The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-24
correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
commencement Night at Washington
College.
LEXINGTON: VA, June q, ls67'

,y,., n,eht Thursday was a brilliant fadte
20 the delightful exercises OF the week. Inc
college campus was illuminated, tne arn vy
md disconrsed sweetest music, and bellies
and beaux promen AIDED to and fro In an appa-
reni ccstacy of bliss-f. e., this was true with
most OF them; but here and there could be
seen sad countcuances, tearfui that the hour
nf parting had come, or perchance some col
lese swain. who had just laid his blushing
honors AT the feet Of some fair one, only to
have his hopes broken, and to go away mise
rable, wretched, with no aim or object In
life ....-
scented itself in the spacious dining hall Of
The Lexington Hotel. The alumni of Wash
tngtnn College assembled with their invited
guests around the festive board 10 do honor to
their Alma Mater and revive sweet memories
and associations of the past. General Echols
presided, assisted by Colonel Bolivar Chris
tian around him were clustered General X.
r. Lee, Rev. DIR. Plumcr, Rev. DIR. NJ. ID.
Hoge, Rev. DR., (GeneraD Pendleton, Rev. DIR.
Il, NJ. Smith, General +. III. Smith, Rev. DIR.
kirkpatrick, the Trustees Of the College. the
Faculty Of the College and of the Virginia
Military Institute, eX. Governor Letcher, and
many other distinguished guests
After doing full justice to the elegant sup
per, under which the tables groaned the com:
pany We're called 10 order, and the feast OF
reason and flow OF soul" begun.
General Echols briefly greeted the alump
and their guests, congratulated them on the
a feeling tribute 10 their fallen comrades, and
cXhorted the survivors 10 continue 10 stand by
aud support their noble old mother.
He gave as the firstregular toast of the eve
ming a Latin toast 10 Alma Mater (which your
CORES pendent was unable TO catchl. 1t wa:
briefly responded 10 by Colonel Bolivar Chris
tian, who said that the true response shoulC
be in the heart OF each alumnus
The next regular toast was " Inc facuiIy
Of washington CoIlege-We recognize the
prosperity Of the institution as their work.
This was responded TO by Colonel w. Preston
Johnston, who said that he supposed ms col
leagues put him forward on the principle that
a general sends his light troops into action
first, and in order that they might consume
the rations while he did the skirmishiDg.
He should have preferred response from
the Greek professor professor White, who
combines in his person the subtiity OF lysses
the scientific or mathematical professors, who
could have reduced the whole thing TO a for
mula rs brief as the soul of wit and as salts
factory as the committee OF arrangements
or testing aside, he should have preferred n
response from our honored President, Lea
simple word from whom would welSn more
than a long speech from any one else. But ne
presumed that he had been called on because
of that warm hearted kindness which he had
ever experienced at the hands OF his colleagues
since the day he came amongst them stranger.
He paid high tribute 10 the character OF the
students OF the college during the past ses-
sion. and said that their good order and dill
CenCe were chiefly due 10 General Lee, whose
personal influence over them was so great
that the rest of the Faculty had but little TO do
IN preserving proper discipline.
He eulogized the Old dominion, ana con
Guided by offering the following toast I" Nir.
rinia-Thc nursing mother OF Washington and
Lce-may her future be as prosperous rs her
past has been glorious
The next regular toast was 1.-The Virginia
Military Institute-Her shattered walls the
.,,,hl pf hpr
prosperity the earnest Of her future glory"
General L. IL. Smith, in response, thanked
the Alumni Of Washing ton College for this
toast
The college and the institute are not rivals,
but twin sisters, who should 20 hand in hand.
The next regular toast was: &" The Colleges
of Nirgiuia-Sislers all, and may they, like Sis
tiers, do their common glorious work
Rev. DR.. NJ. ID. Hoge made humorous and
eloquent response.
The next toast, drunk standing and in ST
lenCe, was THE memory of the immortal
Stonewall Jackson Colonel j. l.. L. Pres
ton responded, and gave severa! characters
anecdotes of Jackson.
The next toast was: THE gray boards OF
the Alumni-May they continue TO bless us,
though they have TO lean on their stalls.
The venerable DIR. Plumer made an exceed
ingly humorous and telling response.
The next toast was " The University OF ' IT,
ginia-The pride of the State. May sh" WORK
out her high destiny and fulfil the wish', II
Jefferson" Professor JOynes said, in resp nsc,
that while proud of his position as professor
IN Washington College, he wanted no higher
title than that Of "Alumnus of the University
of Virginia" He eloquently urged that there
Is not and cannot be any rivalry between the
University and the colleges. Let each move in
its appropriate sphere, and perform its great
mission with 4 warm sympathy for her sister.
The toast next given was The Trustees of
Washington ColIcCe-Bei il theirs TO unite the
glory of Washington and Lee in an institution
which shall embody the virtues OF both.
Foote johnson, Esq, of Bedford, made an APP
pTopriate response.
THE memory Of the fallen heroes of Wash
ington College" was elOqucntly and feelingly
responded TO by Mr.. Willie Anderson, an ori-
giual member of &" Liberty Hall" volunteers,
who is himself manned for life.
The next toast was: 4" Let southern heads
be kept clear, and southern hearts pure, and
the future OF the South will yet be brighter
than its glorious past Major j. b. Dorman
made an eloquent response.
Colonel Christian proposed THE citizen
sOldery Of Virginia, who, while they fred on
the enemy, prayed the Lord TO have mercy on
their souls.
Rev. Dr. tGeneraD Fendleton said that he
was glad of an opportunity TO correct the
popular version of the incident alluded 10 in
the text. The prayer was made priratety, and
not publicly, at Falling Waters" He gave
several anecdotes of Jackson, spoke of the
feelings which induced him TO enter the army,
and paid glowing tribute 10 the artillery VI
the Army of Northern Virginia.
DR.. Il. NJ. Smith responded TO toast 10
theological educaton and in response to
toast to "The Press" Colonel Farrar 10 ohnhy
Rebl made one OF his characteristic speeches.
Astounding i'll humor and pathos.
Several volunteer toasts We're gwen anu re
sponded to- and the company dispersed us th'
town clock toIled the " wee small hours
1t was an occasion that will not soon be Tor
gotten, where old friends revived associations
of the past, and new ones had bonds OF TREND
shin formed and streng thened. LEXINGTON.