The state chronicle., 1893-06-07
Chowan Baptist Female Institute.

Chowan Baptist Female Institute.
Communicated.
MuRFREEsBoRo, N. G. June l, '93.
Yesterday was the fourth and
last day Of commencement and
long before the appointed hour ar
rived the chapel was flied to over
flowing with the friends and patrons
of the Institute. The exercises be-
gan at 10 o'clock g. m. The music.
both vocal and instrumental was OF |
a superior character; and the young |
ladies who read essays gave evil
dence of having undergone thor
ough and rigid mental discipline.
The young ladies did exceeding ~
we'll and there could be no doubt
but that they had bean under the
guidance of skilled hands. The
President rendered a most en-
couraging report to the Board of
Trustees and stated that the past
session had been the most pleasant
to him of any during twenty five
years experience in the school
| room.
| The following young ladies re-
oeived their diplomas Misses Anne
Bruce Brewer, Pattie Virginia
Brinkley, Bette Frank Brown,
Jennie Josia Doughtrey, Ella Lee
Gilbert, Virginia Green Joyner,
Mary Lizzie Mitchell, Ila Annette
Newsome, Kate Gertrude Newsome,
Evelyn Lee Oliver, Sallie Sherrod
Salisbury, Rosa Olivia Speight, Mary
jackson Wood, Sophie Norfeet
Wood.
This is the largest class under the
present management, but not in the
history of the school.
After brief interval President
Brewer introduced Rev. G. S. Black
we'll, Of Elizabeth City, N. G., who
had been chosen to deliver the an
nual address before the P. n. A. and
Q. o. V. A. Literary Societies. He
very sensibly began by addressing
the audience as women and men.
He announced as his subject "The
Present Woman and the COMM g
Man." Mr.. Blackwell is man of
considerable oratorical power and
amused the audience one hour.
Thus ended the exercises for the
morning.
At s o'clock p. n. it had been an
nounced that the celebration Of the
Literary Societies and concert
would take place, but while the
crowd was gathering in the chapel
! the FIRE bells rang out and it was
soon learned that Wesleyan Femsle
College was in flames. This, OF
course, caused great confusion and
excitement and neatly everybody
left for the scene Of the fire. At 1C
o'clock, however, the excitement
had abated to great extent and s
large audience had again assembled
in the chapel. Mr.. Brewer, had be
consulted his personal feelings il
the mater, would have abandoned
further exercises-he himself deeply
mourning the loss and sympathizin 6
, with the friends of Wake Fores
: College. At the urgent request O.
President Troy, however, commence
. ment exercises were resumed.
To say that the programme ws
interesting and entertaining woult
5 be but faint praise. All OF th,
= young ladies acquitted themselve
> admirably, and I cannot refrain
: from making special mention OF tn
: recitation by Miss Bass and the voca
q solo, "Doris," by Miss Norfeet Mis-
Bass showed unmistakable signs O
: power, and Miss Norfeet's sweet
a clear voice captivated all who hear'
}, her. Owing to the lateness of th
> hour a few pieces were omitted
v Thus closed the most prosperou
q session under the wise and efficien
management of President Brewer
4 At his hands the school has con
- tinued to improve and the futur
h outlook of the institute was neve
4 SO bright. It has been Presiden
A. Brewers policy to employ none bu
,. the foremost teachers of the Ian
=. and the results have proved th
=. wisdom of such a course. Many re
= cent improvements have beer adde
~ and the school is now thorough
r. equipped in every department. Ur
! der the wise leadership of it's pres
n dent, assisted by full corps OF abb
n and accomplished teachers, tt
a school cannot but be the equal
w any female school in the Soutl
of Murfreesboro is noted for it's goo
rs schools, for the culture and rein
o ment of its people, and for Il
q. healthfulness and beauty of its l.
"a cation. This whole section of Eas
"a ern North Carolina and Virgin
has been blessed by the benefce
influences embodied in the shape
lovely women which have emanate
from this centre. It is to be hope
I, h. i