Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-08-07

ments. Her own appearance wonder
fully composed and natural. She was
the calmest and most graceful of all on
the stage Thursday nighss.
Considered as a whole, your CORE
spondent judged the speech of Mr.. r.
+. Wilkerson, of Sparta, Miss, on the
"Crusades" to have been the best deIiV-
cred by any student in the Teachers
Glass. We imagine it required much
time and deal Of mental labor for Mr..
Wilkerson to be able to give 50 good
sketch of the Crusade. By cultivating
his voice he will make an attractive
speaker.
Friday evening. at o'clock, the
yearly Exposition began. This is an
unique feature of the Institute. All
the written papers the students have
prepared during the entire year are
I exposed to the critical eye of any
who may wish to examine them.
All the visitors have the privilege of
asking questions and the students
promptly answer, or attempt to. Be-
sides, experiments in Philosophy, Chem
istry, and che Sciences are performed.
The manner in which the students
manipulated the apparatus and per-
formed the experiments assigned, re-
vealed that they thoroughly under
stood what they were about.
Friday night the graduates in the
Scientific Course spoke. Miss NJ. J.
Benson, of Rara Avis, Miss, gave a
beautiful sketch of Hinda, the heroine
of Tom MoOre's Fire-worshipers. The
theme was poetical in its nature, and
the speaker extracted all the poetry and
rhyme, presenting it in simple language.
Mr.. Stone Deavours discussed Mil
toms Hades. He pitched his voice to
such key in the beginning, that it was
very lab0rious to sustain it.
Mr.. @. K. Dunn, of Enterprise, Miss,
unrolled large, well-drawn map of the
battle Of Waterloo, and with pointer in
hand, proceeded to cell all about it. His
gestures had not been practiced suffi-
GENTLY, and he required prompting sew
eral times. He talked very pleasantly
in conversational way.
Miss Cordelia Hale, of Rara Avis,
Miss, related the story of Miles Stan
dish's C0urtship in an agreeable man
ner, varying the cold facts with short,
appropriate quotations from Longfel-
lows poem.
His Satanic Majesty" as pictured
by John Milton in Paradise Lost, or
Millions Satan, as the programme stated,
was well handled by Mr.. G.. A. Holley,
of Rara Avis, Miss. Mr.. Holley's voice
was not in good trim, but he managed
to be heard over all the hall, and ac-
quilted himself with honor. He dis
played a thorough knowledge of the
Devil, and seemed well acquainted with
the "Old Fellows" mischievoua tricks
and strange devices to ruin man.
Mr.. J. z. Lee, of the same place, had
live subject, and he presented it in a
live manner: "The African in the
United States" Mr.. Lee is not behind
in the magazine literature of the day.
He considered one after another the
various propositions which late thinkers
and investigators have advanced con-
cerning the negro's future and his ulti-
mate end. He spoke with much force
and freedom.
Miss Ada Nesbitt, of Iuka, in short,
but exquisite speech, told of Joan of
Arc, the Maid of Orleans.
The ablest effort of the evening was
Mr. Sibert is possessed of plenty of
bone, muscle, and meat, and blessed
with strong pair of lungs, good voice
and clear brain. His subject was
ireland. He spoke of the Home Rule
bin with understanding, and showed
wherein the woes of Ireland would be
alleviated were it to be accepted by
Parliament. His conclusion, as indeed
his whole speech, was magnificent. Five
large, handsome boquets were his re-
ward, and the congratulations of all
who could find an opportunity to grasp
his hand.
Miss Annie L. Talbert of Memphis,
next spoke, Her subject, POrtia, the
fair, sweet woman in Shakespeare's
Merchant of Venice, whose hand was to
be given to that suitor who drew her
portrait from one of three caskets. Miss
Talbert did splendidly. Not only was
the matter of her speech well written
and adjusted, but she succeeded in gain
ing the attention of her hearers and
making herself understood throughout
the house.
When Mr.. J. H. Watson came to the
front to discourse upon Cardinal Wolsey,
he gave promise of equaling, if not sur ;.
passing those who had gone before him,
but unfortunately his memory failed,
and not being able to recall his speech,
after pause took his seat. 1t should
be said, however, that so much of his
address as was delivered, was not sur
passed by any Of the evening. Mr..
Watson was universally liked by his
classmates, and had their profoundest
sympathy. He was the last speaker.
Prof. ii. A. Dean then conferred the
degrees. Sixteen students receiving the
degree of Bachelor of Didactics; twelve,
that of Bachelor of Science. We must
net omit to mention the music with
which the audience was regaled during
the intervals between speakers. It was
excellent. S. d.
Our common schools are the
breath of life to our free institutions;
yet, sad to relate, we havemore than
four dram-shops to one school. VIII
sottening. humanizing. christian