Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-06-09
HARDIN COLLEGE.
The Vassar of the West"
A GRAND GALA WEEK FOR MEXICO
The Closing Exercises Better Than Ever
and all That Gould be Wished BY
the Most Exacting.

commencement week at Hardin
College is always a gala week for
Mexico. We are very sorry we have
not the room to report the exercises
IN full, but will have to be brief.
The past term has been a marked
one. The school is in a tlourishing
concltlon In every sense of the word.
and the teachers are each one lust
what they should he. The examina-
lions give visitors achance to appre-
clate how well the scholars are drilled,
and we were glad to see so many of
our citizens present at the exercises.
Visitors encourage both teacher and
pupil, and when a school meets with
the encouragement of the citizens of
a town, it is bound to succeed.
Hardin College is, and always will
be, the pride of Mexico, and a living
monument to its founder and name
sake, ex-Gov. Charles II. Hardin,
the best Governor Missouri ever had.
Looking at the College from a purely
business standpoint, it is a big thing
for Mexico. 1t leaves each session
not less than $4,000 here dresses,
bonnets and ''toggery'' of all kinds,
besides their food is paid for at this
place. While this is no small item,
it is the least of its benefits to our
city.
CLOSING EXERCISES.
Rev. NJ. j. Breaker, of Fayette.
preached the baccalaurate sermon
last Sunday. His subject was 1.-The
Adoption of the Gospel of Christ to
the Youthful Mind" He was greet.
ed with a full house, and made a last
ing impression upon his audience.
The annual address was delivered
to the graduating class by Hon. D..
Clinton Allen on Monday night. His
subject was ''Reading, and How to
Read Mr.. Allen is from Liberty,
Clay county, Mo-, and was a candi-
date for congress against Col. Crisp.
He is not only an eloquent talker,
but one of the finest thinkers of the
age. His address was the most ex-
haustive, the most literary ever de-
livered in Mexico. 1t was replete
with gems of thought, and bristled
with living ideas, which should never
be forgotten. We don't know wien
we ever found an audience better
pleased with an evenings entertain
ment than were Mr.. Aliens hearers
with his address.
Tuesday afternoon the Belle True
Society had a prize reading, which
:. was a very pleasant entertainment.
1t was surprising how we'll the little
girls, without a single exception,
read, rejecting great credit on their
teacher, Miss Clark. The following
girls read for the prize: Bessie
Lakeland, Matte Armstead, Fannie
Gentry, Virgie Hart, Pearl Tucker,
Annie Rixey, Ida West, Lizzie
Brooks, Jessie Baird, Edna Baird,
Lulu Gentry, Ida Menefee and Ella
Roberts. The committee on awards
were Profs. Spencer and Gass, and
Revs. Maple and Headington. The
committee were divided, two being
for Miss Lizzie Brooks, and two for
Miss Ella Roberts. James Davis
was called in, and voted for Miss
Ella Roberts. This will be the first
intimation the girls have had
as to who was the winner. The
awards will be announced tonight
from the rostrum, where the prize
will be presented. We hate to disclose
a secret, but ''news is news, you
know
The reunion of the alumnae Tues
day evening was, as usual, one of the
leading pleasant features of COM
mencement week. The guests, young
and old, enjoyed themselves as they
do only under the most favorable
circumstances. The supper was mag
%nificent, and all left proof of that.
After the ''feast of soul,' we had
"fow of reason" in the way of toasts
appropriate to the occasion, and
very neatly delivered. Miss Clark
delivered the address of welcome to
the class of 1880. 1t was a perfect
little gem of literature. A toast to
the new class was responded to by
} Miss Bennett. Ex.-Gov. Hardin re-
Piled in a most appropriate and
impressive little speech to a toast
D to the board. A toast to the broth
: ers-in-law of the alumnae was not re-
piled to, no brother-in-law being
present. William Houston replied
n in a witty and neat little talk 10
, toast sssome other girls brother-in.
law" Mr.. H. T. Baird replied to 6
toast to the prosperity of the college
I 1t was both pointed, well-put and
: appropriate to the occasion. Dr.
{ Grasty answered a ''toast to the
alumnae." In the "wee sma' hours
the guests departed each and every
s one wishing the alumnae many happy
e reunions.
The junior contest "Wednesday V
ming proved very pleasant entertain
maent. The following we're the con
a testants: Maggie Bryan, Lee Walker
Lulu Laforce, Annie Spence, Utl
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