Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-02
MOFFETT,s CREEK.

| New Providence church was beautifully
decorated on last Friday in honor of the
closing exercises of New Providence Acad
envy. The arrival of the audience was de-
layed by heavy rains in the afternoon, but
before the entertainment, which began at
and .. m. was we'll under way large and
cultivated assembly had collected. The
stage and background were Ornamented with
cedar, ferns and palms arranged artistical-
Iy about the motto "Nescia Vince Pectora"
which was arched on the pulpit in gold let
tiers. Cut flo wers added color and variety
to the green.
Mr.. S. Nj. Dunlap, as president of the
New Providence Literary Society, intro
duced the speakers and performers of the
evening and presided over an unusually
interesting program of music. recitation,
defamation, etc, which lasted until 11:30.
One of the most entertaining features of
the evening was drill, "Vestal Virgins"
in which seven handsome young ladies
dressed in Greek costume and carrying
lighted candles in gilded candle-st sticks.
marched in sinu0us windings about the
stage and formed in many symmetrical and
ed and the gold intersperced among the drap-
cry produced pleasantly mystical and i'm
presslve spectacle. An Intellectual feast was
served in an address by Prof. W. s. Currell,
Phi. D., of Washington and Lee University.
He proved that the most important element
of success is oneness of aim backed by
strong will power" BY way of digres-
sion he said that men are never injured by
education but that education could not be
expected to make a man out of manikin.
The address ELECTED marked attention from
start to finish. The music of the evening,
presided over by Miss A. s. OFT, the instruc-
tor in that department. showed talent as
i we'll as careful practice and Intelligent in
struction. Wells "Marche des TambOurs"
performed by Mr.. q. R. Smiley and Miss
Lena Brown deserves special mention. Rev.
e. A. Wilson delivered medals and prizes
as follows: A scholarship medal to Mr.. s.
M. Dunlap Of Kerr's Creek, L. Z. Wilson
and q. R. Smiley we're mentioned as close
seconds. Rev Wilson emphasized the par
lamounted Importance of this medal and Of
the training derived from the hard work
necessary to win it in the N. p. A. under
its present management. A medal for ora
tory to Mr. l.. q. Wilson of Brownsburg, who
spoke on the Influence Of class distinc.
TONS" He showed that in four eras of the
worlds history democracy and equality had
illuminated in tyranny and oppression, and
that it becomes us who are striving to dc
away with class distinctions founded on real
merit to be careful that our country is not
ingulfed in the, destruction that followed
when a land is divided into two classes
Extremely rich and extremely poor" Mr..
q. r Whipple delivered classical Grafton
on 'Love and Liberty"
II A medal for defamation to Mr.. l.. B.
! Wright of MOffett's Greek. who carried the
audience to the verge of hysteria with Jim.
J ME Butler and the OWL" The efforts of
H. Buchanan, Jr. Miss Grace Wilson and
, Miss Lena Brown also deserved mention
and prizes for spelling, etc.
) MIR. Edgar Da wson, the principal of the
; academy. then announced the certificates of
distinctions which had been awarded, thank.
ed the people OF the neighbOrhood for their
generous support of his school, announced
tina. the next session would open Sept 18th,
and dismissed the audience. Prof. Dawson
is man of high moral character as well as
great Intellectual ability and we hope the
people at large will give the school liberal
patronage. W. E. b.