Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-29
CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY.
The GOsnrDeaeement Exercises---The
Gala Week--2NOfRbIe Contest Be
tween the Literary Societies.

Nse SOsnrDencemenf Exerctses---Tkss
Gala Week. Notable Confess BE
tween the Literary Societies.
CHfepondence Of the Union and Disfateh.
zIEBAAoE, June p, 1856. The usua
| quiet of our little city has been broken il
upon during the past week by a series O
the most entertaining exhibitions, conse
quent upon the Commencement exercise,
Of the Cumberland University. To sa,
that these exercises have bseu an thai
could have been expected, wcnid scarcely
express the public appreciation. The
arena has been occupied aIternatively BY
representatives from the two schools, Law
and Literary; and while there exists a
laudsble rivalry Between these distinct
branches Of the University, the former BY
right Of coming necessity, bear off the palm
in passionate oratory. The climb. y who
cannot 'tear passion to tatters, . and
bring b.ars to the eyes Of a Jury in the
moot cOfzrt, in case of ..biff SINGLE Il
voted SO unpfomising sprout, and Is hing
upon the wall "a kind Of baser metal, to
be used only az occasion necessitates. But
while il Il not my intention TO enter into a
general disquisition upon the merits OF
these exercises, still, az the panorama
passes, l will catch a single picture (per-
haps the fairest) for the benefit of Your
many readers, who feel an interest in
this school. i select the biennial
celebration of the two literary societies.
These societies chose each tive orator. 20
represent tLem at the closeo of each seasonal
Term. On Monday night the anticipated
celebration was held. At an early hour in
the evening the Cumberland Church was
crowded TO its capacity by large and
fashionable audience, who signified their
impotence at the non-arrival of the
champions, by a continued buzz of the
most expressive monosyllables to be found
in the vocabulary. They were, however.
soon relieved OF their impotence, az
boisterous round of applause greeted the
orators as they proceeded rapidly up the
separate aisles leaning upon their escorts
preceded by the President of the Social
Reunion. Messrs. Jones and Ridley. of
the Amasagassaen, and Messrs. Martin an,l
Stratton, of the lPhilomathian Society,
formed the distinguished group who were
to minister to the cravings of the public
appetite, throw new lights upon the science
and oratory, and out argue oldArgumentum
himself The President of the Social Re
union, Col. c. W. Wilkinson, editor of the
Herald and Register, opened the exercises
by few well chosen remarks, after which
Mr. j. W. Jones, of Clarksville was intros
duced TO the audience His subject was the
Importance Of National Literature"
The first portion of this address, was occu-
pied IN historical review of the literature
of those countries, where it had been es-
tablished as a standard; Mr. Jones exhibit
ted thorough knowledge of history, and
especially that which was inseparabiy con-
nected with his subject. His researches
we're indeed extended, and as we followed
his lead through the dark ages-stood
with him in the Elizabethian era, and paid
reyerential homage, at the shrine of that
towering genius, which all but deiied the
bard of Avon, and again, in the French
Revolution, heard the crash of the guillo-
tine, and trembled in the presence of Rob-
espierre-again TO the ruins of the Impe-
rial City, and suffered the tortures of
Dante, as he fingered out a wretched
existence in his dungeon cell, till
tired Of these wanderiDgs, at a single
bound of the imagination, we span the
expanse of ocean, and planting our feet
again on native terra TRINA, exclaim with
him, eve too have history" In review
of the history of this country, the American
eras were divided into the colonial, the re-
evolutionary, and the present After listening
to this examination OF American literature,
we were with the speaker convinced that
"Epluribas srnun" may yet boast nation
al literature" 1t is impossible TO do JUS
tice to the latter portion of this address in
any limited sketch. The speaker appealed
to the members of the respective societies
TO aid in the great work; and in reference
to- the disparity of numbers, he remind
ed them, that though numerically small,
the greater the proportion of glory MIR.
Jones chained the attention of the audi
ence for more than an hour, and took his
seat amid thunders of applause.
Mr.. H. q. Stratton, of Lebanon, next
occupied the stand, 1.-THE Arena of Life"
being his theme. Judging from his adj
dress, the speaker enters the "arena of life7
with full knowledge of its responsibilities.
And if we did not mistake the fire which
glistened in his eye, as he gave expression
30 his thoughts, he has heart which will
never quail beneath the shocks of adversely,
which are to be encountered at every turn
in life The address was well received.
Mr. Stratton spoke twenty FIVE minutes, and
retired amid a shower of roses.
Mr.. B. L. Ridley, of Murfreesboro, was
next introduced TO the audience. Subject
-'Rhe Age in which we Live" The
great beauty of this address was in the
force of expression which the speaker gave
to his thoughts From the style of the
composition the most casual listener would
have decided Immediately the character
Of mind which gave il form. Strong and
energetic, bearing down every obstacle in
its sweeping course, till its supremacy must
finally be established. His strength of
mind, his Just views of the age, his
thorough analysis of its characteristics,
shows that he, as a part Of it, will meet
the duties and responsibilities of this epoch
with courage and success.
Mr.. j. May Martin, of Lebanon, brought
up the rear when he took the stand,
close observer would have detected shade
Of uneasiness passing over the audience,
having sal tor nearly two hours in their
crowded boxes, where the heat was almost
insuiferable, though this gave way TO
buzz of satisfaction, and finally TO a well
merited round of applause as the young
orator gave expression TO few well rounded
periods. Almost imperceptibly he found
the way 20 the hearts of his auditors, and
right we'll did he " ken" has advantage. The
subject of thisspeech was Love of country"
and though the theme was somewhat hack
neyed, the address bore the impress
Of originality, and as the young orator led
us through the maze of innumerable Sc
cret springs, that sctuate the citizen 10 yield
his heart to his country, and again through
all the labyrinths of obstruse theory, We
found ourselves involuntarily exclaiming
cold things made new" The figures of
this speech were well conceived aud ele-
CANT, while the argument was the effort of
a noble mind, which ever seemed seeking
after something just beyond; ever grasp
ing yet never satisfied. The language was
we'll chosen, and its composition after the
beat style. Mr. Martin held his audience
under complete control for the space of
fifty minutes taking his seat mid raptn-
rous applanse. Indeed, 'he bore his
blushing honers thick about him." and if
We mistake not faint blush Of downright
modesiy suffased his cheek, as he rose in
acknowledgement of the howery fayors
which we're showered around him from
those fair objects whom he had eulogiEed
so elOquently moment before, and who
seemed well 20 appreciate the truth that
'ghe mind is the standard Of the man