Year: 1860

Bishop Hughes distributed the premi-
ums at the Mt. st. Vincent Academy of
Visitation, near New York, on Tuesday
last, and at the conclusion of the exercises,
addressed the young ladies as follows:


"MY DEAR CHILDREN AND YOUNG La
ISL have witnessed many anniversa-
ries in which you received the testimonials
of merit to which you were entitled, but
l do not remember any occasion which ex-
celled the exercises of to day. ButI will
not enlarge upon this; there are probably
great many in this audience better able
to appreciate the merits of your perfor-
mances than l am. We have the honor of
having many distinguished persons present
with US to-day-not strangers, but friends.
Only one thing has troubled US during the
exercises-your speeches made us sad
but this was to be expected from the na-
ture of the occasion, when friends and
schoolmates were about to take leave of
each other. But the chief thing that has
troubled me is the dilemma in which one
of the speakers placed the Sisters of Char
ity, by quoting remark from me. True
it is that they have none to overlook them
upon this hallowed ground but angels un-
less, indeed, our Jersey friends on the 9TH
er side of the river may look down upon
them. Laughter But the dilemma in
which they are placed is this: If the term
angel can be applied to those good spirits
that look down on the Sisters from above,
why cannot the same term be applied to the
young ladies l see before me? Here. then,
are the Sisters, between two sets of angles:
the one overlooking them from above, and
the other looking up to them for guidance
and instruction. Laughter.) Isn't that
dangerous position to place the Sisters ini
May not this double compliment from
earth and Heaven make them vain? Re-
newed laughter, in which the Sisters heart
ly joined. iea-


"But to return; although it is of the ut
most Importance, young ladies, that you
have good education, should be accom-
plished, cultivated, graceful and refined, yet
there are other things that cannot be lost
sight of. Before another year rolls around
1 propose 10 arrange with the Sisters for
new branch of study in the Academy. Tho
branch of study is what the French call the
science of cuisine. 1t is the sicence of keep
ing house, and that we all know commences
with the kitchen. Every young lady, I
donitcar ifshe be queens daughter, ought
TO understand that department of life. Even
though she may not have topractice it,
though she may be able to hire her cook, yet
she should understand it herself, for It may
happen some day that the cook will dis
miss her. Great laughter. What pre-
dicament she would be in then. Well,
what l was going to say, was that the
Sisters should arrange it so that the girls
over thirteen years OF age should be enabled
to spend portion of the time in the kitch-
en-, and become acquainted with the cook
ing and housekeeping. Here will be a
new bureau of education. Laughter. l.
We shall thenshave the theory and some
practice too.


"Another point and I will close. At
the end of another year, if living, and my
purse is long enough. am going to give
gold medal of not less than $50 in value,
to the young lady who will write the best
essay, not exceeding five pages in length,
upon this great new science have spoken
Of" Laughter and applause.