The next day after the graduating exercises, the pupils assemble in the school rooms in the mornings to hear the "promotion lists" read and to have seats assigned them in the grades to which they have been promoted; and the school year is ended, but not ended are the influences and the prayers that have gone on with the fidelities of the earnest teachers who day by day have put their lives into this work. * * * * * CLOSING EXERCISES OF KNOX INSTITUTE, ATHENS, GA. Only a few years ago, the colored people of Athens took very little interest in the closing work of our schools; but there has been a great educational awakening among the colored people since, and I doubt whether in the whole State of Georgia a city can be found in which the colored people manifest interest in the closing work of our schools more than they do in Athens. Commencement week at Knox began with the anniversary sermon, preached at the Congregational Church, to the students, Sunday morning, May 22d. Monday and Tuesday following were devoted to examinations, and the inspection of our industrial exhibit in carpentry and sewing, which was in many respects the best of this kind ever made by any school in Athens. We have never had as many visitors at any one time as we have had since our industrial shop has been opened for work, and while visitors have manifested an interest in every department of the work, their greatest interest has been in this department. Many short addresses were made by our visitors at this time, with words of cheer and encouragement; but all recognized the fact of _a needed enlargement_ and _increased facilities_. One patron, on emerging from the industrial shop, said to me, "The half that you are doing has not been told." A lady visitor, who is 81 years old and has 31 grandchildren, and who made clothes for the soldiers of both the Mexican War and the Civil War, told us how happy she was to be at Knox Institute that day. Among other things, she said, "I seen so much cruelty and meanness on these grounds (meaning the grounds on which the Knox Institute stands) in dark slavery days, I's come now to see the great good you are doing here for our children. It fills me with joy to see these young people risin'." She assured us that she felt "more like shouting than speaking." Wednesday night, at the County Court House, our musical and literary entertainment was held. The high appreciation of Knox Institute was shown by the fact that we were greeted by an audience of not less than 900 people, from Athens and the surrounding country. People came from towns 50 or 60 miles away from Athens to witness our exercises. It was estimated that not less than 600 people had gathered about the doors before they were opened.