The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-14


gress. These began TO assemble in from
OF the Theatre before $3.50 o'clock, not
the exercise, were not
to commence before o'clock L. NJ.
and the further fact that the cloud,
were lowering and a down-pour o
rain at times was momentarily imminent
They waited on the outside while Mr.. Peay
and Mr.. Fox, with a number OF aids. were
busily engaged inside in arranging for the
exercises. All the wings on the stage were
taken down and placed against the walls
and the space thus acquired was filled
with benches, save small area just
in front OF the ioot-lights and imme.
diately parallel with the stage ends OF
the private boxes. In front Of the row.
Of benches three stands were placed, and
these were beautifully decorated with fora
designs OF varied description. The basket.
bouquet and the conventional circular one
with perforated scalloped paper edge
the loye-lorn swain is wont to
speak love to his sweetheart, were the
most numerous; but there were other de.
signs that were strIkingly pretty. consist.
ing OF hearts. h0rseshoeS, pyramids, and
columns. The fragrance Of these bursting
buds aud blooming flowers peryaded the
entire stage.
BY and by the doors were opened and
the crowd began to pour in, and in an in.
credibly short time the claim OF woman 70
championship IN the use OF the tongue was
made plainly manifest. An incessant rat
tling-reminding one Of the furious fall OF
hail-stones upon tin rOOi-commenced,
and was faithfully kept up until the exer-
ciSes began.
The right private box Ton the Seventh.
street side was reserved for the school
trustees-white and black-and here For.
roster and his wife (colored) and V. \.
Xavier white, Of the new School Board,
sat in state-witnesses OF the pretty
scene. The other members were not
present in the box, and Fayier soon
left il. The benches on the stage were oc.
cupied by the pupils Of the High School
but were insufficient to accommodate ALL
and the balance occupied the front row
orchestra chairs. The balance OF the or.
chestra seats were reserved for the teachers,
and the two front rows OF the dress circle
were reserved for members OF the Council
and their families. The galleries were
thrown open to invited guests. AuplC
accommodations were made for the report.
ers, who occupied q table on the stage neal
the prompter's stand.
The schoolgirls looked pretty enough &c
make everybody feel glad, and in almost
every instance wore white dresses and
fresh flowers.
The house was filled, every available bit
OF space being occupied. but, considering
II sounded little funny once
when a certain grade was missing, to beal
loud calls for the " Senior Bees" but it wa,
not long before the "bees" were founC
and cared for.
H0RATIUS AT THE BRIDGE.
Mr.. Fox, principal OF the High School
announced the commencement of the exer
cises, and begged the patient attention o.
the audience. He introduced Miss Carrie
Suause, a pretty brunette, with clear voice
who read remarkably well the selection
" Horatius at the Bridge" In gesture
tone, and manner the Young lady acquitted
herself with great credit, and at the con
clusion OF the recitation was loudly ap
plauded, while the band played braycly :
selection from the opera Mascotte.
MARCHING TO MOSCOW.
Miss Fannie c. Ragland next read the
selection. - Napoleon's March 20 Moscow -
Although little agitated at first (and the
fact is. the strongest man i'm Richmond
would have tTembled more in the face oi
such an immense crowd, Miss RaglanC
fairly divided the houors with Miss Strause
Mr.. Fox respectfully asked the audience tC
abstain from applause, but notwthstand
ing this, the appearance OF Miss Ragland
was the signal for the stamping Of feet and
Of hands, which was repeated al
the close OF the reading.
MIR. MEREDITH's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Fox introduced Mr.. Wyndbam
Meredith as the orator OF the evening,
The young gentleman commenced with 4
pleasant reference to the surroundings and
the occasion, and then continued in a re-
appropriate manner to speak OF
the noble aspirations and lofty dreams OF
youth. He hoped that these dreams would
he realized, and that the youths Of the pre-
sent day would eventually restore Virginia
TO the front rank Of education and pros
perity. He said the first thing TO do was to
see what field we could be most useful in,
and then energetically and thOughtfully and
20 TO work. The author OF
the "Fool's ErTand" had said that the
people OF the South were born leaders, and
il was Nirginian who had said that he
death to tyranny. Mr.. Meredith
referred eOquently to the lllustriOus dead
OF Virginia, but remarked that the pros
perity of our foreiathors made them insen.
sible to the natural advantages Of Virginia,
but now the troubles OF war had caused
our attention 10 be directed to the mex
haustible resources Of our soil and mines.
NIr. Meredith's alluslons to these facts were
couched in terms of unmislakable elo-
ouence, and displayed both learning, fine
taste, and good judgment.
His remarks were frequently loudly ap.
and desevedly so. His closing
words. in which he advised labor in the
fields OF literature, were very interesting
and exceedingly applicable.
DELIVERY OF PEABODY MEDALS.
Mr.. II. NJ. Smith, Jr., delivered the Pea.
body medals Mr.. Fox explained the man
ner in which the trustees OF the Peabody
Fund determined to award medals. He
aid that the bronze medals were awarded
for scholarship, neatness, and department.
Resides the usual bronze medals, the
trustees of the Peabody Fund had deter.
mined TO award silver medal, which
would be given to such pupil as indicated
bv department, character, and educational
riffs a fitness for teaching. These medals
were only given to normal schools, but as
there l. no noimal school in the public
school system OF Virginia, DR.. Curry, gen.
eral AGENT OF the Peabody Fund, had con-
sented TO award a silver medal to the Rich
mond High School, as many OF its grad
rates had become teachers. Ii is the first
one ever awarded in Virginia, and on this
occasion. after careful examination. it was
piven TO Miss Mary A. Apperson, who gave
4 written obligation to act as teacher II ever
an opportunity offered.
Those who received bronze medals were
Misses Eliza Neale, Senior b; Sarah