The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-08-14

relation 10 an examination witnessed al Dur
rit. Collees recently, at the close OF the last
oession Of that institution. But oe'ore W
go It might not he amiss to give some "c'o"".
# the situation and present circumstances y.
this Young and flourishing seat oil science,
IA 90 the more willingly as am inclined 20
tbink it has not heretofore receiver '"A' NJ
,e,,iou from newspapers its merits demand
prr,i.. College is situated upon the Cum
- maintain, near its Northwestern de
oliyity. at the little town OF Spencer, the
oountv site Of Van Buren, county, some TWEEN
~ miles East of McMinnville. and fifteen
South of Sparta In its situation it has two
advantages, which are greatly the subjects Of
boasting above almost any other institution
Of learning in our country. These are its
healthfulness and seclusion. There Is no
place to be found better adapted TO promote
healthfulness and vigor both OF body ana
mind. than these mountain heights Inc
cool and bracing breezes Of these elevated
table.iands completely eonnteraet and pre-
vent that depression and lansnor oil oody
and mind. which is felt 10 the low lands
during the hept of sumner The great bare
and curse of most Colleges spring from the
communicating influence Of evil associations.
But here these are all absent, or nearly So
The town is qui.e small, and even the coun-
try on the mountain issparsely settled hence
there is no possible chance for the froicsome
mind of youth to he led off into dissipation
TO anv great degree. 1t is true, :here is
yrog shop in the town, but its doors are too
wide open and its invitations are too bald
The first step in dIssi patton is seldom taken
by youth of any promise in direct line
The sirens song is seldom first heard IN a
grocery 1t is much oftener in the higher
lowed The next great attraction Of the school
is it's honored and beloved President. Mr..
Carnes is man every way fitted to adorn the
position he occupies. His practical common
sence his untiring energy, and his parental
Bolicitude, and his uniform kindness, have en-
deared him to the students, one and all;
and they look up to him as father. | could
not but feel, as witnessed the devotion and
attachment of all these boys and girls to this
noble man, that would far rather sway his
mild sceptre aud be the recipient of such
homage, than rule monarch If the mightiest
kingdom OF which earth can boast. There
is full corps of officers, evory one well quail
flied for the duties devoving upon him. The
College buildings, externally, are not inviting.
There are no lofty colonades or towering stee
Piles to strike the eye or astonlsa the behold
er, but modest, substantial two story brick
building without ornament, constitutes the
main building, which is surrounded on the
North, East and South, 10y forty-eight brick
dormtoiies, leaving an area between the
main building and these which is nearly
shaded throughout with trees planted by the
students. AT the South east side there is
gymnasium and ball alley. This is pretty
much all that is seen from without of Burrtt
College, aud when you enter you see bat lit
tie to admire. The real worth and substan-
tial blessings of this institution exist in its
animated and living men aud boys and girls,
who are connected with it. There Is but lit
Tie to minister to the pleasures of the eye,
but the ear and soul are feasted almost to ga.
tiety by the rich rcpast spread out for their
enjoyment. The last session closed upon the
week ending 4th of July, Nearly the entire
Of the various classes | did not reach
Spencer until late on Thursday evening. AT
ter supper ! went over to the College hall,
which was filled with spectators. to hear the
young men deliver their original speeches
and the young ladies read their compositions,
and really, fear, shall not be able to do
full merit TO their worth. There were,
think, about twelve original speeches deiv
cred and some eight or ten original compost
tions resd. 1t would not be exageration at
nll to say they acquitted themselves we'll
at the same time some did better than others. |
] think ut least two.thrds of the speeches |
showed as much thought and close connected |
logical reasoning as can be found in three
fourths of the published speeches Of our pub
lie men, and to compare them to our Con-
gressn,en alone, they far excelled most Of
them. 1t would be no honor to a schooboy
nova days to say his speech was not superb
or to most of the maudlin TRADES emanating
from that sink Of vice and corruption; never.
thelcss, must say consider the manner of
delivery in most eases detective Most school
boys are too stiff and have too little action
in their oratious, but here, ! think, they have
gone to the other extreme. Gesture never
adds force to language or q sentence, unless
it either conveys some meaning with it or
carries home to the listener some unexpress-
ed idea. No danger but they will temper
and curb the exuberance of action as time
wears on with them. The compositions Of
the young ladies were not inferior to the
young gentIemen's productions-one, more
especially was matchless in its composition,
thought and sentiment The next day wac
devoted to the examination of classes in
Arithmetic, Algebra, Greek, Latin, ct cetera,
oil oil which had hearing. The classes in
the languages thought, acquitted them.
selves admirably did well.
The examination closed on Friday evening.
and at night We all went to the church. to n
public meeting Of the Alumni of the College. ,
Here an interesting address was delivered by {
Mr.. Ely, on Agitation Cause Of Moral Re. :
form." We also had an original poem read,