Plaquemines Parish, one from Baton Rouge and five from this city, the
proportion from the city being larger than usual.

Members of the Trustee Board and others who have heard these exercises
for many years, without hesitation pronounce them as a whole far better
than those of any previous year. It is certain that each year there is
shown a marked advancement in general intelligence and culture, and in
the depth and arrangement of thought. The venerable Judge Whittaker, who
seldom leaves his home at night, was on the platform, and at the close
of the valedictory, which was given by Leonidas Burbridge, of
Greenville, Miss., he jumped from his chair, seized the young man by the
hand and expressed his wonder and gratification at all he had heard and
seen, saying that in all his fifty years of life in New Orleans he had
seen nothing that so filled his heart with emotions of astonishment and
joy.

I neglected to speak of the meeting on Sunday morning, May 26th, of the
College Y.M.C.A., which has had a very prosperous year. The Association
was addressed by Mr. Fred S. Hitchcock on Y.M.C.A. work in the great
cities, and by Mr. Perry on College Y.M.C.A. work. The year has been a
good one, notwithstanding many adverse circumstances. The establishment
of a regular graded course of study, from the lowest primary grades to
the college, and close adherence to such course are being felt more and
more each year. More than half the graduates of this year began their
education in the school, and all interested are proud of them. There is
all along a marked difference between those who have come through our
own primary schools and others equally capable who have had no
systematic early training. For the first time since the course of study
was adopted, every class this year has thoroughly completed the work
assigned, and in most cases reviewed it.