Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-06-07
A Musical Treat and Literary Banquet
at the N. B. Seminary.

This belated report of the last day
at the Mary Baldwin Seminary COM
mencement did not reach us in time
for last weeks paper, but as the re-
porter sees commencement exercises
from rather unusual standpoint, we
will let him tell his own tale, as he
thinks the country boy ought to have
a chance:
The writer did NOT get in in time to
see all of the NJ B. S. commencement,
but did get in for the last day, and
that must have been the best of what,
l have heard, was the best commence
ment the seminary ever had. The
music was mostly ''solOs" and ''solis,
and duets and duos on piano and vic
lin and vocal, and seemed to me very
fine, still not being musical critic l
am at a loss to describe it in musical
parlance, but as lay claim to be some
thing of an epicure in the musical line
and think | know good thing when l
hear it, | will speak of the affair as a
musical feast in the terms most famil-
lar to me. Taking the attractive pro
gram for first class table de hote"
bill of fare, the entrance march Of the
pretty girls in white, corresponded
to the white aproned walters filing in
with their dishes piled up with good
things. Then DR.. Fraser, of the First
Church, said grace. The Glee Club.
which sang the beautiful anthem, was
the band, which, with it's first piece,
tunes the appetites OF the guests to
enjoy the feast that is at hand. Misses
Louella Gillian and Nora Fraser then,
with their bright piano duo Spanish
Dances" brought in the sparkling
champaign which soon upset the poor
men. Then Miss Evelyn Chase with
her luscious piano solo IN octurne, !"
| brought in the quail on toast. Next
the violin quartette, Misses Estelle and
Inez Kicker and Fannie ROYster, pass
ed around Lynhaven oysters on the
half shell, while Prof. BeardswOrth
furnished the Worcester sauce, a dish
fit to set before the king, 'Larghetto"
it was called. Then came the deviled
crabs in a warm and appetizing piano
solo "Karmene Ostrow," from the
nimble fingers of Miss Celia Mason
Timberlake, a la Rubinstein. Misses
Josie Gilkeson and Daisy Mann hand
| Su III SOlu6 very CllOlCC SdldQb pun uOW Ii
on the menu as 1.-TWO Tuscan Folk
Songs; it was very nice and much
enjoyed by the guests who smacked
their lips and clapped their hands.
Miss Edna Smith brought in nice
waiter of fruits including "Malagne-
ma" grapes and 'Air de Ballet" OF the
.Moszkowski' and "Chaminade" vim
tage, put down on the menu as a
piano soli." Miss Estelle Kicker sup
piled a choice variety of cakes and
pastry in the shape of violin solo
baked by the famous "Singelee.
which was much enjoyed, and the ban
queters were finally RECALLED with some
Java in small cups made by Mr.. Cho-
pin and styled "Valse, op. 64,No. g." a
very choice and highly favored arti-
Gle. The delightful occasion was
brought to close by the entrance of
Santa Claus, who stopped over from
last Christmas, l am told, in a mystic
rious chamber adjoining the banquet
hall. He was made up to represent
DR.. A. M. Fraser, and had little cupid
known as Douglas to assist him. He
bore rich and costly gifts from the
secret chamber, of gold and sheepskin
and gilded books and other fine things
which Santa distributed to the great
delight of the hand clapping and smil.
ing young folks.