Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-09-10
Las Commencement at LeWiSburg--
Burleigh and SaXe---&c. Sc.

recent VlNit mere.
DEAR SIR Since l left your county
! have divided my labors between
Oraagc, Ulster, and Duchess counties,
besides having made an excursion in
TO tie Interior Of Pennsylvania, for
the purpose ofadireSsing the Literary
Societies of the University at Lewis
burg, at ihc recent Commencement.
The latter trip, in spite Of torrid heats
and dusty roads, was most delight
ful one. Lewisburg is situated in the
midst OF beautiful and fertile valley,
on the West Branch of the Susquc-
hanna, in Union county, 10 miles
northwest of Philadelphia. The jour
ncy from that city is through most
delightful country, which, for varied
beauty, the fertility OF its soil, and
the air of thrift which charactcrizes
it, will compare favorahly with any
portion of Central New York. |
never saw finer farms than those of
Chester, Lancaster, Dauphin, Nor
cumberland, and Union counties, and
nowhere, outside of Pennsylvania,
have l seen such palatial barns. The
farmers of those counties house their
cattle far more luxuriouSly than they
do themselves. 1t is not an unusual
thing for them to invest four, five or
six thousand dollars in barn, while
the accommodations provided for
themselves. .yEOws, and childrcn,w would
scarcely sell for as many hundreds. |
heard good story while in the val
ley of the West Branch, of a man who
had built himsclfa splendid residence,
and furnished it, without and within,
with all that could CRAFTY cultiva-
ted taste, or minister TO the comfort
of its occupants. Shortly after its
however, he decided TO
offer it for sale, and announced his
desire by handbills and through the
papers. Many people came TO view
il, but found il too magnificent for
their means, and left without purcha-
sing. At last, Il well-to-do Dutch far
mcr came and scrutinized the mansion
more scarchingly than any of his pre-
decessors. After passing from storey
to storey, and from room to room,
examining their relative positions,
and minutely inspecting partitions
and stairways, he went outside, and
viewed the building from several diff
tcrcnt stand-pointS, with very evident
The owner was quite
sure that he had at length found
and began TO cXpatia.e
upon the rare convenience and cle-
Cance that the house presented. "Myn-
heer" interrupted him with the quiet
Il was seeing if | could turn
him into a goot barn :.
The University at Lewishurg is
under the patronage of the Baptist
denomination, though not scctarian
in its character. Rev. Howard Nal
com, ID. d., was for some years its
presiding officer, and to his energy it
is indebted in 70 small degree for the
prosperity which has raised it from a
very humble TO a comparatively ele-
yated position among the Colleges Of
the Keystone State. The President
elect, VINO enters upon his official du-
ties with the commencement of the
next term, is Rev. Justin r. Loomis.
LII. D., a ripe scholar and most af-
fable gentleman. Under the guidance
Of such man and an able corps of
Professors, the University, l trust,
will enter upon career of increasing
uscfulncss and prosperity. The priE-
cipal University building has been
Int Just completed, and is an imposing
edifice, built of brick, situated on an
cmincncc east of the village. and sur
rounded by stately trees-thc native
forest, which seems to have been mir
aculously spared in country SO infes-
ted by tree eeXtcrminators, who, with
axe and fire, wage as relentless war
against OUR groves as did King JOSH
oh against the groves of Judah which
were dedicated to idolatry. In the
third storey of this building, is fine
hall eighty feet square, which was
used for the public services connected
with the commencement. With some
three or four feet added to its height,
it would be one of the finest public
halls in the country.
Of the Grafton before the Literary
Societies, l have nothing 10 say-cX-
cept its theme was "Knowledge-a
Power and a Delight" and that it was
unfortunately too long for a short and
warm evening. John G. Sake follow
cd with Poem, sparkling with humor,
abounding with fine description, with
now and then touch of truest pathos,
and pervaded by sound philosophy
and down right, practical, Yankee
common sense. His theme was Love"
SAKE, by the way, is one of the most
genial men | ever met. 1t was not
among the least Of the fclicities Of my
trip TO Lowisburg that it brought me
into temporary companionship with
this true Yankee poet
-whose wit is kc.n as arc the winds that blow
From hi- own Mounts when heImet.i with snow,
But bright and sparkling is the living riils
That Spring sends laughing from a thousand hills,
Aud genial a. the light which Morning throws
Athwart the earth 10 wake IL from r.lose"