The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-06-25
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AT
KEMPER HALL.

The commencement exercises of KEN.
per Hall took place on Tuesday last
The new Armitage Hall was completely
filled, and many who came were obliged
to leave for want of room. The pro-
gramme was arranged with much Judge
ment and propriety, and was carried
through in a highly creditable manner.
The papers read by the young ladies
evineed much thought. and were literary
contributions of merit most of them
would be creditable in our literary mag
azines. Kemper Hall justly has the
credit of being a school of thorough
training for young ladies. Aside from
the importation of the sciences, the
young misses are taught by precept and
example the courtesies and amenities of
life. Their grace of manner and of
movement, with naturalness, and with
out affectation, are noticeable, and give
evidence of correct training. Rightly
educated young women, however may
be their elevated positions in society,
avoid putting on airs Of superiority.
Our schools, whether select for ladies, or
public schools, which fail to teach polite
manners, fall short of their true mission.
Kemper Hall is steadily gaining in favor
in proportion as it becomes better
known, and is without doubt destined to
be a fixed literary institution in the west.
The presence of Prof. Bach's stringed
quartette contributed pleasantly to CIV
ing varietyto the exercises. The liter
airy and musical efforts by several of the
young ladies are deserving of special
mention, but space will allow of but one
the violin solo by Miss Sally Blair Fair
child, daughter of Gen. Fairchild, must
not be omitted. TWAS finely executed
piece of music, on that most perfect of
all instruments, the violin, as suitably
employed by women as by men. The
day cannot be distant when the newt
able piano will not entirely monopolize
the modern parlor music it affords the
performers an opportunity for exhibition
of skill in manipulating the keys, but
for producing the exquisite tones and
cadences of the violin it is simply pow
erless.
The graduating class at the close of
this term is the largest. with one ex-
ception, since the school has been in OPP
Grafton. The names of the graduates
are as follows Gertrude Kemper, Isa-
belle Terry Bond, Frances Virginia Bur
ford, Sally Blair Fairchild, Louise Phoebe
Snodgrass, Alice Beatrice Condell, Flols
Jane Elliott. The last named, Miss
Flora Jane Elliott, gave the valedictory.
Miss Elliott and Miss Bond are the only
residents of this city.
The location and surroundings of
Kempef Hall are unsurpassed for
literary institution of the kind. Persons
who have had opportunity for observing
the location of ladies' seminaries in
other states say they know of none so
admirably situated as Kemper Hall.
Many of these literary institutions are
located in crowded cities, or at inconve-
nient distances away. This Hall is out
side and out of sight of the city, yet suf-
ficiently near for all necessary purposes,
the business part of the city being with
in comfortable walking distance for any
lady in ordinary health. The domain
belonging to the institution embraces
several acres, on the west shore of Lake
Michigan. The grounds were originally
laid out by Gov. Durkee about twenty
years ago, and planted with varieties of
evergreens, which have now attained a
large growth, furnishing grateful shade
in warm weather. Lake Michigan at
this point IS seventy miles wide, and
presents an ocean view of water, and the
person who has never seen the majestic
rolling waves of the Atlantic can witrless
the like here when the north-easters"
prevail the winds having an unobstruct-
ed sweep over two hundred and fifty
miles of water. The force of the winds
at the Hall is very much broken by the
forest of shade trees on the grounds.
The healthful location we have never
heard questioned.
There were larger number of visitors
present from abroad than usual on these
occasions. Among them were the
Bishops of Wisconsin and Fond du Lac ;
the Rev. S. Burford. of New York the
Rev. DIR. Gold, of Chicago the Rev.
Canon st. George, and the Rev. E. G.
Richardson, of Milwaukee the Rev. S.
H. Green, of St. Louis the Rev. c. P.
Dorset, of Dakota Gen. Lucius Fair
child, of Madison.
| Rev. Mr.. Burford, of New York, who
has for considerable time been liber.
al friend of the school, had offered gold
medals for the best proficiency in Eng.
lish and in art these prizes were both
awarded to Miss Upjohn. Rev. Mr.
Burford recognized the need Of pipe
organ, and with commendable liberality
announced he would subscribe the frs
one hundred dollars, and the last hun
dred for suitable organ.