Our school closed on the 29th of May, and it has been a full one despite the trials we have had because of hard times. On the 27th, our pastor, Rev. C. L. Harris, preached his annual sermon to the school. The church was crowded as never before, not even at its dedication. The topic, "The satisfied soul," was handled with marked ability, and the audience was deeply moved. On Monday our school-rooms were visited by many friends, and our ex-graduates from Tougaloo were welcomed home. The "students'" sociable at night was a pleasant affair, and gave us a chance to plan with our scholars about their work this summer. All are eager for work that they may enter school in the fall; all seem ready to do whatever they can find to do.
The most spiritual feature of our closing exercises was on Tuesday morning, when at the opening hour the house was filled with friends to unite in a "Congregational love-feast," as they called it. We had several clergymen and teachers, and one lawyer and a host of friends to cheer us with their words, or to aid us in our service of song and prayer. One friend told of a wealthy colored man who had pledged to give three thousand dollars to the American Missionary Association to carry on these Christian schools, although he himself is not a Christian. May his example incite others to come to our help.
After two hours of pleasant interchange of good fellowship we all went to the church, where the industrial work was on exhibition. It was arranged with great artistic effect. Each room had its display by itself in miniature booths constructed out of the finished sewing. The primary rooms had festoons of "blockwork," and under an awning made from a bright patchwork quilt, made by them, hung their dainty pockets, tidies, scarfs, etc., quaintly outlined in bright needlework. There were scores of buttonholes arranged in a wheel pattern, and they were beautifully done, and were admired by all. There were three entire quilts, twenty-nine garments of various kinds, and twenty-five neatly hemstitched handkerchiefs, besides a large quantity of articles for home decoration. Perhaps the exhibit which attracted most attention was the young men's department. There were fourteen handkerchiefs and eight Windsor ties hemstitched by the young men, and hardly any of them had ever used a needle, yet their dainty work was pronounced equal, if not superior, to that of the young ladies. There were in all four hundred and sixty-three articles made, some from old material, some from scraps and some from new cloth. Before the winter term the young girls had cut and prepared their own sewing.
GRADUATING EXERCISES.
At eight o'clock in the evening the house was filled to overflowing with people who wished to witness the graduation of twelve young persons, or to hear the various exercises from the younger children, and to listen to our well rendered music. The exercises were all excellent, although they were greatly marred by the vast audience on so warm a night. There were no failures, but fine delivery and appearance. The mayor of the city was pleased to pronounce it "grand."
And so closed our school year, but "the half has not been told" if we omit to tell of the spiritual growth. Twenty-four in our school have united with our church, almost as many more with other denominations, and some have now gone to their own homes, and will there confess what Christ has done for them this year. It has been a beautiful year. We can but feel that God has been with us. The flowers and blackboard decorations were very attractive, and our dear old flag draping the entire wall behind the platform added not a little to the attractiveness of our rooms. On Sunday the sadness of parting was accentuated, and it was from a full heart each one gave the Y. P. S. C. E. benediction of "The Lord watch between thee and me while we are absent one from the other."
GRAND VIEW, TENN.
FROM "DAYTON LEADER," DAYTON, TENN.
Grand View, Tenn., May 19.—Commencement exercises at Grand View Normal Institute were held last night. This excellent school is situated on the eastern brow of Walden's Ridge, fifty-five miles north from Chattanooga. It overlooks a view of fertile valley below, and beyond a vast expanse of numberless wooded hills with glimpses of the Tennessee river winding between, while on the horizon looms the dim, majestic form of the Smoky Range.