Anna M. Nicholas.
BREWER NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Thirteenth Anniversary Exercises of the Brewer Normal School took place at Greenwood, S. C., on Thursday, June 25. The annual address was delivered at eleven o'clock a. m., by the Rev. T. E. McDonald, of Columbia, to an unusually large audience, and enlisted earnest attention. It will, we trust, be long remembered by those who heard it. It was followed by a short, earnest talk from the Rev. H. M. Young, presiding elder of this district in the A. M. E. Church. The singing was by the entire school and was loudly applauded. This was followed by an intermission of an hour and a half, during which time friends held fellowship with friends and betook themselves to the contents of abundantly laden refreshment baskets.
The afternoon exercises consisted of singing, recitations and dialogues by the children of the primary department. Our large hall was bright with flowers, flags and happy faces, but was by far too small to accommodate the immense throng seeking admission. The calisthenic exercises and selections were well rendered and won many complimentary remarks. At 5 o'clock a memorial service was held for a member of the school who, the year before, took a very prominent part in our closing exercises, but who, after months of patient suffering, entered into rest April 6. The annual exhibition came off at 8 o'clock p. m. The programme consisted of sixteen parts, interspersed with music. We were favored during the day with music from two brass bands. By competent judges the declamations were pronounced superior to any heard on former occasions of a similar character.
The attendance of the citizens from the town was a very pleasant feature. Brewer Normal has made a deep impression on the white people. They acknowledge the good work that it has done and is doing, and believe in the possibilities that are before it. The students in attendance during the year were 168, an advance upon that of any previous year. We have had much for which to be thankful during the first year connected with this institute; but let this be an inspiration leading us to greater achievements during the year to come. On Friday morning, amid a "sweet confusion" of tears, laughter and farewells, the halls of the school were closed for the summer vacation, and the students boarded the trains to return to their homes.
J. D. Backenstose.