly, but you won't find out who
her sweetheart is even with the aid OF this re
port and all the others you have heard abou
her during the session. Even a newspaper re
1
men may as we'll give it up unless you are bolt
enough to ask the dear creatures themselve
aboutit.
e birds in night" solo, will be sung by tina
sweetest of singers Miss Jennie Baird, followed
by a trio, "Come Fairies" by Misses Nellie More
land, a. Junkin and B. Hopkins. Then come
the distribution of certificates of proficiency il
r the separate branches of study which is chief,
/ interesting to the recipients and their friends
Two solos will be sung, "ErnGni" by Miss Jen
ME Baird and the solo in the Semi-Chorus frop
: Rossini by Miss Ida Fletcher, before the mos
interesting event Of the evening, viz: the dis
tribution of prizes and the awarding of medal
and diplomas ofgraduation. 1t is then that tn
average school girl cannot restrain her emotion
and such Gcene Of sweet excitement as i
shown when the awards. which were befor
r unknown, are made, passes the imagination o
, an ordinary man, and is worth seeing once IL
, a life time We would fain give PEN picture
of it, but we fully realize the utter impossibilt,
T of such thing and moreover get so excited il
just even thinking oft, that we can only re
commend all to go and witness for tn emselve
l scene of excited loneliness and sympatheti,
rejoicing that will do your heart good.
The exercises will close with an address to thu
| bxyp Tlr e Dotor
burg, Va.
New, neat, hobby. and stylish-with Genera
Frosts celebrated double Attic Bohemian
Pump.