The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-03
St. Francis School.

uiier charge OF The Sisters OF st. Joseph,
, Was held at the school house on Thursday
: last, in the pres nee Of large and most re-
), spectful audience. composed not Only OF the
;, patrons OF the school, bnt there were pres
q ent official digntares of the city, rep
:. rescntatves OF The nress, the clergy and the
i musical element, besides many Indies and
gentlemen OF the city. Though occupying but
:, two hours, the exercises were conducted
:, with so much method and regularity that
;, they furnished complete and satisfactory
o exposition OF the management, the progress
and the objects OF this institution.
That the future Of the school is assured,
was the unanimous verdict of the crowd as
it dispersed.
The musical portion of the programme
was conducted under the auspices OF Miss
Amaie Dreyspring, the teacher OF music at
the Convent. 1t was opened by an lnspir-
ing march, to which the pupilsGled in in per-
feet time and order. The young ladies en-
tered first, forming an exquisite picture in
their dress of spotless white, baftting the
glowing youth and beauty OF the wearers.
The musical selections which followed, and
which were rendered almost exclusively by
beginners in the art, were remarkable for
the clearness of their execution and the per-
lection of time and movement, evincing not
only extraordinary skill and patience on the
part OF the teacher, but in many cases I'M
usual musical talent on the part of the pu-
pills, the natural heritage OF the daughters
Of Erin, who have been famous in song and |
story from the days of St Columbkill down.
ward. We mention in special praise, where !
all did so well, the names of Rose Kinney,
Anna Mahoney and Mollie Burke, for decid.
ed progress in instrumental music. Miss
Nora Fitzgerald also gave evidence both OF
diligence and talent. Several fine vocal mel
odies were given, among them the grand
Latin hymn, "Quid retribuam," solo and
chorus, the solo rendered by Miss Ella Lee,
in voice of wonderful sweetness and flexi-
blity. The calisthenic songs, 'Raise your
hands, - and "The Clock" by the class of
| little girls. was charming exhibition OF
childlke grace, as well as OF careful musical
culture. The junior class of boys gave sew
eral pieces of the same character, with
equal enthusiasm and correctness. A laugh
able comic song by Master Grove, other
wise "Medicine jack eonyulsed the au-
dience and was veaemen ly encored. The
musical exercises were interspersed by the !
award of premiums, medals and the various j
degrees CT honor conferred, list of which :
we publish. The highest honor, consisting I
OF handsome gold medal for general ex-
cellence of scholarship and diligence, was re-
ceiyed by Miss Fannie Dinneen. A similar
medal was given to Miss Mary Sullivan. AS
will be seer by reference to the list, several !
other contestants for these distinctions were
equally successful in their efforts, but as j
only one member of each class could receive
the medal, it was drawn for and fairly .
allotted to the young ladies named.
After the award of premiums was ended,
Rev. Father McVery delivered brief ad-
dress of thanks to the audience for their
manifest interest, and OF warm commenda- n
ton to the Sisters for the success of their T.
untring efforts during the first year of their
sojourn among us. He paid vel. deserved .
compliments TO the mental and moral i'm
provement OF the children of the parish,
under the gentle and beEeficent rule of the P
Sisters. This fact has been patent to
all that the school has been an element of W
culture in our midst, and that it is accom- :"
plishing its mission in manner thoroughly al
to all but the most prejudiced Il
fanatics is an indsputable fact also. Our n
Catholic population is composed for the
most part of men OF sterling worth and the o. o.
highest sense of social honor and dignity, m
and that their sons aud daughters should be R
carefully reared in the tenets of their hered- M
tary faith, as we'll as In the social and intel wi
ectual graces, is a matter Of vital impor- "a
.ance to them.
After the formal closing of the commence a.
nent exercises, and the announcement that lel
he school would reopen on the first Mon on
lay in September, the visitors were invited M
% inspect the various specimens of orna- al
nental work displayed in the upper school of
DOM. Among these were some beautifully 9
Executed maps. and some specimens of pen
Ill drawing which showed remarkable care
md talent. Conspicuous among these was
he worl, Of Misses E LA Lee, Mary Sullivan, ly
lary Forbes, Anna Mahoney and Maggie S mI
lConnell. Specimens OF delicate fancy CO.
york in embroidery, tapestry &C., showed tra
ha: the good Sisters do not forget to incul- Tel
ate the religion OF the beautiful. Last, but 81 ],
lot least, lying among these dainty devices
# feminine ingenuity, was bona flde hand wa
nade shirt, every separate stitch set by the CO..
Industrious fingers of a little curly-haired vi, WI
Colleen, whose mschievous eyes cleaned
With true Irish fun and humor as she heard ST
he enthusiastic praises lavished upon her
YORK. Hiss Mamie Wnoaley, dot of eight
ears old, il the fair artistic who modelled
his necessary adjunct Of nineteenth centu. FIG
y civilization. We could enumerate many 49,
Their creditable specimens OF work in diff. Coz
,rent departments of the school but for R Rn
amt of time and space. We cannot say too Bal
luch in praise Of the dignified, respectful &
nd polite behaviour of even the youngest Eta Eta
the pupils, duriag the entire time occu- Lar
led by the distribution. Es
The prizes, which consisted for the most Cor
art of handsomely bound books, &c.. were s 3u
by Father McKeefry to the fol. !"
wing ,,
The following named pupils won the gold media n No
excellence on Christian Doctrines" Misses MAY W.
orbes, Mary Sullivan, Maggie oConne!l, A. Ma W.
,ney and Fannie Dinneen and Master Mike Xvii. wv
m By a fair drawing Miss Fannie Dnneen re-
lived the medal, and premiums of excellence were r
yarded the others. LIST Premum-Mary Nunan | Ri
nnie Koran, Nora Fitzgerald Katie Beck Katie thr
ns1i II, aso2o Alioy gnu d,ll OioWe: wee
y, Eva Kinney, Matty Beck and Ella Moran lst C. 3
'emium-LiZZie Murry and Mary Shea ms
Boys Department. End ClaSS-Premiums of excel nnr
nce George Hilbert and Edward McAleer lst tot,
.emiums-John McMahan and Thomas Burke son son
Bird Cgass-1st premium, Mollie Burke Ella Fitz- Of
raid raid Mary Whoey Maggie Fallon Maggie quo
lor Iti hl,y hgitley Mdry lyman. Cora Maho- sell
81, lung ID " OonneIt anu Maiy MASH. sol(
I'm Iyons, Harry McAleer, Paul Donovan and im nj
nt ~ ~ GOnHels 1nu pIemum-fatrlck Collins, $40
III Li9uniiali, IdtIlck fItZgeTald J0hn Dono- P
r. n YIN ;hnigtey John Faon, Patrick oConnor low
lomaS CrOghan and VIM Mahoney ana
LIST CAUSE.-THE gold medal for general excellence COW
Is earned by Misses Mary Sullivan and Mary Nj wee
n and bestowed by lot upon Miss Mary Sullivan. O: t
premium of excellence in grammar. rhetoric s,
imposition, history philosophy practical and in Der