The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-11
Virginia Female Institute.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.

On Tuesday night and Wednesday morn
ing last, the final exercises of the session
Of l8S4-5 at the Virginia Female Insti-
tute took place in the chapel. The large
room was crowded to its utmost capacity,
Notwithstanding the counter attractions
at the Opera House and Institution.
Under the management of Mrs. Stuart,
this old and ever popular school seems to
have taken new hold upon public favor.
The session just closed has been one to
which it's friends can point with pride.
Every department. has been made to attain
as near perfection as can be, and the re-
suits in each have been more than crafty
ing. The school is a good one and each
session marks an advance.
On the Saturday preceding, the Art re-
ception occurred, and we venture to say
that no exhibition of schoolgirl work was
more creditable. Many of the pieces,
especially the crayons, were exquisite speci-
mems, and one could hardly believe them the
work of amateurs. Miss Little, the teacher,
is not only a finished artist, but possesses
in peculiar degree the faculty of in
structing. Some of the crayons so closely
resembled steel engravings that the casual
observer could scarcely be persuaded that
they had been executed with the pencil.
Among the most notable specimens of
portraits were those of Misses Gay Trout,
Glenn Atkinson, Ida Miller, Louise Trout.
and Ellen Stuart.
On Tuesday night, the annual musical
soiree was given under the direction of
Prof. Webb. 1t was an exhibition credi-
table alike to the skill of the insl ructor
and the talent of the pupils. The Insti-
tute has been exceedingly fortunate in Sc
curing the services of one SO thoroughly
qualified for the position as Prof. Webb.
He is not only a master of but an en-
thusiast in his profession, and Staunton
dates new era IN her musical career from
his arrival. The programme was splen-
didly executed throughout, and where all
did so well it would be inyidioHs to dis
tinguish by personal mention of the per-
formers.
Prizes and medals were awarded as follows,
manner imaginable:
PRIZES.
Greatest Improvement in Penmanship.-To
Miss Ellen Guigon, a handsome brass inkstand
and gold pen.
Greatest Improvement in Calisthenics.-Gay
Robinson, Jean Ingelow's Poems.
Greatest Improvement in ElocutiOn Carrie
Brooke, SCOTS Poems.
Greatest Improvement in Vocal Music.-May
p. Dame, Moore's Poems,
Excellence in Composition Bessie Hunton,
Shakespeare's complete works.
Excellence in Drawing.-Ada v. Miller, col
lection OF photographs of famous pictures.
Excellence in Painting-Miss Ellen ID. Stu
art, collection of photographs of famous pict-
ures.
MEDALS.
English Scholarship.-To Miss Jennie Evans,
of s. G.
Calisthenics Margaret L Davis, Miss.
Languages. Fanny G. Brewer, Md.
Mathematics. Belle Buford, Va.
Music.-Belle Buford, Va.
General ExceIlence-day pupils.-Maude
Cooke, Va. =.
General Excellence : boarders.-Flora =
Breuer, N. jersey.
Graduates In Instrumental Music.-Belle Ba-
ford. Va; Hessie Kyle, Va.
Graduates IL entire English Course--C. Blake
Watson, West Va.
Full Gyaduates.-Misses Jennie ,. Evans, >.
CT Fanny d. Fry. Ark; Bessie Hunton, Va''
Lucy 9. Kinney, Va.