The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-22
PRIZES FOR CONVENT PUPILS.
AWARDING THE HONORS AT ST.
VINCENT'S ACADEMY.

Miss Bell of savannah the VnIedic-
torian and Miss Newman of Bruins
wick the saIutatorian at the Com
ing mnienccment--Thc Prizes to
BE Delivered by Vicar General CAT
ferty Monday Afternoon.
The exercises Of the graduating class OF
St Vincents Academy viii be held Mon
day evening at the Catholic library hail.
at 6 O'Clock. The valedictory viii be de-
liverod by Miss Mary Agnes Bell and the
salutatory by Miss Marguerite y. New
man. who are the only two graduates
this year several young ladies who en-
tered the class at the beginning of the
year having dropped out on account Of
illness and other reasons.
While the class is the smallest in years,
its smaIlness is atoned for by the excell-
ence of the graduates, both of whom have
given great pleasure TO their teachers by
their high attachments.
Visitors to the academy yesterday were
shown some Of the work of the graduates.
and also Of the pupils of the lower classes.
The written examinations showed that the
work accomplished by the pupils during
the year was of the highest order. The
entire neatness of the examination pa
pcrs and the beautiful penmanship Of the
pupils were very noticeable.
A most remarkable paper was a lesson
in spelling, consisting Of 800 words of die
tation from a lesson upon the fine arts,
not a word of which was misspolled.
When it is considered that many of these
words were proper names of persons and
cities and technical art terms, it will be
seen that the performance is really very
remarkable one. This paper was by Miss
Newman. The prize awarded for this was
a copy of Worcester's dictionary, una
bridged. Miss Marie Fry of one of the
lower classes also attained 100 per cent.
in the examination in spelling, though
the lesson was of a less difficult char
acter.
The prize in mathematics, which is pre-
sented by Vicar General CRfferty was
awarded to Miss Bell. Father Cafferty will
present the prizes to the graduates this
year, Bishop Becker being absent in Eu-
rope.
The graduating exercises will be inter.
esting of course. Music. vocal and instru-
mental, by the pupils, will be the main
feature OF the pTOSidUllue. MISS 4ttllt
varese, one of the younger pupils who has
made a considerable reputation for herself
at the school by her fine elocution, will
give a recitation which it is expected will
prove one Of the best features. The music
will be under the direction of Professor
Franz Rubner.
The commencement this year will be of
more than unusual interest on account of
the fact that 1t marks the sem-centennial
of the institution. The exact date of the
anniversary was June 10, but there has
been no formal recognition of the fact as
yet. Fifty years ago the convent and school
were instituted by Mother Vincent, who
came to Savannah for the purpose from
Charleston with five other sisters. 1t was
the first convent in the state and is the
mother house of the other converts and
institutions under the care of the Sisters
of Mercy in Georgia. Only one of the six
founders of the convent is still living,
Mother Agnes, who is still engaged in the
work in Augusta at the age of rs years,
having been 81 years in the work. In the
half century of its life the community has
experienced many vicissitudes of fortune
of war and pestilence. The sisters have
been faithful In their work under all cir
cumstances and to their devoted efforts the
present prosperous condition of the COM
munity can be attributed.