The Normal School Press office had its own exhibit of printing and book binding. The press was running, the student compositors, boys and girls at their cases, and the veteran United States soldier at his book-binder’s table.
The various shops were all in operation through part of the morning, and many visitors walked through them to see the Afric-American, native African and Indian apprentices working side by side at their various trades in the commodious quarters in which most are at last accommodated. Some extended their walk to the barn to visit the stock.
The afternoon exercises in Whitin Chapel and Virginia Hall consisted, as usual, of essays by the graduating class and former graduates, with music by the school choir, a recitation of one of Whittier’s poems by a modest ladylike Indian girl of the Junior class, and a talk in the Sioux language by one of the three young Indian fathers now in training with their families at Hampton. His wife and baby boy stood admiring listeners in the doorway, ready to vanish when the applause of the latter became too vociferous. The Indian said impressively (interpreted by a school mate), “You all know that when a man walks in darkness, if he sees a light somewhere he will go to it; so I want you all to have compassion on us and teach us more of your knowledge. I am always thinking about the good news. I came myself to learn how to tell the good news to my people and show them the right way. We know that you have helped us, but we need more help. If anybody told you to do something you never had done before, could you do it at once? They will have to tell you three or four times before you know how to do it. My friends, that is just the way with the Indians.”
Diplomas were presented to the twenty-eight members of the graduating class. Interesting speeches followed by several of the invited guests. Prof. Newell, Superintendent of the Maryland State Normal school in Baltimore, Dr. Eliot, Rev. Dr. Furber of Newton, Mass., Rev. Dr. Mix of Fall River, Rev. Dr. Burrows and Rev. Mr. Spiller of Norfolk, the last, a colored minister, all made very enthusiastic and telling impromptu addresses under the inspiration of the occasion.
The average attendance of pupils for the year just past, has been 510, of which 110 have been Indians. The work done compares favorably with that of former years. The annual reports of the Principal, teachers and heads of industrial departments, published in the June number of the Southern Workman, and still more fully in pamphlet form, with the treasurer’s report, give many interesting details of Hampton’s work and prospects.
FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE.
MISS ANNA M. CAHILL.
On Sunday, May 20, the baccalaureate sermon was preached in the chapel of Livingstone Missionary Hall. This and all the other exercises of Commencement had the added interest of being the first held in our new building—a building in whose beauty and usefulness for school purposes we have rejoiced all the year.
Ten young people—three graduating from the higher normal course and seven from the college course—listened to the earnest words of President Cravath, spoken especially to them, from John 14:23, on the power and need of an inner life of communion with God.
The annual missionary meeting which is always held by the missionary society on the evening of Commencement Sunday, was duly observed. Tidings had reached us of the illness of Secretary Woodworth, who was to have given the missionary address, and, failing to supply his place, we were thrown back upon our own existing missionary zeal, which, we were glad to find, burned brightly enough upon the home hearth to make a solemn, impressive hour of this last Sunday service.