Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-04
April Fool at the Institution.

aplA WI Wv o3S A4AoeAsosA~A.
The LIST of April was an uneventful day
in town. The boys seemed to have lost
their cunning and the grown people to be
in no moou for joking. But the little COM
munity at the Institution enjoyed the day
in many hearty laughs at the expense Of
the victims of practical jokes.
A gentleman, one Of the instructors, re-
ceived a well gotten up bogus telegram
from lady friend asking him to meet he!
at the depot at O'Clock next morning
He receipted and paid for the message and
tho grumbling at the daylight walk, got
the Waterman to wake him at A. M.
Here however, his laziness backed by a
dawning suspicion of the sell, got the bet
ter of his galantry and he is nobly backed
down.
A lady, another teacher, was called into
the parlor to see friend she was ANXIOUS
ly expecting and rushing up to greet him,
encountered well gotten up straw man
and an explosion of laughter frr m the con-
cealed spectators. The blind boys too were
taken in by clever imitation of ginger
cakes. which some of the workmen got up
out of poplar blocks and sent around in
their baskets at 10 O'Clock lunch. Their
disappointment and grimaces. when they
stuck their teeth eargerly into the wooden
cakes, were highly entertaining to those
who were in the joke. Not even did the
dignifed Principal escape. He was
called for, to SEQ two gentlemen visitors
and advancing with his usual gravity, to
greet them, found himself confronted by
two we'll adjusted dummies. His blank
face and quiet reception of the strangers
was the signal for suppressed filters from
the halls,
THE Work ON THE CITY HALL.-The
carpenters WORT on the City Hall is pro-
crossing well, though somewhat impeded
by the illness of Mr.. MARI, the Coz ractor.
It will soon be ready for the seats and the
committee have before them number OF
sample chairs to select from, which seems
to be no easy task Some of them are very
neat and comfortable and it will take over
seven hundred to fill the lower p' IT Of tie
hall, while benches will be used in the gal.
lerieS.
The frescoing under the skilful hands of
the Richmond artist, Mr.. II. G. Wilkins,
is very pretty and tasteful, the main work
on the ceiling being nearly completed.
The style is French Renaissance. The
ceiling is laid off in sections Of circles,
with true circle in the centre. This is
filed in " 18th light cloud work, amongst
which, appear airy cupid like figures, sup i.
porting large wreath of flowers and ever
green's. Four medallions appear at
the angles Of the outer line en-
closing pictures rep esenting music
and in the eight PANELS formed on each
side of the four angles are groups of must
cal instruments of various kinds. There
is heavy cornice in bold relief around the
ceiling, presenting pretty contrast to
the bright painting of the ceiling. The
work being as yet in an unfinished state
does not admit of full description, and
the finishing touches will be slow and la
borious. But the artist, who works ste ad-
lily from six O'Clock till dark, expects IN
ten days or two weeks to get through. ..le,
the scaffolding come down and then a
satisfactory view ofhis operations can be
had. "i. f