The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-15
From our Special Reporter
Cn,,,,,,e,.cen,ent Exercises
uAMppEN SIDNEY COLLEGE.


A sketch OF Hampden sidney Col.
Icge-Professor Dabncy's Address
The Literary Societies = Addresses
by MIR. Edmunds and Mr.. stamps
Conclusion of the First Days Exer.
| ciscs.
The torn fences are being replaced, the
desolated fields are again in cultivation,
the low of the cattle is again heard upon
the hillside, and the whole southern pco
ple are working with one mind and one
will to efface the terrible wounds which
four wears of war have inflicted upon the
land! The heart Of the mourner is being
gradually comfortcd, the first great bitter
ness of grief is assuagcd, and there is n
strong and universal determination to un-
dcrtake conscientiously and fearlcssly an
the grave responsibilities Of the times.
Nor is this done with any hope of political
preferment or national greatness. 1t is but
the indomitable forttude ofthe people again
making itself known, and proving conclu-
siyclv that no combination of either de-
/ served or unmcritcd disasters and evil for
tunes can continually dcprcss those who
are determined with the help of Provi-
dcncc, to help themselves. For all this
labor and all this energy there is at least
one great and noble cause. At the be-
ginning of the war thousands of southern
Young men who were then being educated
in the various institutions of learning
throughout the south and north, threw aside
their books and ShOuldcrcd the muSket.
Many, too many, Of them have fallen, pure
ly, chivalrously, unsclfshly, as they lived,
and many of those who escaped found
themselves compelled at the close of the
war to work with their own hands to
procure the nccessaries of life. Few,
comparatively, were able to resume their
studies, and those who were able to do SO
had lost five years in the race of life. The
Younger boys had scarcely been to school
at all their education had been entirely
neglected, and the people of Virginia, III
their present struggle, have it near at
heart to obtain the means OF securing, with
certainty, the intellectual superiority of
their children. They have felt that the
calm reason and judgment that well-ap-
piled knowledge give, would do more to
secure this country from anarchy and ruin
than millions of dollars or thousands of
bales OF cotton. They have felt that the
future of the south depends upon the
Young men who have now 10 he trained
and formed, and they have resolved to
make one great effort to advance the
grand cause of general education and &C.
neral mental improvement.
That this determination is already pro-
ducing its natural effect the most casual
glance will show In the cities the schools
are well attended by studiouS and inte-
rested scholars, and throughout the State
all the traditional colleges, whose names
are so closely identified withthc history Of
Virginia, are gradually being revived. The
University OF Virginia, the Washington
College, the Institute, and many others,
are making rapid progress, and it is orr
earnest hope that ut no distant day every
college, every seminary, every school
throughout the "Old Dominion will once
more be in active operation. BY the war
the States of the south have been closely
and ctcrnally united. Virginia is honored
and loved by every one OF her southern
sisters, and those students who were for
merly sent to the north will now be sent TO
one Of those Virginia colleges whose names
are familiar as household words in the
mouths of the people Of the south. But,
to deserve this, we must place our inStitu-
tonS upon such footing that they WI 1T
worthy Of ~, s-cfTcS ana OF our reputation;
: w must give every aid, every assistance,
and every encouragement to our colleges
and professors, with the full conviction
that all the time and money we may spend
| now will soon come back 10 lis doubled
and ouadrupled in the increased proSpe-
rity and happiness of our beloved State,
HAMPDEN SIDNEY COLLEGE.
This college, which was founded in l1Ii,
and chartered in 1888, is second i'll anti
guilty to William and Mary College alone,
and has always been supported by the
munificcncc of individuals. At the COM
mencemcnt of the war it had one hundred
and thirty-one students, but the greater
part of them were called into the army,
and the operations OF the college were
suspended. The close of the war found
Hampden Sidney in Il very embarrassed
condition. Very few persons had the
means to send their sons to the college,
and the foundation fund, being invested in
State stock, which paid no dividend, did
not allow the continuance of the usual
scholarships. Every effort, however, was
made to place the institution upon sub
stantial footing, and it now has thirty-tive
students.
The following are the Faculty: Rev. DIR.
J. NJ. p. Atkinson, PreSident-Moral and
Mental Philosophy Professor Charles Mar
tin, Greek; Professor l.. l.. Holiday, Nat
ural Sciences; and Professor w. Blair,
Latin. An election will be held on Au-
gust first for Professor of Mathematics.
1t has been determined by the trustees
to try and maintain the college and grounds
in their present condition, but no funds are
at present available for any other than the
most indispensable repairs. AS soon as
the State stock Of the college pays interest
the old scholarships will be resumed.
There is no graduating class this year,
but the degree of Master of Arts will be
conferred upon two OF the students on to-
morrow.
COMMENCEMENT AT THE COLLEGE.
As the annual commandments at Hamp-
den Sidney had been suspended for four
years, great interest was excited by the
announcement that the customary eXcr-
cises would take place upon to-day and
tomorrow, the 18th and 18th Of June. 1t
was stated at first that Mr.. c. L. Vallan-
digham and Mr.. Sullivan, of New York,
would deliver the addresses, but both of
these gentlemen were unable to attend.
Atap 40 rIy hour This morning the friends