The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-19
Virginia Female Institute.

Virginia Female Institute.
The commencement exercises of Mr.. Phil
lips school were terminated by the Thurs
day Matinee, during which the honors OF tn e
Institute, consisting of medals, diplomas
and distinetions,,were awarded. The distri-
button was enlivened by some fine specl'
mems of music and exquisite musical NOR
ceaux. The "Rustic Courtships" reclted
by Miss Bessie Pinkard was laughable
comedy, we'll rendered. ''The blue and the
gray,'' by Miss Julia Tuck, displayed re-
markable powers OF e ocution in one SO
young; the gracefulness of her gestures ana
a most musical voice gave to the familiar
little poem its ideal Interpretation. IAN
order for PICTURE recited by Miss Emma
LeSassier, was most exquisite rend erlng
Of beautiful and pathetic poem. We have
referred to this young lady's talent for elo-
cution in her recitation of 'Athalie's
DREAM This simple and pathetic English
poem appealed to a different vein Of senti-
ment and showed that she had learned the
secrets of simple human emotion and could
portray them as we'll as the exalted enthu-
siasm of the inspired Jewess Of Racine
drama. That the musical selections were OF
the finest is but to say that they were gen.
orally of Prof. DeVallay's choice, and rem
dered by some Of his star pupils. Conspic-
uous among them was .''La Chaise," by Miss
l.. Opperman, s'Le Trot de Cavlarie," by Miss
E. Smith and Gle Morceau Pathetique,' y by
Miss Sallie Aylett. In awarding his musi-
cal medal (the only one given) to Miss Ida
Coughanour, Prof. DeVallay regretted that
he had not several others to bestow upon
those of his class whose merits and diligence
rendered them so nearly the equals Of the
medalist that he found it almost impossible
to discriminate. The compliments Of their
esteemed Professor were received as the
highest guerdon Of their labors By those
whom he had honored by such distinction
Among these were Miss Amalie DreysprIng,
who could not be contestant for the med
al, she not having been member OF the
school sufficient length Of time, Miss Gus
sic Weems and Miss Emma LeSassier.
There were three full graduates Of the In
stitute this year, Misses Bowen, Bryan and
Coughanour. A special honor and one most
highly appreciated was givenby Judge Sheffey
to Miss Emily Purnell, Of Mary land, for
her uniform devotion to her religious duties
and her reverent behaviour at Church.
In our report of Wednesday nights pro-
ceedings, we omitted, unintentionally, the
mention of Miss Bessie Murdoch's name
and her recitation, which was one of the
finest Of the evening. 1t was the scene from
George Elliot's Spanish Gypsey, where Fedal-
mas father recognizes her and startles her
with the story of her Gypsy origin. The strug-
ole between her passionate love for the proud
Spanish Duke, who has sought her hand in
marriage and her inherited fealty of race
and sense of filial duty was grandly por-
trayed in the recitation, and proved Miss
| Murdoch an amateur dramatist of unusual
| talent.
| In a few afftctionate aud fatherly words
of counsel to his pupils and of explanation
to the audience, the Principal closed the
| final exercises OF his school for this session
with the benedction and dismissed them to
their homes and their duties.
GOLD MEDALS AND STAR CLASS BADGES
were conferred upon the successful pupils in the
| various departments.
| Latin-Miss Nettie 3. qambril.
| Gern,on.-Miss Maria Faison.
| Ffench.-Miss Gustavia Weems, Genevieve
Elocution.-Misses s. Fannie Bryan, Helen
| Candy, Bessie Murdoch, Genevieve K. Perry.
| Physical Culture.-Misses Ida Coughanour,
| Pe5,rnansRip.-Misses Mamie Ayres, Anne E.
Elder, Bessie Murdoch, Laura Opperman, Bes-
| EnoIish Composition Annie Fallon,
Laura Opperman, Bessie Ridout,
| Biblical Literatlwe.-Miss Phillips's Glass
| Miss S. Glenn Atkinson. Miss Parran's Glass.
Neatness..Misses Genevieve Perry, Bessie
Diligence. saliie Aylett. Helen Candy,
man, Nellie Perry, Ruth Tuck. May Watson,
Department. Camilla Tugg1e, three
years residence, May Watson, two years resi-
ustc-Piano-Misses sallie 3. Aylett. Car
RE L. Fitzgerald, Mary B: Noble, Laura opper-
Wis Wilson. Julia Tuck, May Fridley. .' "''A
Organ.-Miss Bessie D. Ridout.
Tocal.-Miss Helen Candy.
| IIRLoNAS AEn STAR MEDALS,
% pupils School Of E,sgtish.-Misses 8. Glenn
amour Nettie B. Cambria, Alethea G. Hawkins,
Nettie Kinney, Laura Opperman, Nellie Il.
Perry, Evelyn Smith. Ruth Tuck, Camilla P.
Tuggle: ,,
| Misses Nellie May Bowen, MinnieL. Coughan-
our, Anne E. Elder Emma c. LIE Sassier, Gen
evine Perry, Minnie L. Turpin.
School Of Physical Science.-l4 pnplls.-Misses
| Nellie May Bowen, Bessie H. Bryan, Helen
Candy, Minnie L. Coughanour, Anne E. Elder,
Mary A. Kinney. Emma c. LIE Sassier, Blanche
Maddux, Mary B. Noble, Rachel Weems Dom
School Of History and Ltterasune-2l pupils
Misses S. Fannie Bryan, Carrie L. Fitzgerald.
Imogen Loyal, Emma c. Purnell Bessie d.
Ridout. Evelyn Smith, Minnie L. Turpin, Julia
School of Moral PHILOSOPHICAL pupils-Misses
Nellie May Bowen, Bessie II. Bryan, 8. Fannie
Bryan, Minnie L. Coughanour. Annie Fallon,
Mamie H. Phillips, Emma c. Purnell.
| DEFERRED HoNoRs.
S7S-Latin-Miss Emma Doggett.
Is Drd,Uing.-Miss Virginia K. Hoffman.
1S75.-Neatness-Miss Telie Willingham
1S78.-Musc.-Miss Mamie Graham.
lS7S.-Bibieal LiteratAre.- camilla Tuggle,
Piano.-Diploma and star.-Miss Ida M.
TFsaol--niploma and star.-Misses Bessie H.
Neatness.-Star.-MissN Nellie May Bowen.
Department and Dili0ence.-Miss Nellie May
Bowen.
FULL GRADUATES.
Misses Nellie May Bowen, Bessie H. Bryan,
Minnie L. Coughanour
: Public Schools.
!, No uniform system of awarding prize
was pursued in the public schools, and in