New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-10-29
UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH.

Z of wealth, commerce and population in the Scut
eFn section of our country, there must be ma,
!. interest felt in the Inauguration and progress
! the University Of the South Perhaps no pa
Y Of the world of equal resources and refinemei
presents an educational field so unbroken as OF
/, South. This has heretofore furnished suiicier
h cause Of slow progress amongst ourselves, and
g just subject Of reproaeh from our neighbors
: While our energy and resources have been gres
and freely expended In building magnificent cities
in encouraging taste III developing high persona
I shirt, tempered with kindness and hospitality
and in establishing an agriculture which support
! the most necessary and extended commerce of til
/ globe we still rely upon Others for that uro
which depends the perpetuatien Of all this glory
the liberal and high education of our youth. |
Il would be the cause of just admiration for coun
Try whose educational efforts were as old as he
history TO engage in an enterprise as great as GU
subject; but when the first effort of a communit,
/ in establishing university is dignifed by suci
\ magnitude and liberality, and cleared from the
| charge Of wldness Of project by the assurance Of
success, which we certainly have, we can hardly
| indulge in too much pride and generalization.
Advertisements and Invitations notified the pub.
lc that the ice would be broken in establishing the
University By laying the cornerstone on the 10th
Of October. Architects were invited to send de.
signs and attend them in person. ten days earlier
viz: October LIST. The first part of this invitation
was responded to by very many, while enough at
tended to the latter part of the summons from the
North, South, East and West Greek, Roman, Goth
and Vaudal-to sustain the liveliest and sharpest
architectural competition.
About the LIST of October the invited guests com.
menced assembling, and continued doing so until
the beautiful mountain domain, whose woodlands
and rocky domain are seldom traversed, except BY
graceful deer, were envened by visitors from all
quarters Of our country. In morning walk you
could meet beyies Of young ladies who gilded the
front Of the sombre woods with their gay laugh
and picturesque attire pensive artists standing
upon projecting rock, beneath which lay the
rich Tennessee valleys; biologists admiring the
beautiful out-croppiHg sandstone botanists, with
hands full of rare ferns and wildfowers and archi
tects attesting that towers and battlements
bosomed high mid tufted trees' would perfect the
beauty of the sewanee plateau.
The company collected upon the mountain by
the 10th consisted of the Bishops of the Southern
dioceses, almost without exception many attended
by their families guests from the North and South
and the whole of the neighboring country. and
gave one an earnest Of one Of the most beautiful
parts Of the whole project, which is to gather
around this seat Of learning as center, an aris-
toeracy Of virtue and intellect from the entire South
lending to andreeeiving from the University during
the summer refinement and interest in high OBJ
ects which they will radiate when scattered to their
respective homes during the winter, thus purifying
and freshening the whole Intellectual atmosphere
Of the South.
The ceremonies of the day were of a most inter.
esting order and were performed with much
solemnity. The procession, as it moved through
the beautiful forest, seemed to realize that it was
pursuing sacred and impressive mission, whose
interest would not be confined to this day or cen
ury.
The laying Of beautiful block OF native conglom-
rate marble, the corner stone was presided over
y Bishop Polk, and attended with prayers, selec-
ions from scripture, and sacred music. The reli.
ious forms of the ceremony, the bishops and cler-
y in robes, the sentmultitude, and enoircling
II the quiet autumn woods, formed an impressive
nd solemn scene. which, with the important ma
ure of the deed, reminded one of the picture in our
ational Capitol of the service on the Mayfower.
there the noble Puritans, seeking liberty and a
ew home, knelt to their Cod on the deck of their
title vessel, as she started on her perilous VOYAGE
Following the laying Of the corner stone was
be Grafton by the Hon j. s. Preston, which was
ighly finished and elegant labor, redolent Of poet
sal alusion and sinile, delivered in graceful and
oble manner. The audience numbered about
wo thousand, for which there was ample accom-
lodation beneath q wide,spreadng roof sun,
orted on the trunks of sturdy trees, to whose
ark the green moss still chung.
We next repaired to another similar shed for a
rye barbecue dinner, which was followed by
idresses from many eminent gentlemen, amongst
hom were Lieut.. Marry and President Barnard,
Oxford, Mississippi, ;
The scene without the immediate college site n
Is unusual, resembling the encampments of gyp- Q
IS. Many tents were spread, and to almost every 4
'e were fastened the horses and eonveyanees
itch brought in the population of the whole
ghborhood. :,
he decision concerning the plan for the central
lding was arrived at after the celebration and II,
PRESSED preference for the design Of MFR. G. r. sh
lerson, Of Washington City This design was -
he Norman style. The equanimty of the remain ii
twenty-three architects did not fail them on q
occasion. sg54 by
very one present at this great Inauguration is ~
sbted to it for much pure pleasure and returned de-
lis home with full faith in the human means or
Oh we, as community. possess to perform this cit
at work Each one also was laid under great
CATIONS to the gentlemen to whom were intrust-
heir personal comfort to secure which, in such for
Unsettled district, the greatest difficulties were ~
and overcome. A.
hus has been inaugurated an institution which att
bit to form an additional bond of sympathy and by
iect Of common pride to our whole country. POI
Md our Union receive from fratricdal hand the ~
which other nations have met with, only from nc
decay Of centuries and course Of nature, this Flu
yersity will prove such tower Of strength, oil
aunot be found elsewhere. In either case it as
amends itself to the earnest care and regard Of
South. M, an
The
LETTER FROM GREsCENTA. too
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ear Crescent. I've often heard it said trolling Ion
q yafhera m rnnsa Il io frs,a ana 1 Co