Smyrna times., 1854-07-26
Original 9rtitlts,
Reported for The Smyrna Times.
VAL EDICTORY TI0N
The COmme ement OF Delaware College,
jelly 18TH, 1854.
BY WILLIAM d. MACKEY.

THERE are periods of human life so fraught
with iItcrest-so teeming with emotion-so bur-
dened with thought-that the tongue utterly
fails to express the feelings of the heart.
When the young man leaves his home to
mingle in other scenes, and, for the first time,
to launch his barque upon the stormy wave, or
when he goes to seek an education in literary
institution, he crosses not the threshold of his
paternal home, nor turns his back upon the
loved mansion where he has spent the joyful
hours of his youth, without experiencing sensa-
tions deep, intense and indescribable.
Behind him lies the past, thick set with thrill
ing incidents, hallowed by the purest affections
of his heart, and linked and blended with all the
conceptions of his existence. Parental solici-
tude, fratcrnal companionship, the family altar
from which has ascended the earnest yearnngs
OF his soul, the household room so familiar and
SO dear, and the shady lawn on which he SO fire.
quently sported, all assert their claim. The
tear that drops from a mothers eye as she bids
aim adieu, is recalled in many an hour of temp
tation and embalmed in his memory-it bids
him shun the giddy thrOng and prompts him to
noble deeds.
Another period of life, too, is replete with
interest. Years have rolled around, and he is
about to return to his home, but that home
how changedi The " old arm chair - is vacant,
loved voices are hushed in the silence of death,
some OF those who sent him forth are not there
to welcome him back. Long secluded from the
busy world and holding converse with the
spirits of sages, heroes and poets of every age,
he revels in the pleasures of students life
but, now, as he turns to bid adieu to his Alma
Mater, unnumbered memories and associations
crowd into his mind. Ere he turns his lingering
steps from its portals, there are hours he would
recall, and he cannot refrain from the melan-
choly pleasure which he finds in living over
again for a brief space the scenes of former
years. There are sweet gentle voices that
greet us to-day. Memory whispers of the Past
the Present is at hand with the enlivenng
strains of music, and the welcoming counte
nances of friends, and Hope casts a bright anc
glowing radiance Ger the Future, and speaks o
smiles and joys, and happiness strown along th,
pathway of life.
Gentlemen Of the Board Of Trustees Five
years have passed away since this Institution
in which you feel SO deep an interest and 10
the prosperity ofwhich you are so zealously la
boring, has sent forth graduating class. Thi
lnstrum has been most eventful in the histor
of Delaware College. Portentous clouds hay
sometimes seemed to overshadow her, and tn
future looked dark and gloomy but, ever an
anon, her friends have rallied around her, aI,t
though the heaying pillows have tossed an
foamed, steady and secure she rides upon III
topmost wave.
The endowment has been completed, III
number Of the students has greatly increase
and the Faculty are men distinguished in lear
ing and zeal. Who, then, can doubt but th
the days of its reverses are past and brig
and glorious future is cpeBing up before IL :
IN the success Of this Institution the interos
of the State are deeply involved
80 Athens was not great in extent, but she "
. centre Of attraction, and welded an inAuen