TALLADEGA COLLEGE.
MRS. L. A. ORR.
Talladega College has just passed its eighteenth annual Commencement which, in many respects, was the most successful ever held.
The exercises began on Thursday night, June 7th, with an exhibition in the chapel by the second and third grades of Cassedy School, followed on Friday by exercises in the Primary Department, and at night by an exhibition by the fourth and fifth grades of Cassedy School, all of which reflected credit upon the teachers in charge. To many of our Northern friends, these may seem a very insignificant part of Commencement exercises, but to these parents, who consider all school work a failure which does not close with an exhibition, and who will travel miles to hear their children “say their pieces,” they are a very important part. At these exercises the chapel was crowded almost to suffocation, the hall and windows were full, and many went away, as they could not find even standing room.
On Sunday, in the absence of Pres. DeForest, the baccalaureate sermon was preached by Rev. J. M. Sturtevant, D.D., of Cleveland, Ohio, and was full of rich thought and practical suggestions. At night, Rev. G. M. Elliott, of Selma, preached an excellent missionary sermon, very helpful to the students who go out into the dark places to labor among their people.
The mornings of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were occupied with public examinations in the different departments, and they all gave evidence of faithful work having been done by teachers and pupils. The examinations in theology and moral philosophy were especially fine, and would do credit to any Northern white students.
Monday night was given to the exercises of the three literary societies connected with the college and these were conducted wholly by the students.
On Tuesday afternoon was the inspection of the industrial classes, printing office, barns, &c. In the large airy sewing-room were samples of work done by the girls, including quilts, garments of all kinds, and some very neat darning. In the printing office several young men were engaged in type-setting, presswork, etc., and the neatness of the printed programmes testified to the good work done by the “college press.” Visitors to the Slater shop found the blacksmith at his forge, the painter, the glazier and the cabinet-maker busy at work, and the wonder was that one small shop could accommodate so many trades. The brick masons were laying the foundation for an addition to the building, which will give better facilities for work. The fine stock on the farm, the new and improved farming tools, the steam engine in operation, and neat barns, attracted many visitors.
A lecture at night by Dr. Sturtevant, on the subject “Manners,” closed a very busy day.