The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-06-20
Greenwood's commencement.

GREENWOOD, 5. G., June Is, 1885.
Another collegiate year has just end
ed in the Greenwood schools. For a
week our people, and many guests
have revelled in merry music, splendid
speeches, and delightful debates.
The Commencement exercises began
Monday night with debate by the
advanced pupils of Professor Hodges's
school. Their Query (Which is
worthy of the most admiration, Peter
the Great, or Alexander the Great p,
was discussed with an energy, skill
and life that rendered it quite enter
tanning to the audience. This and a
subsequent debate convinces us that
these Young gentlemen have usefully
EMPLOYED their time in pursuing this,
one of the most pleasant, and perhaps
one of the most profitable, features OF
school life. Their teachers deserve
much credit for this course III their
school.
Variety is spice of which we are
all fond, and the commingling or the
pleasures of life is sweet. So think all
who attended the exhibition in the Fe-
male College Tuesday night.
Under the management Of the Miss
es Giles their young lady pupils have
acquired remarkable proficiency in re-
citations, music and calisthenics.
A chorus by the school, pleasantly
opened the exercises and gave pleas
ant foretaste Of what was to follow. ,
Next came in happy succession ana
pleasant repittion, music, vocal ana IN
strumental, interspersed with reclta-
1ions, Notwithstanding these eXer-
cises were admirably adapted to the oc-
casion and would have been complete
of themselves, still the calisthenlcs
were more admired than any other one
feature of the evening. TO us this per-
fOrmance seemed model of its kind,
and though to the young ladies them
selves their actions may seem rldicu-
lous nothing commands better atten-
ton than such exercises.
The exhibition was too long for one
night, so Wednesday night was also
devoted to the continuance OF these
performances. Much qualification was
experienced with teachers so capable
of instructing and pupils so susceptible
of training. ,.,
The Commencement in this institu-
ton was completed Thursday morning,
Captain w. G. MCGOWAN Of Able
vile, being the honored speaker. His
address was becoming to the occasion !;
and we doubt not that every lady left
the hall with higher appreciation of
woman's work in the past, her noble
and::patriotic services in the present,
and her unlimited possibilities in the
future. Mr.. McGeWan held his audi
ence spell-bound for nearly an hour.
After this oration it was announced
that medals would be awarded to sue
cessful competitors. This pleasant
duty was performed by Messrs. Tomp-
kins of Edgefeld, Benet and Graydon
of Abbeville, and Professor Hodges OF
Greenwood. Each little speech was
quite appropriate, often mingled with
humor. The medal for improvement
in penmanship was awarded to Miss
Fannie Auld; first music medal to Miss
Hattie Reynolds, and the second to
Miss Mary Aud. The scholarship
medal was presented to Miss Sallie
Stallsworth. Thus ended a pleasant
morning and happy occasion for
many young hearts.
That afternoon was devoted to the
inspection of the young soldiers OF
Professor Hodges's school. Professor
McCants in full uniform exhibited the
military skill and knowledge of his
battalion most beautifully. Their ac-
tions and maneuvres were the wonder
and delight of a large crowd assem-
bled to witness the contest for the
medals, which were won by Mr.. Man
ly Stallsworth in inspection of guns,
and Mr.. John Oldham in drill.
On Thursday night the hall of the
Male Academy was brightly lighted,
pleasantly ventilated, and filled with
bright and smiling faces. The untir-
ing spectators had again assembled
to witness perhaps one of the most
pleasant exhibitions of the week, that
of Professor Hodges's school.
Among others Governor Richard