The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-07-05
sykesviIIe Items.

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all day yesterday.
SykesviIIe Items.
The regular annual commencement of
Springfield Institute took place on Thursday
night, the 18th ult. The exercises were held
in the church. A stage was erected in front
of the pulpit, which was tastefully decorated.
VIM. p. Gorsuch, Jr., DIR. ID. B. Sprecher
and VIM. L. Polk, in full dress, acted as
ushers. Long before the programme was an
nounced the church was filled to overlooking
with the many friends and patrons of this
popular institution. The invocation was by
Rev. P. P. Flournoy, and the opening anthem
by the whole school, in excellent time. The
salutatory was admirably delivered by Miss
Lula Verney. An instrumental duet by
Misses Agnes Hewitt and Fannie Beach was
well rendered. "This Happy Day." happy
chorus by nine young ladies, followed; then a
charade by the inimitable small boys, which
was followed by a selection from Mozart, by
Miss Isabella Warfeld, artistically rendered.
''The Rehearsal" well-spoken dialogue by
five girls, followed; then the Sunshine and
RAIN" a song sweetly sung by the Misses
Nellie Flournoy and Lula Verney. A class
told "How the Water Comes Down at Le-
Dore;" then came well-performed instru-
mental solo by Miss Katie Kearney. "Para-
phrase from the Fourth Book of Eneid," by
Miss Lille Hewitt; then we'll performed in-
strumental duet by Miss Clara Gather and
Miss Beach. "The Spider and the Fly was
nicely sung by the little Misses Mamie Polk,
Libbie White and Emma Sommerville.
'Lynx Quickstep," fine instrumental solo,
was given by Miss Eunice Gather. The
''Pert Chicken" was then given by the pert
primary class; then the ''Whispering Winds"
solo by Miss Ella Schultz, followed by the
Malaria" well-acted dialogue by the
Misses Irene Buckingham, Agnes Hewitt and
Mamie Polk. Then came dialogue by
seven young ladies, and an instrumental solo
by Miss Maggie Bennett. "Caling Spade
Spade" by five girls and boys, was an ex-
cellently spoken dialogue. ''Put Your Shout
der to the Wheel was well sung by five girls
''The Study of Botany was made pleasant
by Miss Lula Verney and Miss Isabella War
field. Miss Mary Mcdonald then sung ''Af.
ter "The Three Warnings was well re-
cited by the second class in elocution. A
French dialogue was spoken by a class of
young ladies', and we suppose everyone pres
ent understood French, as all appeared to en-.
Joy it hugely. An instrumental duet, well
rendered by the Misses Ella Schultz and
Fannie Beach, closed the musical part. Miss
Annie Beach read the school journal, known
as the Springfield Echo,' which showed
that the school had plenty of good material
for witty newspaper Rev. 5. w. Beach
made few well-timed remarks and distrib-
uted the prizes, which, at the hour of mid
night, closed the exercises.
The gold medal was awarded to Miss Lille
Hewitt, who has been prominent pupil for
some time at this school, and well worthy the
reward. Miss Lula Verney and Miss Eunice
Gather were each awarded choice volume.
Miss Belle Warfeld and Miss Agnus Hewitt
were also rewarded for superior scholarship,
&c.
In the intermediate department Miss Nellie
Warfeld received the first premium; Miss
Ida Hewson received the second prize. In
the primary department, Master Robert Hew-
son carried off the first prize. Miss Ella
Schultz and Miss Katie Kearney were re-
warded for the greatest improvement in mu-
sic Miss Belle Warfeld and Miss Maggie
Bennett received worthy mention. Miss Mag
gle Bennett also received the gold pen for
the greatest improvement in penmanship.
The essays written for the prizes were sub
mitted to the Rev. J. r. gladden. for his de-
cison. We shall send them to the ADVOCATE,
as they are worthy of publication.
Rev. NJ. Ii. Houston, ID. D., lectured at
Springfield Presbyterian Church, last Sunday
morning, to a large audience, on China. The
address was instructive and entertaining. In
the evening he lectured on Woman and Her
Mission. The audience was not so large, yet
the subject was well handled. 1t was an APP
peal to woman to help her suffering sisters in
China. In closing the lecturer most eloquently
gave rapid review of the history of China.
Col. James G. Berret has taken up his per-
manent political residence in this district, and
will be found at home to his many friends in
his elegant new mansion near Freedom. His
family circle in his new home will be Mr..
John Berret, his brother; Mr.. and Mrs. Jas.
George, the latter being niece of the Colonel
and a daughter of our we'll known citizen, MIR.
j. Ii. Berret. On Saturday last, in company
with Capt John w. Bennett and Col. Simp-
son. we visited the Colonel and inspected the
improvements. The house is built in q grove
of fine forest trees near Freedom, in full view
of the Liberty road. 1t is a frame structure,
containing seventeen well ordered rooms.
The main building is so by so feet, two and
a half stories, with back building 80 feet.
There is wide continuous porch of lS2 feet,
which affords as fine promenade as the deck
of bay steamer. The main hall Is II feet
wide, with soapstone fireplace. The library
is on the left and parlor on the right, with
spacious dining room in the rear. The cham
bers on the second floor are admirably laid Oft
for convenience; and here, too, we found
fine portico. The outside is painted Quaker
drab, with dark red trimmings and green
shutters. The inside is done in imitation of
Mexican mahogany. The grounds will be
greatly improved during the summer and all
the necessary outbuildings completed. After
viewing the grounds and examining the con-
tents Of the sideboard, we were pleasantly en-
tertained by the Colonel, who first told us that
the name Of the tract of land on part of which
his house is built, and had been in the family
for two generations, was 'Never Die" This
name was given it by an old negro woman
who lived on the place when his ancestor pur-
chased it. He asked the old woman the
name of the farm. She answered: "Massa,
it has no name; call it never die, for no one
has ever died here And this, we are in
formed, was true, and we hope the name with
its pleasant associations and meaning will long
cnlig to it. The Colonel has named his new
home "Glen Marcy" in honor of his friend.
one of the greatest of American statesmen.
During the last forty years Col. Berret has
known and been associated with all the prom
inent men of the country, and his reminis-
cences are delightfully."- entertaining. He is
probably now one of the best known men OF
the day, and a true type OF the Maryland gen.
tleman.
Wheat harvest is over. Threshing will
commence next week.
If we had more space, we would like to
answer "Freedom Miscellany who in your
last issue went for us. We will do so later,
and when we are done with him he will be a
miscellaneous mass. For the present we will
let the ''Woodbine' Irvine around him.
wOOdbine Items.
Wheat harvest is at an end with prospect