THE SCHOOL VACATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2388, 7 December 1899, Page 23

THE SCHOOL VACATIONS.

GHtTON COLLEGE. The scene was bright and pretty in Girton Hall on Friday morning, with -fresh and pretty faces, bright costumes, and floral decoration, on the occasion of the breaking-up for tho holidays. The invitations to the ceremony issued by Miss Freeman were' largely taken advantage of, and ' the hall was quite full, fho visitors being almost entirely Composed of ladies. The walls of the hall were covered with specimens of the work of the pupils, dene during the year, in various classes of drawing and design; and these comprised such excellent specimens of crayon, pencil, and -pen and ink work as to reflect great credit on the efficacy of the teaching and the natural talent and industry of the pupils. One of the chief features of this exhibition was a collection of competitive studies in still life. The subject given was a candlestick, and the youthful artists were allowed an entirely free hand in the matter of composition and treatment. Amongst these studies were one or two exceedingly creditable specimens of work, tho one numbered 6 being perhaps the most excellent, while another, treated in a decorative style, slightly suggestive of the Aubrey-Beardsley pchool, was, at any rate, -strikingly unique and original. Most of the mapping shown was also remarkably good. The proceedings opened with a short address from the Principal, drawing attention to the work that was on exhibition, and asking that any deficiencies might be kindly considered in consequence of difficulties undergone through the prevalent influenza. A programme of recitation, etc., was then performed by the pupils, which proved their proficiency to be of a high-class order. , After the recital of an introductory Psalm by Mis 3 M. Hart, with considerable expression and clear intonation, a scene from Shakespeare's "Richard II" was given by Miss Stevenson (Richard II), Miss It. Park (Bolingbroke), -Miss K. Browning (Mowbray), and Aliss D. Esther (Gaunt). Where all showed great promise of histrionic and declamatory ability, it is perhaps invidious to institute compari"sens, but the honours of this performance clearly belonged to Miss J. Stevenson and Miss D. Esther. • Clear enunciation and good method were noticeable in all. The next item was or a ftiore prosaic and businesslike order, consisting of an exhibition of arithmetical proficiency, in which, paradoxically enough, successful and unsuccessful were equally "slated^" Three recitations .followed, by Miss B. Macfie, Miss R. Park, and Miss Ethel Lorie — all three giving evidence of elocutionary ability, and speaking with clear intonation. A "French Conversation," by Miss Stevenson, Miss R. Park, Miss M. Hart, and Miss A. Cohen, in which the pronunciation was very generally good all through, it being perfectly easy to follow the conversation throughout. The ordering of a meal was a useful lesson, although conveying a rather alarming idea of the extent of a French lady's appetite. This was followed by a lesson in " Respiration," in which a positively alarming acquaintance with one's inside economy was exhibited by the tiniest mites who, one would have thought, hardly 3'et knew they were bora, the details being so minutely accurate as to give one quite an uncomfortable feeling. Judging from this exhibition, Miss Freeman's system of tuition must be as pleasing as effective to the pupil. Miss J. Stevenson again recited, and was followed by Miss A. Borrie, who also recited with feeling and expression. The Principal then presented the medals, certificates, and prizes, a list of which is given below. The Rev. Mr Dutton said Miss Freeman had done him the honour to" ask him again this year to say a few words to the young j people. He had been told by a farmer that it was necessary, in raising lambs, to feed them at the right time, give them the right kind of food, and not to give them tflo much. This applied to education, the last being a I very important point. .Dr Nicholson had said to him. while Miss Freema-i was- giving her splendid lesson, that really he would like to bs young again. If it were possible for l'hn to be young again, to be a girl at Girton 1 College, he .would not at all icind, but he

was afraid he would have to be a boy, whioh would settle the business. Ho concluded by ■congratulating- them on the splendid results of the year, and expressing a hope that they would hare a happy holiday. The Rev. -Dr Nicholson expressed his great pleasure at being present. When he was in Edinburgh the agitation for the extension of the franchise to women was going on, and he used to twit his friends who opposed it by spying that they were afraid the ladies would step in and beat them. He was happy to be present to witness the high standard of education that' "was attained. .The be^t compliment he could pay to the work on the walls of the room was to say that it took him some time to tell which were the models and which the work of tne pupils, and he congratulated the principal on the very gratifying results of her work. He was also particularly struck with the excellence of the French pronunciation and the clear enunciation in English recitation. He alluded to" the value it might be to a woman to be a good arithmetician. He wished to say a word to the young in regard to the future: the_ education they were receiving, with the reality and substantial nature of which he had bsen much impressed, was to fit them for taking their part in life. He would also impress upon them the reality and power of a. true. , Christian character. However high one's, attainments might be, they must remember they lived in deeds, and not • wordf.

The Principal (Miss Freeman) thanked the gentlemen who had spoken for theiv kind remarks. With the remarks of Dr Nicholson -on character she thoroughly agreed. Miss Freeman went on to allude to the successes at the University of four of her pupils who had left- her recently, one of whom 1-ad obtained a first class in mathematics. Speaking on the importance of home influence in school life, Miss Freeman said she had trained all her assistants herself, and they assisted her. well, and she would like to feel that home influence was in accord with the influence in her college. She would like parents to uphold bey authority ; she liked to mantain proper discipline. In regard to allowing children to attend parties and go out in the evenings, Miss Freeman said the parents who allowed it were ruining their children, and gave au instance of a girl of 14 she had known who had said she was " sick of life." She asked the parents to help in home influence. She pointed out the inevitably bad results attendant upon slipshod and careless work. -There were three things to cultivate — the body, the mind, and the soul, — and none of these could be neglected except to the detriment of all. All could not Eucceed, but their lives would be the better for having struggled ; it was the quest and not the conquest that tended towards perfection. She wished, in conclusion, to thank the girls, who had been a great comfort and assistance to her, and I wished them all a happy holiday.