Of Prof. DUNSTON’s School at Columbia

On Friday night July 19th, Prof. DUNSTON’s Preparatory School held its Commencement exercises.

Long before the hour to commence Columbia was thronged with visitors, anxious to be present and to hear the  young gentlemen and girls speak and recite.  it were a difficult task to decide which of them excelled – all did well-reflecting very great credit on their most excellent instructor, who is a graduate of the University of North Carolina.

Prof. DUNSTON, as is his custom, offered a gold medal to the young man who should best declaim on that occasion; and appointed as judges the Rev. Mr. EBORNE, Messrs. BUSH, LEE, and R.P. FELTON, who decided that Mr. Joseph ALEXANDER had merited the same.  Rev. Mr. EBORNE was requested to present the medal which he did with appropriately remarks.

Two gentlemen friends of the school offered a medal to the girl who had stood highest in her class during the session and who should best recite at the Commencement.

Prof. DUNSTON appointed Messrs. R.P. FELTON,  J.C. MEEKINS Jr., and Rev. R.B. COLLIER a committee to decide who was entitled to this reward.

Miss Ella WYNN was the happy recipient of a lovely medal presented her by Rev. R.B. COLLIER. Thus ended a most excellent session of Columbia’s school.

It is the universal desire of patrons and people that the Trustees will increase the Professor’s salary and thus induce him to remain with us another session.

An excellent band of music played at interval, and all left at a late hour, feeling that they had been amply repaid, though the weather was uncomfortably warm and rainy.  — Ben

Source: Roanoke Beacon, 9 August 1889.  Available online at digitalnc.org.