Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-07-02
Reported for the Journal and statesman.

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College.
On Thursday, the Annual Commencement ex-
ereises of st. Mary's College, were held. Long
before the appointed time, large numbers Of
ladies and gentlemen (the former, of course, and
as is ever the case ut all College commencemenis
aud literary exercises, greatly predominating)
began TO assemble, and by 10 O'Clock, when the
programme wa opened by an air from the Col
lege Band, the large and splendid Hall was filed
to overtiowing, beyond the power of providing
seats or even standing room. The audience was
highly respectable and intelligent, and the coup
d eH-taking in the radiant faces and the bril-
liant bonnets of the ladies, the wreaths of ever
greens, the boquets of flowers, and the spark
ling folds of the glorious " Stars and Stripes"-
was very fine and striking. The Hall was mo-
destly but very tastefully decorated There was
however no modesty in the display of the "star
Spangled Banner" II was prominent on every
side and the fact we consider rs evidencing the
very perfection of good taste, just now. Its
folds were as graceful, as ornamental, and more
patriotic than q whole suspended parterre of
roses and other flowers
On the platform were seated the Rt Rev. John
Wood, Bishop of Philadelphia; Rev. P Reilly,
President of ST. Marys; Rev. Mr.. Bowles, of
burlington, N. j.; Rev. Mr. Goblin, of New
Castle; Rev, Mr.. O'Brien, of ST. Peters Church
in this city Rev. Mr.. Cullen, of Schuylkill
Falls; Rev. Mr.. Dunn, of Philadelphia, besides
one or two others, and number of invited
friends.
The College Band having concluded a fine
piece of music, which was played in excellent
STYLE the intellectual part of the entertainment
was opened by James Ward, of Newark, N. j..
by delivering an essay on THE Pains and Plea
sures of Memory" 1t was very well written and
delivered-though in the latter aspect not entire.
ly safe from criticism, The speaker has a clear.
ringing and not unmusical voice, but lacks ease
and grace in his motions and gestures He is too
still and formal. However, on the whole, he is
a very pleasing speaker, aud can be listened to
without etfort-whieh, for a sprouting young
orator, is no small praise.
"There is no Such Word as Fail,H was the
next piece. 1t was spoken by Joseph F. CORR.
gan, of Newark, N. j. Its thought was sensi
bic and just-but now We have said the best of
it. Master Corrigan has a singular voice. in
some respects. For his age it is full aud strong,
and to us was peculiarly pleasing. There is
richness aud mournfllness in it that at once
attracts attention. But his oratory was far from
perfect to-day. He lacked viG and neat har-
mouy with the thought of his sentences.
Music came next, and after it piece called
the " Ruins of Time" spoken by Frank c.
Plunkett, of this city. Mr.. Plunkett has the
same fault as the last speaker-tOO much of
what's called the "drawI." He has energy
enough but it is not direct. His "linked sweet
ness" is "too long drawn out" little atten-
tion to the correction of this fault would make
him an excellent speaker. For the rest he ac-
quilted himself in highly oreditable manner.
His piece contained some striking sentences and
did honor to his pen.
Books" by James A. MoCalleD, Of Phila-
delphia, was a very good piece on a rather
thread-bare subject Master McCallen's voice |
has force enough, but it is lacking in volume
We have no doubt this was his first effort in the |
oratorical line, and as such it IS really deserving
of commendaton.
ihe bahu agaih lAVoreu tue iuultnce with a |
we'll executed piece, and then came the " Anti |
guilty of the Irish Nation" spoken by Michael
Reynolds, of this city. This, considered as /.
composition, was, so far, by far the best piece.
The subject had freshness las an essay if not
entire originality, and really it was finely han
died. The thought was vigorous, and we may
say the same of the argument. 1t was sufFi
cien,ly learned, without pedantry, and the sem
tences were we'll constructed and finely rounded
We hardly think, however, that Mr.. Reynolds
voice did justice to his thoughts. He is not-a
tiresome speaker, since he has good voice and
occasionally true gesture and lntsnation, but he
is not yet perfect as an orator. He has the same