The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1859-07-16
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DEMOCRAT.


Mr.. EDITOR The Oxonians are having
gay time of it, their village is throDged
with visitors, who are attending the com,
mencement exercises of our State University.
Many distinguished characters are present.
among whom are to be found bright orna,
meuts of the legal profession and the ablest
.dissssippians, who have ever worn the
judicial ermino Quite a small number of
eminent politicians are to be seen, IN con-
sequence of the Democratic State Conven-
Ition, which, presume, is quite attractive,
and of course, prevents many from coming
who would otherwise have been here. But
their absence is richly compensated by the
presence of some of the fairest and loveliest
females that have ever graeed any similar
occasion. It is, indeed, a treat to suscepti~
Bile young colleg;ans who have been engaged
in the prosecution of their studies for nine
long months. Ye who are slow to acknow )
ledge female influence, would do we'll to be
here, in order to divest yourselves of error.
Language cannot express the power Of "black
eyed beauties of sweet eighteen" 1t can
and will ever be felt and fully realized, but
it can never be described.
Mr. Reed, of Nashville, prominent min
lister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
was selected by the Faculty TO preach the
Commencement Sermon, on the Bird of July.
He had large audience, and was listened
to with marked attention, having been the
recipient of all the respect due from the
congregation to the divine speaker.
The Sophomore competitors for prize de-
CARNATIONS, made their appearance on the
morning of the ever memorable 4th, day
near and dear to the patriot, whether he
halls from the distant North or comes from
the "sunny South" Their number was
not as large as usual, on account of the
sickness of several of the chosen fe@; but
those who did come forward showed cono
;lusively that they were not altogether
Ignorant of clocution-that they had some
claims to oratorical ability,
Immediately after the defamation, the
Phi Sigma Society had public annual cele
bration Henry NJ. Scales, of class IS, de-
livered the Grafton. He was followed by
John Buck, the valedictorian of the retiring
class, who, in turn, was followed by Willie
Hamilton, responding in behalf of the under
gradutes.
In the evening, Prof William F. Sttarns,
the speaker on the occasion, delivered a
Masonic address in the Cumberland Church
The house was not sufficiently large to ac-
commodate all, some were compelled to stand
on their feet, whilst others were forced toI
undergo the dis Jleasure of remaining out of
doors. Col. Walter, of Holly Springs, made
few remarks. A subscription was then
taken up for the purpose of assisting the
Oxford Lodge in dcfraying the expenses OF
a Mas mic hall, which is in contem pIation of
being built; after which, the crowd retired
to the Southeast corner of the public square,
where they witnessed the laying of the cor
ner stone.
At night, the members of the Hermean
Society had their annual celebration. Il. P.
Hartman, Of the class of '5S, was the speaker
elect, Geo. L. Donald, of the graduating
class, the valedictorian, and j. Buchanan
the junior responsor.
The Junior exhibition came off on the
morning of the 9Th. The speakers selected
by the Faculty, as well as those ected by
the Societies, sustained themselves with credit
1t vas in truth, gratifying to their respective
friends to see them acquit themselves SO we'll
At 4 o'clock in the evening, the Hon. J. W.
Clapp, of Holly Springs, the annual orator
Of the two Literary Societies, made telling
and appropriate speech before large and
audience. He was repeatedly
,heered whilst delivering it, and at the COM
,lusion, he brought down laundering apN
olause.
After nightfall, T. w. Keyes, of Carroll
.on, addressed the Alumni Association His
subject was the University of Mississippi"
He undoubtedly refuted the woaId-6e ar.
Jaments derogatory of its character as an
Institution of loarning-suecessfu met all
he objections against it as State Univel>
ity; he handled without gloves, those who
10 far forgot themselves as to attempt to
ring it in disrepute by thrusting the darts
If vile anathemas, and hurting the shafts
# bitter yituperation againstit. The worthy
President having extended general invita-
ion to attend the levee given by himself
nd estimable lady, the audience proceeded
hither Immediately after the grafton. 1t
vas largely attended by both sexes--the
mansion was full to overhowing-time pass,
d off with the velocity of thought--hours
eemed nothing more than fceting moments
every one seemed to be the very personi6
alton ofhappinoss. The assembled beauties
eemed to vie with each other in loneliness,
nd tried to surpass one another in agree,
bleness. Your own correspondent, whilst
casting upon the pleasures he there realized,
it to be the beau ideal of earthly
njoyment' Among the reigning bellies Of
he evening, none were more conspicuous
han Miss j and Miss NJ, of central
Iississippi. They are SO lovely, so agree
BILE, SO intelligent and SO entertaining that
hey were surrounded by host of admirers
liss M, Of C county, made her
elf so interesting that her presence was
ought by many gallant youth. Miss
-, of M county, was as beautiful
$ ever, thus making all around her enjoy
themselves. Miss r, of NJ county,
'as present, who is said by some to be ex,
oedingly handsome. Many others were
here whose names were unknown to me