Wednesday night, at the County Court House, our musical and literary entertainment was held. The high appreciation of Knox Institute was shown by the fact that we were greeted by an audience of not less than 900 people, from Athens and the surrounding country. People came from towns 50 or 60 miles away from Athens to witness our exercises. It was estimated that not less than 600 people had gathered about the doors before they were opened.
Thursday night, at the County Court House, were our graduating exercises. Again this spacious house was taxed to its utmost to hold the crowd that had gathered to witness these exercises. Four bright students—three young women and one young man—using as their motto, "Not for self, but for others," were graduated from our College Preparatory Course. The annual address was delivered by Rev. W. D. Johnson, D.D., formerly Secretary of the Educational Work of the A. M. E. Church. Dr. Johnson's address was logical, and full of wholesome advice to those whose courses were just completed. Thus ended another school year.
LE MOYNE INSTITUTE, MEMPHIS, TENN.
BY PROF. A. J. STEELE, A.M., PRINCIPAL.
A graduating class of thirteen, averaging over twenty years of age, recording an average attendance at Le Moyne Institute of six and a half years per member, before an audience of three thousand people on the evening of June 2d, attested the interest felt in the school and the work it has done in West Tennessee.
A varied program of essays, orations, recitations and personations, with musical selections of choruses from composers of high rank, all occupying fully two and a half solid hours—these made the crowning event of the twenty-seven years' work of Le Moyne Normal Institute.
The proud and eager interest of the masses of the colored people in those of their young men and women who persevere in the face of great difficulties and many discouragements to complete a course of study, presents a very attractive and hopeful indication to a student of the rising race.
One who has carefully and for years noted the position and influence of these graduates among their own people, the stand they generally take for order and system, and the force and intelligence they naturally bring to bear on the many questions of social and moral well-being constantly arising to be dealt with by the masses of their people—one who has noted the complex working of the moral and intellectual forces largely represented by the graduates of such schools, will not wonder at the interest manifested by all classes in the conferring even of a Normal School Diploma.
The year's work has been one of exceptional earnestness and value. A total enrollment of 750 in all grades, places the attendance for the year at the extreme high-water mark, and the extensive use students are coming more and more to make of the valuable library and other auxiliary appliances and helps of the school, attests a growth in breadth of view and of scholarship which is very hopeful and encouraging.