The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-06-14
For The Commonwealth
CONlD1ENCENG ENT OF VINE
HILL ACADENlY.

HILL ACADEMY.
On Thursday and Friday evenings
June 9TH and sth, there was gathered i,
the building of the Female Academy, .,
unusually large and appreciative audieDc,
to witness the closing exercises of thi
time honored institution of learning.
For the past five months this academ,
has been under the supervision of Mr.. E
Z. billiard. late tutor At Wake Fores
College. The unparalleled excellence O
this exhibition over all preceding ones
must have been apparent, even to tn,
most casual observer. Mr.. Hilhard, Z
man of exceptional intellect, the very
best training, and having that happy fac
ulty, possessed by few, of imparting his
knowledge to the young, is such . man
as we have long felt the need of in thu
place. In every respect is he amply quail.
flied, and bids fair, ere long, to be 4
model teacher. One fact alone. that
should be sufficient recommendation fol
this man. is the rapidity with which he
has won the hearts of his pupils. They
vie with each other in pleasing and prais.
ing the good qualities of their teacher.
The citizens of Scotland Neck have by &C.
cident fallen upon prize. They should
be mindful of this, and exert themselves
to retain HIM in the school. 1t may be
we'll to state, just here, that Mr.. Hilliard
has recently received . fattering call to
another school. We must not allow so
valuable man to leave US. His place
can not be easily supplied. He has de-
cided upon teaching as his profession and
will, of course, thoroughly equip himself
for successfully pursuing the profession
Of his choice.
We must not lose sight of the good SER
vices Of that estimable gentlemen and
scholar, the Rev. MIR. c. W. Byrd. Mr..
billiard is to be congratulated upon hav-
ing such able assistance. The recent cleo
ton of Mr.. Byrd to chair in the Kentucky
Military College (which he has declined)
speaks more for him than any incomiums
we might offer
The Female academy, under the man
agement of Misses Lena H. Smith and
Eunice Mcdowell, and Mrs. j. A. Perry,
shows a corresponding Improvement.
Miss Lena Smith has had every opportu-
nifty of thorough preparation for teaching
A graduate at st. Mary's, three SEES
sions at the University Normal school
md one at Wilson, and being close STU
lent, she has but few equals as a teacher
or young ladies and girls. Miss Mellow
Ill and Mrs. Perry are both ladies of
splendid education, and also thoroughly
qualified for training young ladies.
The exercises of Thursday evening
we're opened by Welcome Chorus. The
'aluta1ory was delivered by Master
David Hoffman. The music of this even
ng deserves special notice. The pieces
we're all selected to suit the peculiar
Utilities of the several girls. How often
nd our hearts leap and bound for space
IS we listened to those soul-stirring
trains, whose melodies carried US far
way from our surroundings, and waited
IS INTO the lands of dreams and poetry.
Tow we are gliding in some fairy hall,
ripping lightly to the soft strains of
Fyman; now our souls are moved in
ity under the pathetic sounds of Magru-
er, again we are wandering in the
light watches with Clara Mayer, and drop,
length, into laughter beneath the sim
licity of Kinkel's Rosy Cheeks" nor
o we return until the curtains fall at the |
lose, after the beautiful chorus, Heard
e That Sound.''
The exercises of Friday evening were,
possible, even more entaining than
IAN those of the preceding evening. A
.ecitations and chorus from the Primary
lass started the ball. To note all the
peeches, and all the music, with any de-
rec Of justice would too greatly tax the
atience of kind readers. We will not
ass unnoticed some of the more import
ut declarations. The dialogue "Brutus
nd Cassius," was received with general
pplause. In this Messrs. C. Kitchin
nd l.. Dunn were SO happy in their man.
er OF rendering, that one could almost
nagine that he saw before him that
no5lest Roman as he parried with and
nally humbled the pride of the base
lssembler. The declarations of Mess.
. W. burlington, Claude Kitchln, j. L.
unn, Dr., A. L. burlington, and E. Il.
lggs were superior to any we have ever
stoned to in preparatory school.
These young men reflect infinite credit
pom their instructor, who has taken so
uch pains with them during the session.
The awarding of medals formed no in
gnificant feature of the commencement,
the Female Academy the following
'izes and medals were awarded The
Neal' English Medal, for excellence in
igher English, was awarded to Miss
'die Perry silver cup, to Miss Mary
often, for excellence in intermediate
ngllsh the Latin Prize, q copy OF Teny-
N, to Miss Mamie Perry: q gold pen
I'd staff, to Miss FANNIE Kitchin, for
'eatest improvement IN writing. Ihese
edals and prizes were all presented by
r. Hut ham in few very appropriate
marks, in which he stated that this was
. matter Of empty form, that the com