The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-08
ST. XAVIER's ACADEMY.
And Commencement Exercises In the New
Academy ON Thursday Afternoon.

Las. spring three months before the usual
commencement day, st. Xavier's Academy
was moved away from the convent
building, and the erection of new, elegant
and vastly more commodions building was
commenced This was made necessary by
the ever gro wing enrolment of the students,
both from the city and abroad, and the
management of the institution, aided by the
priests and congregation of st. Columbia,
have at length secured school with ample
accommodations for all who may enter for
many years to come.
St. Xavier's Academy was founded by
Dean Terry, 10 August, 1859. and although
primitive in its strength and scope, II ex.
ercised wonderful influence upon the ad.
vancement of education in this city. Year
by year its enrolment increased and about
twenty Eve years ago, Mother Superior
Paul, the present superior, was placed in
charge Under her direction and superin,
tendence, the institution has prospered and
grown in Importance, until to-day, it is one
Of the best academies in the State of ILL
nois.
The new building. formally dedicated on
Sunday last, is not yet entirely finished; but
the work is being pushed very rapidly, and
its completion is only matter ola few days
1t is by far the largest school building in
this county, and ranks among the hand
soonest. 1t is three stories high, with q
mansard roof, and commodious basement.
1t has high ceilings, large school and
sleeping rooms, is heated by steam, lighted
with gas, and has large and numerous win
dows, the light for the school rooms having
the north and west light. The basement.
contains the heating apparatus, dining and
cloak rooms, and kitchen. The first floor Is
devoted to large double reception room, q
large school room, (intended for younger
pupils), four piano practice rooms, two pi,
ano recitation rooms, and Q double reoits
ton room. On the second floor, Q large
school room, for elder students; . large
double recitation room ana q smaller rscits-
ton room, take up the space. The third
floor, with the exception Of one room, will
be used as q domitory, as will, also, the
fourth floor. The school rooms are furnished
with the best state black boards, and broad,
wide seats, and the entire in erior is finished
in oil. The exterior 10 brick and the roof
slate and tin. Tho modes of ingress and
egress are ample, the building being sup
piled with two main entrances, and base
ment entrance, and doors, on each floor,
communicating with the convent. while .
pair Of broad, easy staircsses, and On sleva-
tor give complete security in case Of FIRE.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
The commencement exercises Of the class
of 'ss, delayed until the completion Of the
building, were held in the main study room.
on the second door, on Thursday afternoon.
BY two oslook, the time set for the exer'
cises to begin, the room was filed with
anxious friends Of the school, and the pa
rents of students. and last, but not least, the
majority Of the enrolled pupils. A tempo
rsry stage, or platform had been erected at
the west end Of the room, supporting q
couple Of fine square pianos, and email tables
loaded down with autumn flowers.
The exercises opened with six hand en-
trsnce'march from Norma, which WAS rem
dered very nicely, by Misses Sinnott,
Drslle, Dryer, Mason, Calvin and Pesrce.
During an intermission, twenty voices blen
ded in greeting to the guests Of the school.
Miss Downs, one Of the graduating class,
delivered the sslutatory, which was, unlike
the general style Of sslutatories, brief and
entertaining.
Miss Cassidy, promising young vocalist
sang the sacred anthem, Gave Maria" very
nicely.
Miss Finn, of the senior class, gave q
charming sketch Of the rise and progress of
tho school, and paid touching tribute to
Dean Terry, its founder.
1.-THE Nations Emblem" descriptive
fantastic, was sung by Misses Woolbet, Don
ahoe, Gillen, Dryer. and Young, respective
ly representing in costume and voice. Amer
lea, England, France, Ireland and Scotland.
1t was cute and very neatly and nicely &C,
complished
|, Another very pleasant vocal exercise was
given by miniums, or what is known as the
first class. Little Miss Gillen, four years
old, was, to use an expression Of young
lady present, I" too cute for anything"
A vocal duette, "What fairy like music,
) floats over the sea- was rendered by the
; Misses Woolbert.
" MARTHA an instrumental duet for two
pianos, was recited by Misses Finn and
Young in an artistic manner.
The cantsts, "Fairies Of the HILL" was
one Of the finest vocal recitsls of the day
Miss Dralle, solo; Misses Cassidy and Moran
Duet, and the seniors and juniors in the
chorus, making . fine effect.
The vocalists Of the miniums, gave voice
} to the words Of the " Song Of the Daisy"
"Murmuring Sea-" a duet was well rend'
cred by Misses O'Kane and Moran. Misses
Young, Moran, Finn, and Downs gave a
,