The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-06-09
Emory and Henry College Commencement.
EMORY AND HENRY COLLEGE,

EMORY AND HENRY COLLEGE, !
WASHINGTON Co. June 9th s
As the commencement of this ''time honored"
institution has just TRANSFERRED, it may not be unin
teresting to many of your readers to hear some
thing about the progress of civilization in this
wild romantic portion of Virginia.
Day before yesterday, the contest came off for
the Robertson prize medal" which was to be
granted to the best speaker, by committee of
five, and among these honored ones your humble
correspondent was surprised to find himself seated
by the kind invitation of President Wiley. At l0l
the youthful orators marched in, to the grating
sounds of most unmusical band, and soon the
contest commenced in most exciting manner
We cannot think of criticsing all, for there were
nine contestants for the prize, and each acquit
ted himself most molly; and Though they fell con-
quered at the last, yet they fell nobly and ably
fighting to the last. Mr.. Shumate, OF Loudoun
county, the successful competitor, and his sub
jcct, Aaron Burr"
All the others acquitted themselves in most ex-
cellent manner: but time and space will not allow
us to comment now.
On the next morning the chapel was even more
densely crowded than the day before. This was
the true commencement day, and we can only
mention the names of the speakers and their sub
jects Mr.. Thompson, of Miss. gave most excel
lent, affecting, and Ineligible Latin salutatory-
Then came the philosophical Grafton, by Mr.. Nor
gan, of Lee county; 1t was characterized by logic
and rhetoric, harmoniousy blended After him,
followed the metaphysical grafton, by Mr.. Frank
lin of GA. He is about seven feet high, and yet,
though he dived out of the sight of most of his
hearers, strange to say, he did not come up muddy
The next orator was Mr.. Hayes of Ga ON Gre
clan Amusements." Latin and Greek was always
such bore to me, that really was panied to have
some of those miserable scenes recalled, over
which have sweated many hot summer day,
and yet he handled his subject in most able man.
ner, and plainly convinced the crowd that it was
the production of much hard study and iaborious
toll The valedictory was then delivered in most
beautiful and pathetic manner, by Mr.. Buchanan
of Smythe.
We can render no niger need of praise than
when say, that of all the good speeches deliver.
ed there Mr.. Bucbanan's far surpassed them all
The Rev. Mr. Rosser then addressed the two So
cieties in a most able discourse, and since we
Judge that it will be published, we can only hope
that the readers win be as much gratified as the
hearers were.
Immediately after this Mr.. T. L.. Preston deliv.
cred to Mr.. Clarke, of n c., the "Byar's medal -
for Natural Sciences. His speech was good, but
most too long.
Mr. Walter Preston then presented two medals
for Latin and Greek, to MIR. Buchanan; and then
came the presentation of the speakers medal
The whole audience was on tiptoe of expectation,
as were not permitted to disclose our choice;
and when the name of Shumate sounded the wild
burst of applause shook the old walls of the col
iege, and went echoing among the surrounding
hills.
Hon. F. McMullen was our representative and
discharged his duty in a most credtable manner.