The corner-stone of the Stone Memorial building, for colored girls’ industries (the generous donation of Mrs. Stone of Massachusetts), and the corner-stone of the Indian Girls’ building, were laid. The Rev. Dr. Strieby, president of the corporation, delivered the address in the first, and Rev. Dr. Potter, of New York, in the latter of the ceremonies. Both gentlemen performed the duty assigned them most acceptably to the friends of the institution.
The large and interested audience filled the chapel of Virginia Hall to its utmost capacity to hear the public addresses of six of the alumni. These performances were made in excellent taste, the elocution being exceptionally good, and the views were expressed in a style and range of thought above the average Commencement orator, and reflected honor on the Alma Mater and her sons and daughters.
In appropriate terms General Armstrong introduced General Howard, Dr. Potter and Governor Holliday, of Virginia, whose words of wit and wisdom were enthusiastically received. His Excellency, who is a Christian gentleman of enlarged views and a broad-gauge statesman, gave cordial welcome to the strangers within the gates of the Old Dominion, and in fitting words of sincere and merited commendation approved and indorsed all that had been done and so well done at Hampton.
Much more might be said; less could not be said. God will, it is not doubted, continue to call from Hampton to His service Christian men and women, workers in His vineyard, who will illustrate that
“Peace hath her victories
No less renowned than War.”
The Hampton Institute is becoming more known and appreciated in Virginia and the neighboring States. Its alumni are occupying positions of practical usefulness, and discharge the high duties of good citizens well and faithfully. Virginians believe that Principal Armstrong is emphatically the right man in the right place, and that, with General Marshall, Miss Mackie and others on his staff, he will push forward the good work in which they are engaged, and will continue to merit and receive the grateful appreciation of the people of the commonwealth. Above all, they invoke that blessing of God in the future which has been so signally manifested in the past.
FISK UNIVERSITY.
PROF. C. C. PAINTER.
No one can properly appreciate or understand Fisk University who does not take into account the model school whose unique anniversary exercises occurred on Thursday p. m., preceding those of the University proper. The school is under the management of Miss Irene Gilbert, who is assisted by students from the Normal Department. The excellency of her work is not found alone in the perfection of drill which every exercise shows, but in the exquisite finish of whatever work is done. A recent graduate from Williston Seminary and of the Sheffield Scientific School, with whom I visited this school one day when it was not on exhibition, and examined the children’s work in map drawing, declared that he had never seen any work of the kind that compared with it. The exhibition given by these children made it easier to understand the uniformly excellent work apparent in all the classes of the higher grades witnessed during the three days’ examinations of the next week. Miss Gilbert trains up the child in the way he should go, and in the higher departments he does not depart from it.