The school was brought to a successful close to-day. The year has been one of interest and profit, although of trial, on account of severe and, in some cases, protracted sickness on the part of nearly all the workers in this field. The school has prospered, and the progress made by some of the pupils has been very marked. Differing degrees of attainment, as well as of ability to express their knowledge, was clearly shown in the examinations. The closing oratorical exercises this afternoon, in the presence of an audience which crowded the chapel, were interesting in every particular. Without any special expenditure of time and strength in preparing for these, the most creditable results were shown. There was almost no prompting. The original productions, chiefly having relation to some country and the people inhabiting it, were well conceived and well expressed. The reading was distinct. It is manifest that that form of public address is doomed, and will soon be heard no more among the colored people, which only “mouths” words, regardless of sense and of the listening ear. Such scenes as that at “Beach” to-day have only hope in them for our country and the colored race. C. * * * * * BYRON, GA. BY REV. S. E. LATHROP. I recently attended the closing exercises of Rev. P. W. Young’s school at Byron. Going down on an evening freight train, I arrived at 9 p. m., and proceeded with my little girl and Bro. Young to the church, which is used also as a school-room. People in these country places are slow in getting together, at night especially. After working hard all day in the fields (it was just the busiest “cotton-cropping” time), they have to go home, get their suppers, dress up in their best clothes, and then go perhaps three or four miles. So it was half-past ten o’clock before the audience arrived in sufficient numbers; but finally the curtain was drawn and the exercises began. Declamations, readings, dialogues and music were given by the school, with much credit to themselves and their teachers. These exercises were under the direction of Mrs. Amelia Young, the pastor’s excellent wife, who showed decided talent in managing. It was after midnight when the exercises closed, and then your reporter was called on for a speech, which at that hour of the night (or rather morning) turned out to have one merit—that of brevity. A young neighboring teacher also made a speech, and the session was closed.