The literary exercises were held in the church at 4 p. m., June 1st, in the presence of a large and attentive audience. The school, marching in to organ music, were massed together upon the pulpit platform, one tier above another, making a very striking and memorable group. As I looked into the bright eyes and smiling faces of all shades of color, from jet black to almost pure white, and noted the neat, tasty dress, and the beaming of intelligence from the animated features, and remembered the thoroughness of the examination they had passed, I looked back to another scene, sixteen years ago, when, as a soldier in General Wilson’s cavalry, we took possession of this city, and heard the rumors of peace confirmed, just at the end of the long and bloody war. That was my first sight of the negroes of Macon. Then they were uncouth, ragged, ignorant and untrained; but now what a change! I thanked God and took courage. As the school stood in this grouped position, they sang beautifully the song “Our Motto,” in which the chorus of each verse was “Be faithful, firm and true.” Then repeating together the Twenty-third Psalm, and chanting the Lord’s Prayer, they took their seats in the body of the church, and the literary programme went on. The reading of selections and compositions, the declamations and music, were all well rendered. The singing was especially deserving of notice, as, on account of the severe illness of Miss Raynor, the music teacher, the scholars were deprived of their accustomed organ accompaniment and musical leadership. But they had been well trained, and acquitted themselves with much credit to their teacher and themselves. A song entitled “The Farmer’s Boy,” with a whistling chorus, was especially well sung and whistled. The senior class sang a parting song, and the benediction by Rev. J. W. Burke at 6 P. M. closed the arduous and successful year’s work of the school. During the year there have been 162 pupils enrolled. Miss C. H. Gilbert, who has been principal for the past three years, is a very successful and experienced instructor, and deserves great credit for the thoroughness and progress of the school. The assistants, Misses J. A. Raynor and C. M. Park, have also done faithful and valuable work. The school has almost outgrown its present quarters, and much needs increased accommodations. The daily Macon _Telegraph and Messenger_ published full and eulogistic reports of the closing exercises.