The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-18
Augusta Male Academy.

AUX ASU0 440l0 kACd0O1AJs
i The closing exercises Of this most de
servedly popular school, took place at tn
/! Academy, near Ft. Defiance, on Wednes
day evening, the 10th inst, by the annua
public celebration of the Jeffersonian Lit
erary Society, the award of a medal TO
scholarship, and the announcement Q
distinctions. Some time before the hou
set for opening the exercises, people be
gan to arrive in carriges, buggies. OF
horse back and on foot. and the large ant
spacious auditorium of the new academ.
building, which had been tastefully deco
rated with flowers and evergreens, wa
soon filled to it's utmost seating capacity
The Mt. Sidney Cornet Band was on hant
to enliyen the exercises with it's delightful
music, and above the rostrum, in char
acters of living yerdure, was beautifully
arranged the comprehensive and inspiring
motto of the Society, I'D Astra Per As
pera." Promptly at 7:30 p. M, the officers
of the society. O. 3. Woodville. Pres, S
H. Croft. Vice-Pres., and j Baldwin
Harnsberger. Sec, took their places npor
the stage. Prof. Roller called the audience
to order, and the exercises were opened
with prayer by Rev. b. B. White, the
band played lively air, and the Secretary
introduced the participants as per the pro
gramme Salutat0ry, Z. ii. Mccormick
DISCLAIMERS, VIM. Crawford, Our Flag
7. L. Shelton. Statue to Washington w
j. D. Bell, God. the Author of The Uni
verse w. d. G. Wine, Washington
! Debate-Questicn (which exerts the
greater influence, the warrior or the
statesman ?''-atfirmative, Geo. Il. Root,
H. M. Huff negative. n. P. Oglesby, B.
N. Bell. Grafton, Master Minds, A. s.
Warwick. DISCLAIMERS, A. p Blair, Re-
construction j. A. Alexander, Patriot
ism Jas. S. Cochran, Secession Jno. c.
Blair, r. E. Lee. Valedictory, John r.
Hevener.
The young gentlemen all acquitted
themselves SO well as to prove conclusiyely
that their endeavors have been common
surate with the motto they have adopted,
and that they have really set their mark
| among the stars, and are determined to
mount to that goal through any difficulties
which may oppose. To make special men
| tion Of any one, would he doing injustice
to the others. The salutatory was most
appropriate end eloquent, the disclaimers
exhibited talent and careful training rarely
met with the debaters displayed knowlv
edge of history, both ancient and modern,
beyond the most sanguine expectations of
their friends; the orator demonstrated
past all doubt, that his is, indeed,
Master Mind, - and the Valedictory, re-
plete with thanks to the community for
the many courtesies and kindnesses ex-
tended during the past session, good ad-
vice to the fellow-students, now about to
separate, possibly forever, noble resolves
for the future and gratitude to the dill
gent preceptors for the solicitous care
with which they have guarded the welfare,
and the untiring zeal which was always
manifested for the advancement of all
those committed to their guidance, was
delivered in a manner which discovered
the earnest feeling of the young speaker.
As each made his bow and retired to his
seat amidst rounds of applause, a shower
of handsome bouquets, which shed their
delicious fragrance over the whole au-
dience, was rained upon him. Immedi-
ately after the valedictory, Prof. Roller
advanced to the rostrum and announced
the distinctions. Messrs. Jno. r. Heve-
ner and Andrew S. Warwick, having com
pleted the curriculum of the school, both
of them passing all the examinations with
an average of 9S4 per cent, we're announced
as graduates and qualified to enter the
senior class of the University of Virginia
The medal for scholarship was conferred
upon Mr.. Warwick, Mr.. Hevener having
received similar prize on a former occa-
sion.
To merit distinction of proficiency, in
any class, the student must pass rigid
examination and make at least IS per cent
Those announced as proficients were w.
J. d. Bell, Latin, English and mathemat-
les B N Bell, Lat. German, math, Eng;
w D G Wine, Lat, math, Eng 4; Thos l.
Shelton, Lat, math, Eng N P Oglesby,
Lat, French, Ger, math, Eng j A Alex
ander, Lat, Ger, math, Eng; G H Nc
Cormick, math and Eng B Harnsber-
ger, Lat, math, Eng !; S H Croft, math. and
Eng John G Blair, Lat, algebra, Eng; A
P Blair, Lat and French; 0 B Woodville,
Lat, Ger, Eng H M Huff. Lat, FIR, Eng,
arithmetic; Wm Crawford, arithmetic
Jas Cochran, Lat and German.
Anumber Of the profcients made from
80 to 95 per cent. five above so.
Prominent among those WHO clustered
around the proud young victors, to offer
their most hearty congratulations, were
number of the former students of the
Academy, who are now occupying high
positions in the professions and business
circles none knowing so well as they
what the victories had cost.
No fcrmer commencement of the Acad-
envy has been more successful or proven
more satisfactory to both patrons and prin-
cipal. We congratulate Prof. Roller and
the noble boys, whose privilege it has been
to prosecute their studies 5under his tut
ton, and exclaim with ,unfeigned sim
certify ''Vive la" Augusta Male Academy
THE BALL.
1t has been the custom of the students
the Academy to give grand select ball on
the next evening after the Commence
ment, which is generally considered the
opening of the season in the neighbor-
hood, and is looked forward to with joy
Gus anticipations by society people far and
near, especially So by the votaries of
Terpsichore. The ''boys' just released
from the restraints of the lecture-room,
forgetting for the time the tolls and
struggles of the past nine months, rush
into the voluptuous arms of the gay
goddess of Pleasure with zest worthy of
the most gallant knights of the days of
chivalry. These fetes have always been
most enjoyable and brilliant affairs but
this one was still more delightful and
pleasurable because of the much more
suitable place at which it was held in the
new Academy building. the recitation