ement of our pupils. The year has been one of progress and
prosperity. Nothing has occurred to hinder the work. The conscientious
performance of duty has been the rule of the school, and the students
who entered with any other purpose in view soon discovered their
mistake and saw that they did not have the approval of their
companions.

The forerunner of the closing exercises was the presentation of the
cantata "Little Red Riding-hood," by the pupils of the intermediate
grades. This entertainment drew as large an audience as the chapel, a
room that has a seating capacity of 600, could accommodate. The music,
both vocal and instrumental, was excellent, and illustrated most fully
the remarkable progress that has been made in this department within
the past three years.

Two days were devoted to the annual written examinations, momentous
occasions, that were crowned with success so far as the majority of
the pupils were concerned. The ordeal of examinations closed with the
public oral ones on Friday morning. On the afternoon of the same day
occurred the exhibition of the eighth grade, the class finishing the
grammar course. The essays presented on this occasion were all upon
subjects suggested by the pupils' study of United States history.

The exercises of Monday morning were wholly musical. The first part of
the programme consisted of the cantata "The Musical Enthusiast," and
the second part of a piano recital. All the music presented was of a
high order, most of it being classical.

On Tuesday a declamatory contest was given by the young women of the
normal department. The prize offered by a friend of one of the
teachers was a year's tuition in Chandler School. The selections were
from standard authors, and were chosen with the purpose of testing to
the utmost the ability of the young contestants. During the past year
much interest has been manifested by the pupils in work of this sort,
and most noticeable progress has been made by many of them.

At the close of the contest a very interesting and eloquent address on
the subject of temperance was given by Rev. J. S. Jackson, pastor of
the Congregational Church in Lexington. The thoughts presented were
full of inspiration for all who heard them.

On Wednesday morning an intelligent and appreciative audience
assembled in the chapel to listen to the commencement exercises. Three
young men presented orations, and three young women essays, on this
occasion. There was b