STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS, LA.

BY PRESIDENT R.C. HITCHCOCK.

The interest shown by the public in the annual exercises of this school increases each year, and for those of more general nature it is quite impossible to obtain a room large enough to accommodate the audience that assembles.

The baccalaureate sermon was preached on Sunday night by President Hitchcock at Central Church. On Monday night, the Sumner and Philomathean Literary Societies and the Band of Mercy held their anniversary meeting, and listened to a very interesting lecture on "Life at a German University," by Rev. G.W. Henderson. Wednesday night, came the annual concert and exhibition. This has for two or three years gradually taken more and more the character of an exhibit of the gymnastic exercises, singing, etc., from each grade, and with so large a school, gives a long programme; but since people here have learned that at Straight University, when the appointed time comes the exercises begin, every spot where a chair could be put in an aisle, or a foot stand, besides all the pews both below and in the spacious galleries of Central, one of the largest churches in the city, was occupied at the moment assigned for opening, and the attention was grand until the very last.

On Thursday night, the Alumni Association met at the University Chapel for election of officers, adjourning later to the parlors for a social meeting. These Alumni meetings grow each year in numbers, interest and importance. Papers were read by several members, the usual history, prophecy and poem were given, remarks were made by others and some good music was rendered. Many who could not come sent interesting letters. Friday night was the great occasion. The crowd was no less than on Wednesday night, and that such an audience should sit, giving close attention, from 7:30 to 11:30, to the orations and essays of the graduates, with no sign of weariness, was to me a wonderful thing and showed a deep and heart-felt interest, in the community, for Christian education, which is grandly encouraging.

Two of the graduates were from Mexico, one from Mississippi, one from 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.

The State has been in a condition of great excitement during most of the year, nearly one-half the parishes being under a complete reign of terror, and it has been a frequent thing to see one of our students from the country, especially from the southern parishes, in tears in consequence of the intelligence of some friend, father or brother perhaps, having been the victim of some dastardly outrage from the "regulators." Tales of sorrow and suffering could easily be gathered to fill volumes. Iberia, Terrebonne and Lafayette parishes have been especially noted as under this reign of terror, and from these we have many pupils. Three sisters of Sammy Wakefield, who was shot at New Iberia, are in our school, and many others closely connected with suffering families. It has been very difficult for the colored people to get a living, and the sacrifices they make to keep the children in school are wonderful.