Three hundred and fifty pupils enrolled for the year, carries our numbers above any point reached since the boarding accommodations disappeared in the “Blue College” fire. Had we possessed boarding facilities and sufficient school-room, the number would have been as near 500 as 350.
Two days of this week were given to the final written examinations, and in some of the departments three days were so used. Thursday was devoted to oral examinations. About thirty visitors favored us—among them Rev. Dr. Burgett, whose name is becoming familiar to your readers as one that appreciates this work of the Association; another, the Rev. W. G. Strong, pastor of the largest colored church in the State. The common sentiment of these judges was that the pupils did remarkably well, and showed that they had received careful and thorough training.
Last night 800 people crowded the Third Baptist Church to witness the closing exhibition. Although the aisles were filled with people standing down to the middle of the house, many turned away from the door. Dr. Burgett offered the opening prayer, and Rev. Mr. Strong pronounced the benediction. All the exercises that came between astonished many, especially the white people present, and gave pleasure to all until the weariness of standing made many persons about the door restless and unduly communicative. The popular judgment is that much progress has been made during the year. Personally, we think many exhibitions at white schools would suffer in comparison with this one.
The future of this people is full of promise.
SWAYNE SCHOOL.
REV. O. W. FAY, MONTGOMERY.
Prof. Martin and his efficient corps of assistants are deserving of commendation for their hard and thorough work at this point during the school-year just closed. The number in attendance has been unusually large, (the whole enrolment being 644 against 484 last year); but in thoroughness of teaching and in all that constitutes good discipline there has been a decided advance all along the line. Recognizing the fact that the school building has a seating capacity for only about 350, while the average attendance for a part of the year has been 450, the necessity for enlarged accommodations, as well as some of the difficulties encountered by the teachers, will be apparent.
On the principle that what is good for a part is good also for all, there was no favoritism shown in the assignment of parts in the closing exercises. All, “from the least to the greatest,” were given a speech. Although the average was somewhat reduced near the close of the term, yet, with the more than three hundred to take part, it will readily appear that the “Commencement Exercises” of Swayne College (as the patrons call it), could not all be crowded into a single day. Consequently, in order that a good thing might last a good while, it was arranged to devote three evenings to the speaking. Friday evening, May 20th, was given to the exhibition of the Primary department; Friday evening, May 27th, to the Intermediate; and Tuesday evening, May 31st, to the Higher department. The Congregational church proving too small on the first night, the exhibition was held the second and third nights in the M. E. Zion church, with an audience on the last night, which, admitting all members of the school free, and charging an admittance fee of a nickel for adults, netted more than seventeen dollars.
These exercises, consisting of declamations, dialogues, solos, choruses, &c., were creditable entertainments, and gave evident satisfaction to the members of the City Board of Education and other white visitors in attendance, as well as to the patrons of the school.