The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-05-24
Augusta Female Seminary Com
mencement Exercises.

The much-lOOked-fOr annual Commence
ment exercises of this most deServedly
popular Institute came off in the public
hall Monday evening, May Dist, 1888 The
briefest possible glance ut these exercises
is all our time and space will admit OF.
On entering, it required no stretch OF I'M
agination to picture the actual fairy scene.
which lit up the seminary parlor on this
occasion.
The ascending tiers of school girls on
either side OF the orchestra, like rose buds
of varied hue studded in a huge bouquet,
seemed to perfume the air Ill around with
their fragrance. How the hearts of the
youthful elite Of Staunton aehed as they
stood before this mass of concentrated
beauty and intelligence, may be conceived
but will never be known.
The music Of the evening set TO all the
cadences Of sound by the finest composers
known to the art throughout the world,
would have been applauded in amateurs OF
far ripper age and far greater reputation.
We cannot for the want OF space give
the order Of the pieces as the programme
before us indicates, and where all did well,
we hesitate to say who did best. In the
rendition OF "a night in Granada by
Kreutzer, FOR six pianos and organ; of
''Marche Militaire'' by Schubert, for six
pianos of 'Finale7 from 9TH Symphony
by Beethoven, for six pianos and organ,
participated i'll by so many lovely con-
testants for fame, it is impossible to say
which one of the fair performers excelled,
but Prof. Hamer showed that no other
than a master musician. a competent
teacher and skilful artist. could have
trained those who performed without a
fault these exceedingly difficult passages.
The fine vocal solos, each so approximately
encored as olead toresponse, we're: "The
Signal Land, :" by Gumbert, Miss E. Mead
ors { Echo Song, by Eckert, Miss A. Hol-
lingsworth sWhen the leaves, y by White,
Miss J. Wins Sweetheart, ? by Willard.
Miss G. Snead and IL Estasi, by Arditi,
Miss r. Bowers. The vocal training of
these youthful choristers reflected as much
praise upon their instructress, NJ IS M. b.
Crawford, as did the instrumental training
of those who presided over the pianos
The highest honors of this justly cele-
DRAFTED school We're borne away by three
only of the students. Ia music, Miss
Jessie Cabell, of Virginia, and Miss Annie
McNutt. of Tennessee. In the literary
department, Miss Katie Mccall, of South
Carolina. All the inferior honors were
borne off by those hailing from the various
States represented i'll this school.
From the general report of the school
there were in attendance during the session
of 80 and 'S3, 200 pupils, Il maximum
number. and the session is classified as
| seminently prosperous. The highest graf
| ilicati6n to its accomplished principal, as
well as to its directory and management, is
expressed in the words of thereport. The
moral tone of the school, always high, has
been elevated by the gracious outpour-
ing OF the holy spirit of God.
N human calculation can say how much
Inns institution has done for the education
OF the daughters of om land. How much
ota'liltoh IS indebted tOitfor her prosperity
| Is Sltlnciehtly Known to arouse her citizens
| TO enlarge It's usefulness and extend its
fame. The benediction pronounced 10y
Rev. Mr.. Sullivan, the girls sprang like
birds from their bowers to conoratulate
each other, the boys in adoring wonder
stood spell-bound, the old sighed over ,lays
long since gone by, and amid this plorioi,s
meleeof earthly joys, Selling our hat and
shaking off the reverie of the.hour. we bio
adieu to one Of the brightest scenes of enl
life. &E