Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-06-20
Augusta Male Academy.
CLOSING -sPEECHES-DECLA-
MATIONs--MUsIC-CH FULL OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BALL-sUP-
PER-DANCING,

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FULL OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BALL-suP-
PER-DANCING,
&C., &C., &C.
In a beautiful grove of stately oaks sur
rounded by well titled fields, green pas.
lures and waving yellow grain, near Fort
Defiance in this county, is situated a neat
but unpretentious brick building, known
all over Augusta and the adjoining coun-
ties as the Augusta Male Academy" 1t
would be difficult to find place better
calculated to WOO the FESTIVE mind of
youth from its natural waywardness and
gently incline it towards the acquisition
of knowledge than this spot. Here Mr.. C.
s. Roller, gentleman Of education and
varied attainanents has presided for the
last twelve years, with the exception of a
term when he represented his county in
the Virginia Legislature. The school I'M
der the wise management Of Professor
Roller. has grown in popularity and repu-
tatiOn until the number of lads aud young
men is inconveniently large for its walls,
and it is proposed to build an addition be-
| fore the fall session commences.
Wednesday evening the announcement
| of the
CLOSING EXERCISES
of this school attracted a large crowd to
the place and the historical Old Stone
Church in the same grove nearby was tax
ed to it's utmost capacity to accommodate
the pupils, their friends and the interested
spectators. The Bridgewater Cornet
Band in 'sfour in hand" was promptly
on the ground and their good music judi
ciously interspersed between the speeches
of the young gentlemen, added greatly to
the attractions Of the occasion. The stand
was handsomely decorated with flowers
and evergreens and upon the wall in the
rear was the classic motto ad ostra per
aspera in an evergreen semcircle. which
being fully translated means "You will
have rough time Of it reaching to the
stars"
After prayer by Elder James Gilkerson
and piece from the band, the Principal
and his boys settled down to work and for
two hours and half the audience was en-
tertained by declarations, poetical selec-
tions and original speeches from as hand
some and intelligent set of youths as it
has often been our lot to see. There were
twenty-four speeches in all. From the lit
tie orator, Jasper Crawford, about span
long who brought down the house with
his humorous recitation covering himself
with glory and flowers, to the we'll prepar-
cd and mature original addresses of young
gentlement just entering upon the arena
of busy fe it was all good.
Owing to the lateness of this report the
large number of speeches will prevent any
special notice Of each one. But it was re-
markable to see the self possession and
freedom from painful pauses and little EN-
barrassments so often seen on similar occa-
sions, and it was highly creditable to tho
instructor as we'll as the pupils that among
SO many there was not single failure and
so much real merit.
THE ORIGINAL ADDRESSES
were as follows. Nathan Parkins, Au-
gusta-subject- Excelsior; H M Fran
cisco, Bath-The land in which we were
dreaming; Frank Paxton, Bath-The
South; c D Gilkerson, Augusta-The
memory of our fathers; G Alexander,
Rockbridge eroes; w M Hamil-
ton, Bath-Literary fame; T Stuart Coy
ner, Augusta-The study of history; z E
Byrd, Bath-The progress of our country;
and D Curry, Augusta-Science the tu-
tor of art; the revealer of the mysteries of
nature. AL the young speakers displayed
knowledge Of history and science and an
beautiful, that showed there was nothing
superficial in their training. but that it is
Of the kind to make men out Of.
THE DISCLAIMERS
we're George A Revercomb, Bath-Sparta-
Gus to the Roman ENJOYS; NJ B Calwell,
White Sulphur-Apostroph to the sun,
and the following young gentlemen from
Augusta: B F straightforward to
Washing ton; Willie Crawford-Wa
address; E M Harnsberger-Ruinso of time;
West Stover-American history ] A
Harman-Science friendly to freedom;
W L MISUNDERSTANDING Willie
Hunter-A smack in school; Jasper Craw-
ford-My speech; W A Wllson--Cold
water; P e Beam-The responsibilities of
the republic; S F Wright-Marco Bozzaris;
S e Stover-The bible as clssic, and S FL
Parkins-The light brigade. In these de-
Carnations, gesturing, information and ex-
preston had been carefully studied and
were displayed with such success as to
elicit frequent rounds of applause. Mas
ters u II Bell and T M Parkins of Angus
ia, were also upon the programme, but
were prevented by sickness from partic-
patton in the exercises. Mr. B s Crawford
was announced as valedictorian and his
| indisposition was sincerely regretted by his
friends. He however carried off his share
of boquets which were lavishly bestowed
by fair hands upon the elated young ora
tors. At late hour the highly entertained
audience who were interested to the last,
were dismissed and with many expressions
of qualification and approval, repaired to
their several homes.
THE BALL
Last night the Commencement Ball"
was given to large party of select friends
in the pavilion at Fort Defiance, under
the special supervision of the following
committee of arrangements, Clifton E
Byrd, Hugh AZ Francisco, w M Hamilton
and Geo A Revercomb. BY O'Clock a
large number of young people assisted by
Mesdames E B Crawford, Roller and
Missls Annie W Crawford and Nellie M
Miller, from the neighborhood and quite a
number from Staunton were upon the
grounds which were gaily Illuminated with
Chinese lanterns and torch lights. The
string band from Mt Crawford furnished
music and the dance went merrily on far
into the small hours of the night. The
only interruption being the supper call to