Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-06-18
AarIan callsae. nlIehIsnn.


EDITOR LEADER: Having witnessed part
of the examination, and attended the Com
mencemeut Exercises Of Adrian College we
desire to say word or two to many readers
Of your columns who feel greatly interested
in the success Of that Institution.
Of the city of Adrian we need say but
little and viii simply add, that in wealth
and population it ranks as the second city in
the State, while in point Of beauty it yields
TO none, and we have never seen more genor-
osity, and public spirit of the right stamp
displayed than by tbe people Of Adrian.
Adrian College is a new Institution, or
rather a revised, improved and corrected edi-
ton Of the "Miohigan Union College" for
merly located at Leoni, in the same State.
Leaving our own beautiful city ofelms and
naples, Monday, June llth, we arrived at
the above named place in time to hear one
class examined in the perplexing, yet beauti-
ful Odes Of Horace, and two classes in the
higher mathematics, who certainly acquitted
themselves with much credit In the even
ing, President Mahan, formerly of Cleveland,
and who has been elected President Of the
College, and who may justly be termed the
pioneer of our Western Reform Schools, de-
livered his Inaugural Address, which abound
ed with noble sentiments, everlasting truths,
and was replete with good wholesome advice.
He feels the responsibility of the position to
which he has been called, and enters the
work with zeal that renders his success a
matter of no doubt whatever Up to this
time the affairs of the Institution have been
under the very efficient management Of Vice
President McEldowney, also a former resident
of Cleveland He is truly man for the
times. With an untiring energy, and an in
domitable will, and the determination to
succeed, he has overcome obstacles and con-
quered difficulties that most men would have
shrunk from in utter despair.
Tuesday, June 18th, was indeed gala day
for Adrian, and will be long remembered
Early in the morning "Odd Fellows Hall"
was crowded with people to listen to the
essays and Orations of young ladies and gen
tlemen of the College classes. We were
especially delighted with the high moral tone
of these productions-whichw were delivered in
an easy, fluent manner that evidently showed
that they were at home in regions of fancy
and beauty, as well as in the stern realities
OF lite The subjects were well chosen, and
the thoughts presented eVinced deep penetra-
ton and much study. The Press received
a noble tribute from J. Scoonover of Indiana,
while the honor of our own State was fully
sustained by R. Watts and J. H. Fee, Buck
eye boys of marked talent and great promise;
the former speaking Of the responsibility OF
Young America, while the latter paid just
and eloquent tribute to the poet Byron, ex-
tolling his brilliant genius and asking that
the ''veil of charitable oblivion" be drawn
over bis many faults. The question, 'fWhat
is Life y was well answered by Miss Conger,
of Adrian; while "Life's Problem" was well
solved by Miss Warner, of Reading.
The poem of the occasion, written by Mr.
Bateman, of Adrian, was one of more than
ordinary merit. A few cheering words were
well read by Miss Baekus, and Milton was
brought to our minds in a pleasing manner
by H. Scandrit of Pa But perhaps we are
taking up too much space, and viii only add
that one Of the most attentive audiences we
ever saw listened for over three hours,
The crowning feature Of the day was the
laying of the cornerstone of a new Chapel
building. At the appointed time Adrian
seemed to have emptied its inhabitants upon
the College grounds, and the exclamation
What crowds of peopleP was heard on
every side. After an eloquent appeal to the
Giver Of every perfect gift, the stone was
placed upon the foundation, and the living
mass of people moved towards the College
Grove, which, by the way, is one Of the most
beautiful Of - Gods first temples"
The Orator of the Day was Rev. DR.. Lee,
of Ohio, whose production was perfect gem,
abOunding in things beautiful, grand and
sublime but we can best describe it to those
who know him, by saying that the oration
was a type of the orator.
A sentiment was then read by Prof NIGEL
downey, to which Rev c. Prindle, of Syra-
cuse, N. Y, responded in an of-hand speech
of great power and beauty, showing the util-
ity of such institutions, and their claims up
on public support and sympathy.
The exercises of this interesting occasion
closed with an eloquent lecture in the evening
delivered by Rev. Mr.. Chafin, of Cincinnati,
Ohio, to the members of the Star Society"
The College grounds are finely located just
beyond the city limits The buildings, which
for convenience and architectural beauty are
unsurpassed by any school buildings of the
West, were designed by Mr.. Porter, of Cleve-
land.
The Adrianites are very proud Of their In
stitution, and we may justly say that the
the collegians are as proud of Adrian, for the
citizens Of the above-named place have dOna-
ted in lands and money, over fifty thousand
dollars, and are ready to do more.
All. L.