The industrial exhibits and the training shops, with their Negro and Indian apprentices, attracted interested attention, as usual.
The emotions of anniversary day culminated in the afternoon exercises, in which were several incidents of unusual interest. The pretty and graceful salutatorian, fair as most of her hearers, was introduced as a young representative of the family of faithful Mary Peake, who, just escaped from slavery herself, taught the first "contraband school" at Hampton. This introduction roused the war-memories of Rev. Dr. Strieby, who, greeting the young girl as she stepped on the platform, told the story of the first missionary sent down to Old Point by the American Missionary Association, his reception by the contrabands as an angel of deliverance, and his first school, opened Sept. 17, 1861, with Mary Peake as its teacher, till she gave up her life in the work for her people.
The pastor's class was represented by a Baptist minister from Hampton, who gave an account of the Old and New ministry, somewhat characteristic of both. This pastor's class has become an interesting feature of Hampton, with a mission of peace and good-will to both races and all sects and sections. Now in its second year, it numbers, as pupils, 17 colored pastors of Hampton and vicinity. Baptist and Methodist; and as teachers Rev. Mr. Frissell, chaplain, and Rev. Mr. Tolman, ex-chaplain of the school, Northern Congregationalist ministers, with Miss Alice Bacon, who thus worthily wears her venerated fathers mantle, and the Southern white ministers from Hampton, Episcopal, Baptist and Methodist, in unity of spirit that is verily "a good and a pleasant thing to see." The studies are the Bible and Bible history, pastoral theology and composition. In cultivating better understanding and kindly relations between these colored and white neighbors, and the relations of the school with both, as well as in helping meet the great need of an intelligent ministry, this pastor's class is doing important work. Some of its members board at the school, working their way in part like the other students, sometimes entering their classes. Some are helped to come by their congregations, who appreciate the opportunity.