Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-06-17
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FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE II, 1881.
Local
CLOSING OF THE SCHOOLS.


CLOSING OF THE SCHOOLS.
rvu1R1TION OF THE COLORED SCHOOLS
FRIDAY NIGHT-vIRGINIA FEMALE IN
sr1TurE-wEsLEYAN FEMALE INsTI-
TUTE.
&C., &C, sc.
The closing exercises Of the public
schools have this year attracted unusual
interest, this being the first time that
programme has been arranged especially
for the public. Thursday night as repor-
ted last week the white schools gave their
exhibition in the Opera House. FRIDAY
night was set apart for the colored schools
and that night the very large crowd that
packed the same building was an unusual
one in its make up.
Of the l 500 persons probably present, at
least two-thirds were colored, who being
the most interested spectators were as
signed to seats in the parquette and dress
circle while the whites without protest or
complaint went to the galleries which
were crowded The programme which
was most interesting one was as follows:
MUsIC-(coLoRED BAND.)
Welcome, Ida Steele and Maria Lee;
Spartacus to the Gladiators, Andrew Beck;
s'Not so easy to speak, Emmett Shelton;
A specimen of Apt Scholarship, Walton
Johnson and Laura Lee; Another specl-
men of Apt scholarship, Henry Trent and
Jas. Wood; "The Pocket" Elmer Camp
bell; The Union, (Webster) James Carter;
Discourse on boys, James Branson; Dia-
logue, (Birds) 10 Little Children; Run
ming for President, Emmett Moore; Dia-
logue, Mary Brown, Susie Early and Jas
Carter; Johnny Smoker, (song) 10 Little
Boys; Peaceable Secession. (Webster)
Walter Goodwin; Walpoles Assault on
Pitt, David Carter: Pitts Reply, Andrew
Beck; The Bachelor. Charley Carter;
Great Men. Great. Greater" Jas. Coop
er; How Speak Piece, Columbus Good
win; Webster's Mass. and S. c., Speech,
Ezra Williams; Lecture on Subjects of
Heads, Ed. Nelson; Patrick Henry, (be-
fore Va. Convention) James Beck; Comic
Debate, Andrew Beck and Ezra Williams;
The Great Arkansas Fight. James Beck.
announcement of Prizes.--Miss Alice
Wilson's class-Deportment, Mary Ad-
ans; Scholarship, Jas. Brown; Attendance,
| Henrietta Brown. Mrs. Ryan's class
| Scholarship, Matilda Johnson; Deport-
meut, Jennie Leach. Mrs. Smith 8 class
Rapid Improvement in scholarship, Ed
| ward Jefferson; General excellence and
punctual attendance, Mary Brown. Mr..
Mickelborough's class-Declamation, Co.
lumbus Goodwin; Scholarship and Deport-
ment, kate Washington and Eliza Win
ston. Miss Mitchell's class-Distinguish
ed in Scholarship, Andrew Beck, Eliza
Haines, Estelle Moore, Geo. Frame; Dis
| tinguished in Department, Andrew Beck,
Ezra Williams, Jennie Wood, Estelle
| Moore; DISTINGUISHED in Penmanship, Jas.
| Carter.
Throughout the exercises, the greatest
interest was manifested by every one and
the delight of the patrons Of the school
was no less marked than was the sympa-
thy and surprise of the white spectators.
1t was astonishing to see how we'll the lit
and the initiative talent of the race was
we'll illustrated to the great amusement of
the audience, while the oratorical genius
of some of the older pupils would have
done credit to any school.
Among these last, James Beck youth
of twenty, perhaps, elected many eompli-
ments. His representation of "Patrick
Henry before the Virginia Conventions
was excellent, his enunciaton clear, his
voice and manner good, and his gestures
graceful, but his caricature of the Great
Arkansas fight brought down the house.
The encore was so persistent he had to re-
peat. The song Johnny Smoker" by the
| little boys had to be repeated too before
the audience would be quiet. The comic
| debate on the old columbus and Wash
ington" question between Andrew Beck
and Ezra Williams was inimitable and dis
played superior mental training and self
command, while the "Bird talk" by ten
title children and "The Pocket episode,
by Elmer Campbell came in for their share
of complimentary notice. The general sat-
isfact1on with the whole enter tainment
was pronounced and in the compliments
that were INDUCED in the Superin tendent
and teachers came in for their full share.
| After the exercises had closed, Dr. Ham,
ilton, seeing Judge Shelley in the audience
invited him to make some remarks, and
the Judge responded with pleasant and
timely address in which he spoke of the
scene he had Just witnessed which had
struck the chords of his heart and every
heart that could be touched. The results
| of careful training and application had
! surprised and pleased him and he hoped
yet to see these people equal in intellectu =,
| al requirements to any Of US. Every where
| he went he found Virginia stood high On
account of her schools. In compliment
ing the pupils on their attachments he
| urged upon them to see that virtue grew
| with their knowledge. But, whatever
their station might be, duty we'll performed
was the true test of manhood. Pointing
to the side of the stand he said there j.
Joe Harrison, the best smith in the Val.
ley. If he hammers well his iron and
drives his nail truly, he glorifes his God
and does his duty as well as does the Pres :
ident of the United States In his high 20
sition.
Judge Sheffey, concluding, introduced
Rev. R. H. Porter of the colored Baptist
church, who made some very well-timed
and practical remarks in which he urged
upon his hearers the Importance of gain
ing knowledge and putting it to a proper
use and alluded to the oft repeated query
"What is to become of the nerrnes -, Ed