“According to announcement, the commencement exercises took place Thursday morning at 10 o’clock, in the presence of a crowded house. In addition to the decorations of the previous day, the wall back of the platform was tastefully set off with the folds of the Dutch and English flags, the American flag being on duty on the border. Upon the folds of the flags were arranged in letters of cedar the words, ‘The Class of 1880.’ Six young men then gave their graduating addresses. These are kindly and appreciatively spoken of, as able and well delivered. “Prof. G. B. Willcox, D. D., of Chicago, was introduced and spoke to the graduates in reference to those things which scholars hold in common. The ideal of a college graduate is that he has come to the possession of his manhood. It is impossible to give the spirit of this most able address. It abounded in wit, humor, and pathos. These kept the audience on the alert for an hour, after they had sat two hours during the previous exercises. “Then came, what is now a feature of Fisk commencement day, the Alumni dinner, with its post-prandial wit and wisdom. And thus closed the most successful and prosperous year in the history of Fisk University. The catalogue shows an aggregate of 350 students. The work done in the class-room has been unusually satisfactory. There have been abundant evidences of growth in character and mind on the part of all the students.” * * * * * STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY. Why No Graduating Class—Threatened Suspension of Public Schools. REV. W. S. ALEXANDER, NEW ORLEANS. The anniversary of Straight University was observed at Central Church. The audience, both in numbers and intelligent appreciation, was one of the best ever gathered for such a purpose in the city. The literary exercises were exceptionally fine. The original orations, one on “Charles Sumner” and the other on “Our Glorious Union,” were, both in composition and delivery, worthy of high praise. All who heard them were proud of the young and promising orators. A cultivated lady in the audience said to me, at the close of the evening, “You don’t tell me that those orations were written by the young men?” “Certainly; why not?” “Why,” she replied, “I have never heard better.” There was no graduating class this year. Those who in order would this year have finished their course, were persuaded to remain another year that their graduation might signify a higher grade of scholarship. The year has been crowned with the Divine favor. Three hundred students have been in attendance, real progress has been made in all departments of study, and the Institution stands higher today in the estimation and affection of the New Orleans public than in any previous year.