, 1861-07-06
STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY.
Tho annual Comm enceMaent .- The
465, 700 State Education Bonds
Correspondents Of the Chicago Tribune !

Correspondence Of the Chicago Tsibune.1
BLooaNaroN, MONDAY, July 2, 1861.
The most clear, cool, sunny weather has so
far been given for the present gathering. The
attendance from distance is but small, Al
though in themselves the various exercises
don't lack their usual degrees Of high interest,
the interest oi the public seems to be less than
Versity. This is doubtless to be attributed to
that state Of the public mind which finds moth
ipg profitable unless it contributes to sharpen
the war edge of the times.
The closing examinations were held to daJ.
The respective examinations in Physical Geo-
grerby, under Prof Hewitt, in Botany, under
Prof. SeTcl, in Arithmetic, under Prof.
Moore, in ReadiEg and Composition, under
Prcf. Potter, and IN the Constitution Of the
full Of interest, deserving more than this p,ss-
ing notice. 1t must suffice, however, to say
they oil cvinced that thorough culture, that
knowing how 10 know and hOH to tel it, that
Eablt Of independent thought, which the pub
lie expect and have right to demand from
The recitation efthe class whose study, under
the charge Of Prof Hosey, had been the His
tory and Constitution of our Government,
frr m its especial adaptcdness to the times,
vas perhaps peculiarly Interesting. The
knowledge e1ineed BY many Of the pupils
an editorial written BY respectable Journals
since the commencement Of national troubles.
A!eature Of the exercises was the calling for
extemporaueous compositions upon topics sc.
lected BY the audience, from 31r. Potter's
class. Hastily written as these were, with the
reflect great credit upon the framing Of this
derart tInent Of the institution
After the examinations, the Normal Rifles,
1rder the charge Of their Captain, G. E. HoYey,
Principal Of the University, held their usual
daily drill in the rear Of the College Buildings.
For over an hour the Rifles marched aud coun-
te.mafched, going tArough b the various eyolu-
tons With 4 readiness and skill to be gained
only from long practice, minds quick to ap-
Ereciate, u1cer 4 competent drill leader.
The long exercise, in the drill, the greater por-
tlcn apon a "double quick," over the soft
heaps Of sand. rubbish, debris Of the buiIdin
cot yet removed, ana the heavy swart1 Of the
grcuncs, would Eayc tired any tyro5 in tic
Grill exercise, but, scarcely heated, the com
pany formed in front Of the min po1tico
Hon. ". H. Green, Of Massac county, one Of
the State Board Of Education, being previous
y called for, addressed the Riffs. The lead
ing tone Ct his remarks will be gathered
from the fe1 owing extract:
''Thou:h before US there Is not that number Of
eesser, 1;l'nrned faces. which sends the electric
form, and tho facts Of tic occasion furnish that
fhsI11ation which appeal. to the inmost feelings
ot a1y one who addresses an sndicnce In the pres
ent times. Unfortunately during the legislative
session., introduced amendment to the war
appropriation, known as the 'Qornstalk Amend
ntnt,, Propo-iag to arm oar soldiers with thu:
mattriA Instead of mnskets- Gifted with 40 p:s-
phetic vision, with no presciencc Of coming
events did not see the baby fingers OF the eiant
mass Of things to come deemed call for cit
in she circumstance but the bubbles upon poii1i.
cal waSe, to pass away with the ebbng Of the tide.
saW no VAT ahead, no rising Of the ration, ne
aI1aed rebellion, insisting upon forced secession
The, present, with It's responsibilities densciy
marked out ls war before all OF us and therefore
am most heafti glad over its Issue from The quiet
patriotism to share, and the physical energy united
With skill. to quen the dangers that now threaten
eur G untEy: It may not be improper to cay that
Other camps Of our soldiery. have met but six OF
eight companies whose drill Is equal to ysur own.
Whether this be owing to the fact that the edu;
purely 9ndeE discipline, or 10 the ability 81 your
leader: Mr: Horey, or to both together, cannot
say. The fact Is 70. 1n your faces and iron, yous
elassnlates and iro:n what learn Of Your own dc.
stgns and intentions, l feel that your minds arc
settled and fixed upon the questions and l~pics
AID that devotion to The dag Of our country and to
that Union which has made each OF us ali that vi
are sad to sdl Thish We ~ oMe oaF jast nnaying.
you-believe me my hand and heart acts but In the
Naruesl sympathy.
"aentlemcn, it yon shall be called upon to 90
forth in the battles Of your country, would have
| you armed, not with 'rolnstalks, but with the
| best MINES. AID know thst from this haI oil
learning will go forth not one traitor, not sym
pathizef with secession; but that each will b
read, for his country to hght most galanty and il
necessary, for that country most galanty TO die
The compliments Of the pen to tho sklll ol
! the rifle we're we'll deserved, and his patriotic
| uttetances as he progressed were greeted with
cheers, secnripg 1t the close the regular Zouaye
! clarion, with a'tiger."
The Dedication Of the philadelphia
| society's hall last evening waa attended by a
! crowded audience, comprising the students
| and as many outsiders as could squeeze into
Mr. .Ames, and music" Washington's Birth.
day." seven voices and piano,-~thc Chairman
| introduced
| B. F. Taylor, late Of the, Chicago Journal
Ut; Taylor made most characteristic
preston upon lis audlence. Appropriate
| to the occasion, abounding in most
happy thoughts mcst happily expressed, il
would have seemed to the most captious criti
to Lack that clear connected logical connec
ton Of thought which alone can render any
| pearls we're there, but not "ar1ayed upon q
! string"
| Alter the recess, came "The unfortunate
quarrel emong Ucc1e Sans girls" an original
dialogue, which Was pleasingly performed b.
| four young ladies.
Amer another soug,-"The C1ystl spfinr, y
--Jehu Little, according to appointment, Dc
livered short speech, fall Of shirt and yfror
| ous thought. He sketched briefly the history
Of the Philade1phtam Society, recoanting thu
struggles through which It passed to its pres
ent prosperous condition, closing with a warm
| h frr 3tu 4