Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-08-20
ERsKINE COLLEGE.

0ther places.
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ERSKINE COLLEGE.
1t was our good fortune to be present on the
10Th. at the Annual Festival Of Letters Of this
Institution. The presentation Of Diplomas from
the Literary Societies, took place on Tuesday
evening. JOHN A. ANsLEY represented the Eu-
phemian Society. W. L. PREssLr responded IN
behalf Of the Class. JOHN G. WITHERsPooN pre-
sented the Diplomas from the Philomathean 80
ciety and the response was by JOHN X. G. NANCE.
The speakers all appeared quite young, and &C
omitted themselves in such manner as to elicit
general applause. Rev. Q. E. PREssLr-elected
to deliver the address before the Alumni Assoc'a-
tion-for some reason, failed to be present, so that
the exercises were comparatively brief Band
from Columbia was in attendance which enlivened
the evening with choice music At the close OF
the exercises the crowd proceeded to the Literary
Halls for q general tete-a-tete. Nothing could
possibly be more pleasant than the reunion OF
old friends in those favorite resorts, had they
not been so crowded and the evening so sultry-.
But as it was, every person seemed determined to
make the best of it and mirth unbridled, reigned
amid the compact masses of humanity. With
their accustomed bad taste, pretenders to the name
of gentlemen so blocked up the way that the ladies
passed with great difficulty, and when once in the
Halls, were nearly suffocated by conglomerated
mass of the rougher sex, whose sole object up
peared to be to show they were not afraid to stand
in five feet of, and with their backs towards the
ladies'.
On Thursday morning, "Lindsay Halr' was
densely crowded at an early hour by the beauty,
chivalry and intelligence of Abbeville and the
neighboring districts. The exercises were opened
with prayer by DR.. McBRYDE. The Salutatory was
then delivered by T. A. DowTIN in very eloquent
manner The dignity, energy aud cogency OF his
oratory we have seldom seen surpassed, and every
one felt that his iervent welcome was from the
heart. We give the Programme of the day:
R. ". BRrcE-"The Primitive Condition and
Happiness of Man"
JP. BRIcE-
"Who dares think one thing and another tell,
Nv heart detests more than the gates of He'll"
R. B. KNIoHr,-"The Prospective Universally
of knowledge and Republican Institutions"
R.F. McCAslkN-"The Star in the East''-its
Progress.
". NJ. McCAsLAN-
"Man's inhumanty to man,
Makes countless thousands MOURN.
D. McGILL--"Social Obligation in view Of the
Force and Progress of Popular Opinion"
J. A. MrERs-Napoleon at Waterloo
J.K. G.. NANcE-"The Matrons of Carolina"
W. L. PREssLY-"E "England's Prepouderance-
How Obtained"
G. W. TRIBBLE-"All Earthly Things Pass A.
way"
T. D. WHlTEsIpE-"Our Country, Field for
Intellectual Improvement"
w. J. LowRY-"Valedictory.
These speeches were all we'll received, but Mr..
J. P. BRIcE, perhaps. elected the warmest ap-
plause Mr. PREssLy aud WHITEsIDEs (the latter
from York; acquitted themselves in highly credi-
table manner. The valedictory by Mr.. LOWRY
was praised by every one, as we'll for its ornate
diction and beautiful imagery, as for the pathos
and eloquence of its delivery. Farther than this
we cannot particularize.
Dr. GRIER then delivered the Baccalaureate in
his usual forcible and impressive manner: He is
one of those speakers who never fail to command
attention because they never speak without saying
something instructive in lucid and attractive
! manner.
| After short recess, Mr.. YEADoN delivered the
Anniversary Address. His oration was somewhat
political in its character, treating of the constitu
tional recognition of slavery and several other
points relating to the peculiar institution of the
South.
| On Thursday evening the young folks again as
sembled for Concert This was decidedly the
most agreeable portion of the entire pageant
The Halls were not so densey peopled and there
was ample space for person so disposed, to see
and admire the beauty assembled on every side.-
But time passed swiftly away and that bright cir
| Gle was soon scattered-to meet no more. Many
of them will again see each other, and many of
them will meet once more in Lindsay Hall, yet how
many will have drifted far out on life's troublous
sea, ere another year brings around this mingled
scene of joy and sorrow. With the subsistence of
such gay and hilarous assemblage will come
melancholy reflections, but life is mixture of To-
Dor, pain and pleasure, and in the busy avocations
of to-day, we forget the frivolties of yesterday.
We were glad to witness the many evidences of
Erskine's prosperity, though we must think the
Faculty culpable in not encouraging the students
to join the Sons of Temperance. We know of no
place where the Society could effect more good,
and an objection to the organization comes with q
bad grace from men who have failed to make tenn
perate students by the ordinary persuasive. If
they had anything better to offer their course
would be perfectly justi6able but to bring up the
old objection against secrecy, is, if not folly, at
least, stubborness near akin to folly. We hope
however by next session that the Due West Divs.
ion will be in fourishing condition, and that the
Faculty will have the good sense to favor an or.
ganization, promotive of temperance and good or
der.
| -<SO><-
| THE KNOXVILLE CONVENTION.
This Convention, organized for the promotion Of
Southern Commercial interests, met in Knoxville
on the 10th instant. Prof. ]. D. B. DEBow, oil
Louisiana, was elected President, and Vice-Pre.
sident chosen from each State W. R. ROBINSON
Of Fairfield, was selected from South Carolina
| 60 noln