Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-07-24
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
T;5s7NGToN. n. G, MONDAY. JULY go, 1857.
o.v;dson College commencement.

occasion of the commencement at Davidson College
in Mecklenburg county, twenty miles North
West of Charlotte, situated on high, healthy ridge,
and surrounded by noble groves of oak. The College
has, we believe, six professorships and something like
one hundred and twenty students, large number OF
whom seemed to US 10 hail from the States South OIL
us-fulIy one-half, we think, if not more. -Four
sessions constitute the course, but graduation does
not necessarily proficiency, and not time de-
termines the standing of students and the classes in
which they are placed.
The institution is a Presbyterian one, and is, we
think, managed by the Concord Presbytery, as Trus-
tees A large bequest was recently made to 1t In the
will of the late Maxwell Chambers, of Salisbury, IN
this State. There is some difficulty about the power
of the College, under its charter TO avail itself OF the
whole amount but still enough will, in any event, be
secured to place the institution very solid pecu-
mary basis.
The college buildings are detached, and neither
large nor striking in an architectural view, but appear
10 be convenient enough, and the chapel and halls OF
the two societies are very handsome rooms. The
foundations are being dug for a very large new
building, with six or seven hundred feet front
On Wednesday the 18th inst, the ceremonies in
Mr.. Grier, of Wilmington, after which the Valedc-
torv before the Phanthropic class was deliv-
cred by D. ]. DeVane, of New Hanover and the
Response by M. NJ. McBryde, of Richmond County,
NJ L. Both wero highly creditable efforts. That OF
Mr. DeVane struck US, especially, by its maturity
and originality of thought, It's clear and consecutive
arrangement, and it's apt and forcble delivery
We confess to a feeling approaching to surprse-
It was the effort of full and thoughtful man, rather
than such as might have been expected from mere
STUDENT just starting into life, and it was as plainly
the effort of the man himself.
After a recess of few minutes the concourse Of
people again assembled to listen 10 the annual Grafton
before the two Literary Societies, by M. B. Smith,
ESQ.,, of Wilmington, who had selected tor his sub
ect The Province, the Failure and the Success
of the Scholar. Mr.. Smiths Grafton occupied
something over hour in the delivery, during which
time it received the earnest and undivided attention
of very large audience After gracefully acknoWl'
edging accompaniment paid him, an honor the more
highly appreciated because unsought and unexpected
Mr. Smith proceeded Immediately to the consdera-
ton of his subject, dwelling upon the advantages
conferred by educaon-the prizes offered as the re-
ward of the successful scholar-the corresponding
obligations i'm posed and the duties incumbent upon
him in his relations 10 society.
He next turned to the causes upon which depended
the failure or success of his career in life, partly IN
fuenced by ad venitous circumstances, but mainly
controlled by him self-mainly the results of his own
rightly directed energies, perseVeringiy exerted and
udicously concentrated upon the pursuit or profess
sion selected as the business of his life. Upon these
or upon the want Of them his fortunes must depend
far more than upon any merely fortultous cIrcum-
stances-far more than upon any real or tdncled
genius, which genius might prove to be good ser
want, but would certainly turn out to be very bad
master, carrying those who relied upon 1t, alone'
boastngy into battle, yet deserving them at the very
first wound He cited the most emirent instances
in literature, in craftsmanship, in all the walks OF lie
in which greatness had been achieved, TO show that
the greatest were the most laborious, and that no
real greatness had ever been achieved without
great labor, while, without any great store OF
what the world calls genius, men had achieved
high usefulness and lasting reputation. He warned
his young friends that fanny position attained, any
reputation gained, by wrong, or by false seeming,
mus prove mockery and, like dead fruit, turn 10
ashes in their grasp In the eager pursuit of gain,
in the struggle after station or position, the finer
uncultivated, else life would become barren vase
and hOnors but an empty name.
In conclusion he turned 10 the dark cloud now i'm
pending over the land 1t remained for the educated
mind of the country, for the young just emerg-
ing from her colleges and semnares, to say whether
that cloud should be disspated or confrmed-to
them the direction of the future must mainly be COM
mitted-upon their.course, momentous issues must
depend for solution. 1t for them 10 act in man
ner worthy of their destnes of their opportunities,
and of their responsibilities
Of couEse our sketch is made hurridly and meager-
ly, giving atotaliy inadequatcidca of what appeared
to US, to be an able, impressive and thoughtful ad
dress. From the expression of opinion by those
whose age, position and experience gave weight to
their views, we were confirmed in the impression
we had conceived.
On Wednesday afternoon the Valedictory Address
before the Eumenean Society was delivered by H. H.
Banks of Ell Dorado, Arkansas, and the Response by
D. A. Townsend, of Marion District, S. c.; we did
not enjoy the pleasure OF hearing these addresses,
but have heardthem highly spoken of, particularly
that of Mr.. Banks who graduated with high distinc-
ton. The Anniversary Grafton of the Society was
delivered by A. NJ Rogle Esq., of TaylorsviIle N C.
AT night, addresses were delivered by Representa-
tives from the two Societies. three on each side
The efforts very respectable, but not particular
ly marked in any way. During the evening the
village was Illuminated, lamps suspended from the
trees, and other manifestations made Indicative of
gala night.
Thursday was strictly speaking, commencement
day. After prayer, the first business was the iAau
guration of W. c. Kerr, A. NJ, as Professor of Chem