CHARLESTON, S. C.
Avery Normal Institute.
[Extracts from the Charleston News and Courier, July 4th, 5th and 9th.]
The Graduation Exercises of this institution were held at the school building in Bull street, yesterday, commencing at nine o’clock in the morning.
The programme included singing by the school, and addresses and essays, which reflected great credit upon the several pupils who delivered them.
A large number of prizes, including several handsome books, were distributed to the successful pupils in the several classes, and diplomas were presented to the graduates.
Many features of the programme were excellently rendered, and it is, perhaps, fair to award the palm to the salutatory and essay by Julia D. Edwards, and to the discourse on “Class History” by Elizabeth R. Tucker. These compositions were well conceived and gracefully delivered. The singing, too, deserves special praise, and there was one contralto voice in particular very noticeable for its strength and clearness.
The institution, which is devoted to the education of the colored youth of this city, has turned out ninety-seven graduates since 1872, all of whom do honor to their instructors.
Reunion Exercises.
The series of exercises which were arranged for three days, closed most auspiciously, yesterday, with a reunion of the graduates. The programme comprised vocal and instrumental music, original essays, recitation, declamation, oration and closing address. The main hall, where the exercises were held, was thronged with an audience highly appreciative, as was continuously evinced.
The exercises were opened by a piano solo, a galop, which was admirably played by Martha C. Gadsden, of the graduates of ’73. After an address of welcome by Mrs. M. S. Lowery, an oration on “True Greatness” was pronounced by John M. Morris, an alumnus of the institute.
It is but justice to make special mention of the essays: “Youth the Crisis of Character and Destiny,” by Merton B. Lawrence; “Avery Normal Institute our Home,” by Susan B. Artson; “Woman’s Position in Society,” by Susan A. Schmidt; “Necrology,” by Catharine A. Wallace; “What is Life Without an Aim,” by Ada C. Turner.
Avery can well afford to risk its reputation as an educational institution on such essays, all of which showed no ordinary degree of culture. The vocal gem of the exercises was the soprano solo, “Blooming Springtide,” rendered with rare sweetness and taste by Martha C. Gadsden.
Impressions made on a Visitor from a Neighboring State.
Although daily notices were made in the News and Courier of the closing exercises of Avery Institute, as they took place from day to day, the following account by a visitor from a neighboring State will not be without interest:
“Avery Institute has had four principals during its brief existence of thirteen years, and has been fortunate in their quality. Two of them, Mr. Warren and the present incumbent, Mr. Farnham, were fitted for their work by a course of moral training and considerable experience in schools of similar grade to this, and especially by their ardent love for their occupation.
“Absence of weeds from the flower-beds, tidiness of walks and yards, cleanliness of floors and desks, and signs of neatness everywhere suggested the possible theory of a ‘clearing-up time’ for the occasion, but a quiet search for information on this point revealed the fact that things were not ‘fixed up for Sunday,’ but wore their every-day attire. If a maximum of stillness, with a minimum of apparent effort, is the ultima thule of school discipline, there are no new lands for Avery Institute to discover.
“The plan of ‘native helpers’ is being tried here, the faculty consisting of a principal and two lady teachers from the North, and five graduates of the school. Full attendance, good scholarship and excellent discipline point to a successful experiment.
“July 2d at Avery was ‘Children’s Day.’ There is not room for the little ones at the closing exercises, and so Mr. Farnham gives them their day. The songs, ‘A Smiling Face for Me,’ ‘If I were a Sunbeam,’ ‘I love the Merry Sunshine, and the recitations ‘The Golden Side,’ ‘The Little Philosopher,’ and ‘The Summer Time,’ indicate the joyous nature of the programme and the spirit of the occasion. The teachers seem to appreciate the sentiment of Dickens, ‘I love these little people, and it is not a slight thing when they, so fresh from God, love us.’
“July 3d was ‘Graduates’ Day.’ The class of nine girls and one boy furnished music sufficient for the occasion, both in quantity and quality. Lessons with children, one on composition and one on number, conducted by two of the graduates, constituted a novel feature in the programme, and showed something of the methods of teaching employed in the institute. By permutations and combinations almost ad infinitum on the numeral frame, the children learned the ‘Table of Sevens,’ if they had never heard of it before; and the fact that ‘reproduction’ without credit to the author is plain stealing, was faithfully impressed upon the young mind. One of the graduating girls made a strong argument in the negative upon the question, ‘Should Young Men take a College Course?’ The simplicity and self-possession of the graduates were very pleasing. So also were their fine articulation and musical voices. A little more volume, however, would not have been offensive, and would have filled the hall better.
“Prizes were distributed by the Rev. Mr. Patton and the Rev. Mr. Dunton, and diplomas were presented by Prof. Chase, of Atlanta.
“The 4th was ‘Alumni Day,’ and, despite all the attractions at the Battery, the hall was well filled. The exercises consisted of addresses, essays, recitations and songs, all by members of the class. ‘Independence Day’ afforded some stimulus to the occasion, and called forth some of the sentiments and feelings of the emancipated race, but revealed no sign of bitterness or malice. The orderly conduct, dignified demeanor, literary merit and good elocution of the day, evinced that ‘Avery’s children’ are an honor to their foster parent, the American Missionary Association, and to their native State and city. Two or three hours spent in discussing ‘viands that tickle the palate’ and in social converse, reviving memories of past school-day life, terminated the three days of closing exercises at Avery Normal Institute.
“The teachers and pupils were gratified by the presence of some of the well-known and respectable residents of the city.”