The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-06-20
The Last Of the Commencements.

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CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE WESLEYAN
FEMALE INSTITUTE AND DEAF, DUMB
I & BLIND INSTITUTION.
Sunday morning last, the Annual Com
mencemcnt Sermon to the young ladies OF
the Wesleyan Female Institute was deliver
ed in the Methodist Church, by the Rev.
w. X. Boyle, of Alexandria, and at night
the Rev W. E. Edwards of Portsmouth,
preached the annual sermon before the
Young Ladies Christian Association, of the
Institute. Both were splendid discourses,
and were listened to by large audiences.
On Monday night the Annual Soiree was.
given i'll the church. Upon large platform
surrounding the pulpit the young ladies Of
the school were seated, arrayed in hand
some dresses and presenting most pleas
ing appearance. Notwithstanding the
rain. the church was crowded, both up
stairs and down, and although the pro-
gramme was along one and entirely must
cal. so we'll was it rendered, under the SUI
perintendence of Prof. Ide and Miss Daniel,
that not the slightest Impotence was mani
tested. and the closest attention was given.
The programme comprised fourteen vocal
and instrumental pieces, each Of which was
performed in manner highly creditabie to
both teacher and scholar.
The Final Celebration of Lee and jack
son Literary Society came of on Tuesday
night, opening with prayer. The
Salutatofy Essay on the part OF the Society
(which was read by Miss Carolee Menifee OF
Kansas, in clear and distinct voice, show
ed ca>. and thought in composition and
received ,e highest commentator from the
audience.
Society Essays were read by Misses Annie
Winter, OKLA, sMollie E. Smith, Of La,
Ella Allemong. of Virginia, and Lizzie Cal
loway, of Va. The reading Of the essays
was remarkably good and reflected credit
upon the well trained Evolutionary powers
of the young ladies'.
Gov. F. W. NJ. Holiday was introduced
to the audience by Rev. W. Al Harris, Pres
ident of the Institute, and delivered the an
nual address. He said he had listened with
great pleasure to the beautiful pictures OF
life as given in the well-timed Essays by She
young ladies, but he came as it were, to
break the spell, not rudely however, but in
kindness, and with profit,he hoped. to point
out to those who were just about to en-
them seemed all loneliness and beauty, the
dangers and rocks and quicksands that lay ali
along their pathway. He congratulated the
people of our city that our hills were crown
ed with such nurseries of virtue and learn
ing as were found in our Female Schools.
More useful in the general scope of life than
material prosperity, sending out an infiu-
ence for good all over the land and acting
in our own society as an element of purity
and strength.
In the complex organization OF society,
woman has her sphere, no less, nor less i'm
portant than that Of man. The great en-
quiry OF the occasion was, What is her
sphere? What is her work, and how shall
plishment of the great purpose of her exis-
tence? In the triple organism of Nature,
Physical, intellectual and Moral, woman
has all the essential elements, just as they
are found in man, differing, however, in quail
| ity and degree, as was designed by the crea-
| tor, for his glory and the good of our race.
In physique and intellect woman is, and
was designed to he the inferior Of man.
| She was not born with the strong frame,
| and massive intellect of man. Hers is the
delicate and fragile, linked with t:.e higher
| and ennobling qualities OF mind and heart
which tt her for her peculiar work. She
was not born to enter the rugged paths OF
| life, nor the foul arena of politics to contend
with man. Shall we find here no work for
her? Yes she has her work. She can be the
mother and the educator of the man of bust
ness and the politician, and the hallowed in
| fluence of a mother will go with the rough
rugged man, all along the pathway OF life,
giving to him whatever of kindlincss of feel
| ing, tenderness Of heart or kindness of dis
position he may exhibit in his intercourse
with his fellows. Women are strong, not
strong minded women, for they have no
place with man, and are rejected Of their
own sex, but in moral heroism, in high NOR
al culture, woman stands pre-eminent. This
is her high and p ocular sphere here s.her
great strength felt and recognized wherever
civilization and refined culture have gone
throughout the world.
Men have their relations to state and
church in the busy activities Of life. They
are the natural protectors OF woman, but
when fear and calan.ities come. when doubt
and dangers threaten, when the pathway
of life is darkened with failures and gloom,
then the proud. strong man turns to woman
for strength, and the gentle flower clings to
the sturdier plant, shielding from rude blasts
and giving cheer and comfort amid the rude
shocks OF lfc's battle.
The whole address was replte with apt
and beautiful illustra tions, and the minds
of the young ladies were directed to the
contemplation of the. nob]er and better part
of LIES work peculiarly theirs, and urged
to take as their high example, the
life of him who, as the embodiment OF the
| DiOducsC3 uODlcSb CuaTlUyt cNCI WCHL dUOut
doing good.
The many historic and poetic illusions
added richness and beauty to the theme,
while the Governor shove himself re,narka-
bly, acquainted with the text of scriptures and
that the holy principles there taught were
the guides of his life and to which he ear
| nestly recommended his hearers.
| The address was highly appreciated by
the large audience present as was mani
tested by frequent and continued applause.
At the close President Harris, in behalf of
the young ladies, presented the Governor
badge OF the Society, and Miss Ella Cor
ley, of Texas, presented large and hand
some bouquet. The attacks came fast and
thick but the Governor met them in his usu-
ally happy style and maintained his position
in the esteem and admiration of the beauti-
full hearers.
The exercises Of the evening closed with
well rendered trio by Misses Watts, Cas-
tleberry and Dice, and the audience was
dismissed with the benediction by the Rev.