Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-06-24

FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE "a. 1881
Local.
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Commencement Exercises of st. Francis
School.
The commencement exercises OF st.
Francis School yesterday, drew a large
crowd to the handsome buildings on Au-
gusta street, and the entertainment furn-
ished was highly interesting. The school
room was decorated with State and Ma
tional flags and the green silk banner OF
the s'Hibernians'' and other decorations
looking quite pretty.
At 10 A. M. precisely, the pupils march
ed in to the music of the Entrance
march, " played by Miss Margaret Taylor.
Their number this session has reached one
hundred, and as the classes filed past the
stand in couples, they bowed to Fathers
McVerry and O'Ferrall, who smiled ap-
provingly upon them.
The distribution of medals and prizes
was then commenced, and though the re-
ception of each one was surprise, the
good behavior of the recipients as well as
of the disappointed contestants, was most
noticeable.
The distribution of the honors was in
terspersed with music, singing, declama-
tions and recitations and those perform
ances did great credit to the faithful eff
forts of the sisters in charge of the school
as well as the musical preceptress, Miss
Amalie Dreyspring, whose talent was re-
flected in not few of her apt pupils
Among these were two little girls, Mary
Wholey and Rose Hilbert, aged respective
~ ten and twelve years, who played a
waltz with such accuracy of time and exc
cution as to occasion general commenda-
ton. Master Richard Keeffe, who carried
off the declaimer's gold medal spoke the
"March of the deathless Dead" one of
Father Ryan's poems SO we'll as to elicit
loud applause from the audience.
A song, the bow and Arrow" by the
Babies-there were forty of the little tots,
and many of them as beautiful as Cupids-
brought down the house, and Excelsior, :"
the College song, by the boys, was hard to
beat. Miss Annie Mahoney, who has
completed the course, carried off a rich
gold medal, several prizes, and was also
presented with handsome copy of Burns
Poems, in the presentation of which Faith
or O'Ferrall took occasion to speak some
pleasant and timely words of commenda-
ton and good advice. The performance
of Miss Rose Kinney, one Of Jhe medal
lists, was exceedingly creditable, and the
sweetest little song of all was from little
Maria Meade, pretty child apparently
four or five years old, who sang and acted
"Catching Beau" with so much naiUete
as to elicit rounds of applause.
But we have not the space to give the
whole programme. All performed their
parts in a manner that must have afford
ed the indefatigable teachers heartfelt sat-
isfaction and given the patrons of the
school just pride in the evident progress
and attachments of their children. At the
close Father O'Ferrall distributed num-
Der Of pretty little books to all who has
not gotten prizes on their studies, saying
that they were for the good little boys who
had rather play than study. After which
Father McVerry introduced Father Han
ley of Richmond, who is in Staunton for
his health under the treatment Of DR.. Hal
Ter Henkle. Father H. made the closing
address to the school, paying a just CON-
pllment to the teachers and pupils and
- avoo11onf oduioo
The audience was then invited into the
adjoining rooms where were displayed
pretty collection of fine work-drawings,
maps, specimens of pennmanship and
other handiwork of the pupils. There was
every evidence of care and skill on the
part of teachers and scholars in this de.
partment also, and among those especially
remarked upon on account of the genius
displayed. or the youth Of the artists, were
q pretty pencil sketch by M. Walter,
child only nine years, a map OF South
America by Paul Donovan only ten years
old apparently correct in every particular,
and three fine pencil sketches by Miss
Annie Mahoney.
After admiring this work the audience
one by one dropped out we'll pleased with
the entertainment that had been prepared
for them.
THE HoNoRs.
The highest honor a gold medal and
crown was awarded to Miss Annie Maho-
ney for having passed through the several
classes of Christian doctrine, Rhetoric,
Grammar, Philosophy, Practical and In
tellectual Arithmetic and Algebra.
Coroaaation.-F Department and Reg
ular attendance honors were awarded to
the following pupils: 1st Honor-Mary
Quinlan, Ella Crane. Mary Rourke, Ann
Maloney, Mary Nash and A lice Keeffe;
I'd Hono1s-Misses Rose Kinney, Eliza
beth Wholey, Frances Dinneen, Mary
Knightly, Mary Wholey, Margaret Taylor
and Martha Beck. and to ''the best little
girl in the house, Miss Ellen Mary Noon.
Boys Experimentation Regular Atten-
dance-Masters Richard Keeffe, George
Hilbert, Paul Donovan, John Lyons, Ed.
Murray, John Fallon, VIM. Hounihan,
VIM. Walter. Ed. Mcmahon. John Ed.
Hounihan, Frank Fallon and Paul Plant.
The silver medal for "the best boy in
the school" was awarded to Edward Nc
Aleer.
BADGES of EGcelle1ace given to the most
successful in their respective classes were
awarded to Miss Anna Mallory and Miss