Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-06-17
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF THE VIRGINIA
FEMALE INSTITUTE.

of this Institution, was given in the
and consisted entirely of very
brilliant exercises in the Schools of Elocution
and Physical Culture. The celebrity of the two
ladies who preside over these two departments
Of the Institution, and their great success as
exhibited by their pupils, drew together avery
large and crowded audience, many being vlsl-
tors and parents from distant States The ex-
ercises in the school of Physical Culture were
most remarkable. The sections were led by
two of the smallest pupils in this school, who
conducted the large number of pupils on the
stage through the most mysterious and 1ntrl-
cate movements with precision puzzllng TO
the uninitiated. Many of the numerous series
seem designed to exercise every muscle In Inc
system, while others cultivate the gracefulness
and elegant bearing, for which this Institution
has been distinguished. We can now readily
see why the pupils look so healthy and happy,
the Inf1rmary of the establishment become
lmost useless department. We learn that
Aese exercises are part of the very success
sanitary arrangements of the Institution
a1efree of charge, and that pupils are required
toparticipate in these exercises daily, unless
REUSED by the Family Physicians.
In the School of Elocution, Miss Rachel
Weems of Maryland, recited with charming
effect-How Mrs. Tubbs took an Elevator
Miss Perry, of Florida, recited 1.-THE Lasl
Hymn" and most sweetly illustrated thai
grand old Hymn-"Rock of Ages"-with voice
and manner which deeply moved the audience
Miss LIE Sassier, of New Orleans, recited pean'
tiful extract from Racine, with genuine French
STYLE Miss Powell and Miss McCue, two very
young children, surprised us with an accurate
recitation in French; Miss Yost recited IN Ger
man, "Erlenknnig,'' with accuracy; MISS bry
an. of North Carolina, recited Toms Little
Star" with her usual fine success; Miss F'rld-
ley secured great applause by giving, with
wonderful naturalness, "a very naughty little
girls views of life;" Miss Bessie Bryan, of Ma
ryland, read an original French Essay, AND
thereby showed her claim to the Diploma and
Star Glass Honor conferred upon her on COM
mencement day.
The exhibition in the Schools of Instrumen'
tai and Vocal Music, and Elocution, took place
on Wednesday evening, the 18th. we may
simply say, in the School of Music, the pupils
underwent the severest test of their accurate
training, laborious study, and decided success
We have ever witnessed. The music was So
lected from the best masters of a high classic
order and the unusual number OF Solos ano
Duos, unsustained by an orchestra of Pianos
curacy of the young contestants in the science
and execution of these difficult compositions
We shall not attempt to describe the wonder
full execution, but simply say, that in the judg
ment of musicians unconnected with the In
stitution, the young performers were tested II
the severest manner, and reflected honor ant
credit upon Prot. De Vallay and his accom-
plished assistants in this Department.. Wher'
all acquitted themselves with such brill1an
success, it could not be expected thatwe shoul'
specify. Misses Aylett, Smith, Opperman, LIE
Sassler, Weems, Wilson, Dreyspring. Noble
and the younger Miss Coughanour, OF Texas
are certainly brilliant performers. Miss Cough
amour, if she perseveres, and seconds, with tn
application of the session just closed, her faith
full Professors efforts, will most assuredl,
make q star performer and very distinguish
reputation. She richly deserved the Diplom
and Star Badge Of the music class, while tn
others named, scarcely deserved less. Thei
success was SO marked, they can well afford t
rejoice that there was one in the class, their 81
perior.
The exercises in the School OF EIocution wer
remarkably successful. Miss Murdoch recite'
"The Spanish Gypsy" with decided dramatic
power. Miss Minnie Coughanour and Mis-
Candy recited from the Merchant OF Venice,
a scene which allowed them the opportunity t.
exhibit their familiarity with the Fundamental
rules of this Art. Miss Candy recited witt
great success. "Asleep at the Switch" Thes
Rotations reflect great credit upon Miss Bow
ers, who has had the class under her instrue
tions, only half session. We were pleased t
see that this Institution maintains its well
earned reputation for success in this beautifr
and valuable accom- lishment.
exercises were held, and the honors conferred
varied with Rotations and exhibitions Of su
perior musical attainment. Miss Pinekard re
cited Rustic Courtship;' Miss Julia Tucl
"The Blue and the Grey" with charming e
feet; Miss LIE Sassier, "Order for Picture,
and all maintained the reputation of this d.
partment. The Elocution classes exhibited tn
most satisfactory evidences of severe and sue
cessful training.
The music was of high order and a decide
success. We will venture to depart from OIL
purpose little to say. that we will predict fl
Miss Cambria and Miss Tuggle reputation
the vocal art, TO be attained only by rich an
flexible voices, with which Nature has r1chl
endowed them.
GOLD MEDALS AND STAR CLASS BADGES
were conferred upon the successful pupils in til
various departments.
Lcstin-Miss Nettie B. Gambril
GeTmdn.-MisS Maria FaiSon.
French.-Miss Gustavia Weems, Geneviev
Perry.
Eyocutton.-Misses S. Fannie Bryan, Hele
Candy, Bessie Murdoch, Genevieve X. Perry.
Physical Culture.-Misses Ida CoughanOu
Imogen Loyal, Bessie Pinckard, Ruth Tuck.
Pernaanship.-Misses Mamie Ayres, Anne I
Elder, Bessie Murdoch, Laura Opperinan, Bes
sic Pinckard.
English C0mposition.-Misses Annie Fallol
Laura Opperman, Bessie Ridout.
Biblical Literoture.-Miss Philipss Glass;
Miss S. Glenn Atkinson. Miss Parran's Clas
Miss Mary A: Kinney.
Observation-Disclosures Genevieve Perry, Bess
Pinckard, Minnie l.. Turpin.
Dhigence.-Misses Sallie Aylett, Helen Canb
Mary A. Kinney, Imogen Loyal, Laura Oppe
man, Nellie Perry, Ruth Tuck, May Watson
Deportment.-Misses Camilla Tuggle, thrt
years residence, May Watson, two years res
dence.
c-Piano.-Misses Sallie 3. Aylett, Cal
RE l.. Fitzgerald, Mary B. Noble, Laura OppeI
man, Evelyn Smith, Gustavia Weems, Julia l
Organ.-Miss Bessie D. Ridout.
Vocdt.-Miss Helen Candy.
DIPLOMAS AND STAR MEDALS.
26 pupilsISchool Of English.-Misses s. Glen
Atkinson, Nellie May Bowen Minnie L. Cough
amour, Nettie b. Gambrill, Alethea C. Hawkins
Nettie Kinney, Laura Opperman, Nellie f
Perry. Evelyn Smith. Ruth Tuck, Camilla I
School Of Mathematics. (Advanced)-9 pupils
Misses Nellie Ma May Bowen, MinnieL. Coughar
our, Auue Iluer, Emma y. LIE sSaSS1er, Ger
evine Perry, Minnie L. Turpin.
School of Physical Science.-4 puplls-Misse
Nellie May Bowen, Bessie H. Bryan, Hele
Candy, Minnie L. Coughanour Anne E. Elder
Mary A. Kinney, Emma c. lie Sasser Blanch
Maddux, Mary B. Noble, Rachel Weems, Dor
agile Yost.
School Of History and Luerat,re.-2l pupils
Misses 5. Fannie Bryan, Carrie l.. Fitzgeral,
Imogen Loyal, Emma c. Purnell, Bessie
Ridout, Evelyn Smith, Minnie L. Turpin, JUL
School Of Moral PHILOSOPHICAL pupils.-Misst
Nellie May Bowen, Bessie H. Bryan, S. Fanni
Bryan, Minnie L. Coughanour, Annie Fallon
Mamie ii. Phillips, Emma c. Purnell.
DEFERRED HoNoRs
1S75.-Latin.-Miss Emma Doggett.
d" Drdaoing.-Miss Virginia K Hoffman
1S75.-Nedtness-Miss Telie Willingham
l87S.-Music.-Miss Mamie Graham
167S.-BibIical Literature.-CamiIIa Tuggl,
Victoria Mallory.
Piaao.-Diploma and Star-AIiss Ida n
Coughanour.
FTench.-Diploma and Star.-Misses Bessie I
Bryan, Nettie w. Foster.
NeotneSs.-Star-Miss Nellie May Bowen
Department and DHigeRce.-Miss Nellie Ma
Bowen.
FULL GRADUATES.
Misses Nellie May Bowen, Bessie H. Bryan
Minnie L. Coughanour.
After referring to the Reforms in School E.
hihitiOnS which he bo1 Il I