Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-06-07
ORAL EXAMINATIONS AT THE BAP,
TIST FEMALE COLLEGE, MAY
90 AND 80.

Last Thursday and Friday were occupied
at the Baptist Female College with the oral
examinations Of the various classes, inter-
spersed with vocal and instrumental music
recitations by the pupils, of u most enjoy
able character. 1t was our privilege and
pleasure to attend these most entertaining
exercises. A prominent feature of the occa-
sion was the examination in the bible, OF a
number of classes. Prof. Lanneau called the
senior class, seven sweet young girls,
"Standing with reluctant feet,
Where the brook and river meet"
With well selected questions he led them
rapidly over the most important points of the
inspired work, from creations dawn to the
prompt and intelligent, showing how well
they had been taught. Mrs. Austin, Miss
Towles, Miss Hardwicke and Miss Anderson,
also examined classes in various portions Of
the bible, and their pupils were all ready with
their answers, repeating some of the most
beautiful Of the psalms and other portions Of
scripture.
Friday afternoon the pupils of the primary
department closed the bible examinations to
the interest Of all present. Filled with the
importance of the moment, the little people
tripped upon the platform in their pretty
dresses and fiuttering ribbons, and took their
seats. Miss Davis, their teacher, began with
the ten commandments, which they repeated
with wonderful exsctness. The "Song OF
Moses" was also given, aud the names Of the
books of the old and new testament in order,
with some quantity told bits of bible history.
All present felt q regret when the tap of the
bell announced the hour had passed, and =
murmer "well done, very we'll done" ran
through the company as the children made
room for another class. Miss Davis possesses
rare ability for laying educational foundation
stones. She wins the hearts, while she leads
the minds of her little band, aud she entirely
discards and %renounces the popular idea
among the primary teachers Of this latter half
of the nineteenth century, that pspas and
mamss must lay aside the newspaper and in
teresting periodical and spend their evenings
in drilling children in the multiplication
table, rudimentary geography, and putting
the silent his os WIS Of spelling lessons in
sleepy little heads. Miss Davis says that il
the teachers work.
Thursday morning Miss Towles examined
a class in astronomy. In addition to the pre-
scribed text book, she has, during the year,
culled lessons from scientific articles in the
leading journals and various works on astron-
omy making the study more of a pleasure than
= task to her scholars, and the rapidity with
which they wrote the formulas for recitation
on the several black boards ranged round the
room, and the intelligent, bright manner
with which they told US of eclipses, planets,
meteors, consultations, Of that mysterious
pathway in the heavens, the "Milky Way"
gave ancient and modern astronomical opin-
ions, &C., told us how we'll they lhad profited
by such instruction.
Mrs. Austin was examining q class in his
tory when we entered Friday morning. A
few mOments attention told US that the exam
ination was confined to English history. BY
skillful questions the class was led rapidly
through Danish, Saxon and Norman con-
quest. The long line of Plantagenet kings
was given IN succession. The wars of the
Roses fought, Richard III. laid in CHASTITY
death on Bosworth field; the Tudors seated
on the throne, Henry VIII and his six wives,
the bloody days of Queen Mary and the
golden days of Queen Bess" and the sad
story of Mary of Scotland told. and just as
the stuarts were e%nthroned the bell rang land
we were sorry Mrs. Austin could not take
her class to the Victorian period. The young
ladies have their minds well trained for APP
probation of many rare books, That a thor.
ough knowledge of English history alone car
k e.entirely interesting, thanks to their &C.
cOmplished teacher.
Miss Hardwick entertained us very de.
lightfully for half an hour with a class tina
had made q study of the life of Longfellow
aud especially of his beautiful poem Evange.
line; and Miss Towles gave US an equally
pleasant entertainment when she examined
the senior CLASS on the lite anu plays o
shakespeare. 1t Is S most commendable fea.
ture in the system Of Prof. Lanneau's cours,
of instruction that the youthful mind is thu
trained for q thorough appreciation of oul
hest authors. The Baptist Female Colleg,
was never more lourishing than during til,
school year just closing. Its patrons one ant
all express themselves as highly gratifie,
with the progress their children have mad
under the instruction of Prof. Lanneau an,
his corps of accomplished teachers.
PATRON.