Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-30
ST. JOSEPH'S ACADEMY.
Commencement Exercises at wash.
1ngton.

| WASHINGTON, GA, June 28.-Editor Morntn,
Ne'cs: Knowing that many of Savannah's fai
daughters are attending school at st. Joseph
Academy, think it will be pleasure to thei
home friends to be informed, through the me
dunn of your valuable paper. Of the laudablt
manner in which they acquitted themselves a
the last public examination
| The exercises were conducted on three sue
cessive days, Wednesday evening, June q. be
ing devoted to the elementary classes. The
| little ones were examined in catechism. arith
metic, grammar, geography, United States
history, reading and photography. Thew
showed great proficiency in answering cues
| tions, and delighted all by the confidence and
| self-possession evinced in their respective ex.
aminations. Answers were given in clear. dis.
tinct tones, which testified that though they
were but little girls they had laid a goodIy
foundation of knowledge and thoroughly un.
derstood those portions of the text books as
signed for their grade.
On Thursday the junior preparatory and
first collegiate classes were examined AS
soon as visitors entered the school room our
admiration was warmly expressed at the
oeauuIui drawings adorning the blackboard.
After recitation in Bible history the class in
natural philosophy came forward, and the
utility of the illustrations was then manifested.
serving as they did to eIucidate the answers
rhetoric, United States history and algebra
followed. The juniors in geography showed
careful preparation, not only in recitation but
more especially in map drawing: within a few
minutes each pupil had a handsome map on
the board. They not only drew maps indi-
v1dually, but in concert, locating from memory
citles rivers, etc, with wonderful accuracy and
rapidity.
Next the botany class DISTINGUISHED tbeu.
selves by the ease and grace with which thew
covered the board with representations of
leaves. The pupils of this division received
great praise from their appreciative audience
The examination was conducted in a mastery
manner. and clearly proved that the Young Ia
dies had well availed themselves of the golden
opportunities Horded for acquiring solid and
refined education. AS the examinations con-
tinued, the interest of the public increased.
and on Friday a still larger audience CON
yened amongst, whom might be men
tinguished citizens of Washington. On that
day the Second and Third collegiate classes
the latter the graduating class-were exam
lned After recitation in church history, the
class IN geology was called, and by means of
blackboard illustrations and well expressed
answers ELECTED high encomiums from their
delighted guests. Then followed the two
classes in arithmetic; the EXAMPLES were se-
lected from text book unused in the school.
which, being written on cards and drawn from
a box placed in the hand of a gentleman nre-
sent, prevented any possibility of the pupils
performing set examples for examination dis
play. A class in higher botany was well pre.
pared TO define numerous technical terms TO
give practical knowledge learned from nature
ana analyzed MOWERS In the presence of the
spectators. The class in geometry gave evi-
dence OF great mathematical skill by their
readiness to demonstrate theorems and solve
difficult problems
The class in English literature was most en-
tertaining, and it is to be regretted that
although the graduates were prepared To an
swer questions throughout the book time ner-
mitted but brief recital. In trigonometrv.
tne young ladies' convinced the gentlemen
present that the feminine mind is fully cana
pie or studying understandingIy the higher
branches OF mathematics, and merit the praise
given Tor their readiness and skill in solving
and explaining problems. When we entered
the room rather pretentious table met our
gaze. On it were arrayed retorts, test-tubss
andThe paraphernalia incident to:the labora-
tory. Its use was now apparent when The
chemistry class presented Itself. The tabie
was moved before the young ladies, and each
and every one illustrated her answers They,
generated gases, and performed a variety Of
beautiful and interesting experiments This
was new feature in examinations in chemig-
try, and the young ladies deserve great credit
for their courage and ability to thus inalIglr-
r;1 rste so S INSTRUCTIVE phase of chemical analy
SIS The examinations closed by a contest in
the spelling OF geographical names The con-
test was so well and so long sustained that II
was deemed expedient to close it long before
the young ladies would have been vapduished
The exercises of the three days were agree
ably varied by music. recitations, ESSAYS and
selected readings l understand that the pu-
pills have received vocal lessons daily during
the past year, and the singing was Certainly
superior and gained them additional laureIs.
The evolutionary performances were well pre-
pared and given in style not usual to school
girls. On the whole the examination was the
success Of the season, and | can but add INV
applause to the commentators of the sur
pr1sed and delighted audience who waited to
congratulate the young ladies upon their bril- |
liant success. Where all showed evidence of |
diligent study and earnest application. It
would be unjust to signalize those who ex-
celed Suffice it to say that next year hone
more savannah friends will be present to wit |
ness the workings Of this thorough institution |
whose superiority is ably manifested bv the |
unrivalled examinations of its pupils
SPECTATOR.