National Republican., 1883-06-07
NrorrNT VERNON SEMINARY.

The handsome parlors of Mount vernon
seminary were filed last evening with an
interested and elegant assembly, tire occasion
being the commencement exercises of the
seminary. Among the guests present were
Rev. DIR. Bartlett, Secretary aud Mrs. Teller,
whose daughter is student in the seminary
Mrs. DIR. Prentiss, Bishop and Mrs. Andrews,
Senator j. II. Morgan and daughters, Mr.. and
Mrs. W. AM.a Galt Miss Gresham, Hon. +.
9. Lacey, member of congress from Michigan;
Mrs. Temple Elliott, Springfield, Ill. Rev.
DIR. Ward, and many Others The diplomas
were delivered by Rev. DIR. Bartlett, who
made an address to the graduates.
The graduates were Mary Little Cammack;
Washington, ID. C Halle NJ. Elliott, Spring
field, ILL.,; Edith Foster, Madrid, Spain Mary
Jennings, Harrisburg, Pa; Mabel Jones,
Springfield, ILL.,. Florence Helen Nash, Ottawa,
Ill. The programme opened with chant and
prayer, and was as follows;
Piano solo--"The Trout. ....... Schubert Heller
Louise Prentiss
Soprano solo" sognai". ..schira
Helen Nelly
Essay" Undercurrents in English History"
Mary Jennings.
Vocal duet" In Luna Immobile ..........Boita
Misses Dewy and Gallup.
Essay-"The True Test of Civilization"
Edith Foster g
Halle Elliott.
Essay" Wanted A New Dictionary"
Florence II. Nash.
((d) ave Maria Bach -Gounod
Soprano SOLO () Greeting to the Woods"
Rose Heilman-with violin obligato, Prof Kaspar.
Essay" Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made or"
Halle NJ Elliott.
Ballad-Contralto-"Be Better Land. ...... .Cowan
Jennie Nisbet.
Piano solo-Rondo in L Flat. John Field
Frances Il. Scoville.
Essay" Glimpses Into Arts Wonderland"
Mabel Jones.
Soprano SOLO" ALA Stella Condidente ". Robaudi
/ IIala -Nuifh Win in iuntn Pm
Essay" Triumphal Arches"
Mary l.. Cammaok.
Letter duet" Marriage of Figaro ". Mozart
Misses Nelly and Heilmau.
The decorations were simple, but exceed
ingly artistic, consisting chiefly of feur dc
mosse, mountain ferns and laurel. At s
o'clock the graduates, preceded by their prin-
cipal, Mrs. j. Eddy Somers, entered the room.
| Their costumes were very beautiful, there
being in them just enough departure from
the dress of the school girl to suggest that
the wearers had intelligently defined some of
the phases of the widened social life into
which their commencement would usher
them. The essays were able and were writ
ten in a pleasant, familiar strain each indi-
Gated faithful study, and resulting, thought
| full and earnest view of life and its relations.
Miss Jennings's Undercurrents in English
History" contained clear and log
ical account of the successive causes
which have compelled the English sovereigns
into the adoption of liberal policy. Miss
| Edith Fosters essay was not read, Miss Foster
having left America in May with her father,
| United States minister to Spain. In WANTED
New Dictionary" Miss Nash piquantly
treated Of such terms as dude, chic pschutt,
bastonquiere, and the like But, in spite of
much genealogical cropping the fair reader
seemed able to establish neither for herself
nor her hearers any satisfactory conclusion
about the names Of these new social phe-
nomena. Miss Elliott's essay dealt with sug-
gestive subjects. Miss Jones's Glimpses into
Arts Wonderland" was a pictorial resume of
the work of the art class in ancient and
medieval art. "Miss Cammack's "Trium-
phal Arches" eptomized human deeds of
glory, and was evidently the work of clear
| thinking earnest minded student.
The musical part of the programme de.
served high encomium. The finished play
ing of Miss Louise Prentiss and Miss Scoville,
and the smooth and exquisitely modulated
notes of the singers were alike creditable to
performers and instructors. Their intonation
was clear, each note full and round, and the
enunciation richly distinct. There was no
imperfect breathing, nor rasping breaks
which one is accustomed to hear among young
pupils.
The literary exercises were followed by an
enjoyable reception. Refreshments were
served in tho dining room and library, ard
on the veranda. The richness and beauty
Of masses of flowers in this part of the house
formed delightful accessory to the varied
menu Throughout the evening there was
observable in the department Of all the young
ladies charming blending of girlish fresh
ness and naturalness, with the easy manners
and graceful courtesy of young ladies ac-
customed to the best social usages.