The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-02
WashinRtou CoIege-The Alumsi suPyer-
some II abe To.sr- and tho Responses.

The Richmond papers have given long accounts
OF the commencement exercises Of Washington
College, OF which Robert E. Lee is president.
The Alumni supper took place on the evening of
the 18th ult, aud from the report Of the Dispatch
we take the following paragraphs:
Gen. Echols presided with dignity and grace
mingled with flow Of ready wit. Beside him sat
Gen. X. <. Lee, the peerless chieftain General
Wade Hampton, the dsshiDg cavalry leader Gen.
James A. Walker, the bravest OF the brave and
Col. Robert E. Withers, no less gallant In the
field than ndomitable in his efforts to bear aloft
the flag Of the white mans party IN Virginia.
About one hundred and eighty guests were at the
welLarrsnged tables amons them some Of the
most gifted sons Of the Sos,h.
After the CHATTER Of knives and forks had some.
what cessed, Gen. Echols 10 few well chosen
words. gave cordial greeting TO the Alumni aud
Their guests and proposed a. the first toast Of the
evening The President If Washington College
Peace hath her victories no less renowned than
war" The toast was drank sta ding and in ST.
lence, and none the less cordially by some Of as
who used Natures own beverage, sparkling
water.
The fourth regular toast was:
THE fallen heroes of the war! Noble men!
The story Of their martyrdom adds fresh lustre to
motto too often sneered 81: Dtllce et decOrtHa
est pro pdtria moTi!'"
General Eehols SAID he would call on to re-
Epond 10 that toast the man whom our fallen he
rOes would call on If they could speak-General
Wade Hampton.
Gen. Hampton said that he was proud TO think
that our fallen braves would be whiting b accept
votve offerings from him. Abiding most touch.
iDgly 10 maTtyred dead, he said that our grief
should be tempered as we remember that they
fell when they thought they would not fall ia
yain-tbat they fell IN the bright hope that sue
GEES would crown our efforts. But he did not
believe they had fallen in vain-the cause for
which jackson and stuart fell cannot be Ia vain,
but IN some form would yet triumph. He pro-
posed The Lost Cause" for which oar heroes
fell. This was drank silently and solemnly by all;
and, in looking around, we observed that nearly
al present we're Confederate soldiers.
The eighth toast was:
The True Men Of the South Having cour-
age without IasbDess, prudence without timidity,
they neither quail before the frOwn Of poser nor
fswn upon the hands that have manacied the lib
critics of their conniry"
Major j. Horace Lacy called npon the man who
had led the StOnewall brigade to respond 10 that
toast.
Alter some humorous hits at Major Lacy. whom
be had seen when he was not quite 20 iubiant as
now, General Walker said that he did claim TO be
one Of the :" true men of Virgina"-that during
the war be had tried TO do his duty IN seeking the
real interests OF Virginia. and that since the sur
render be hsd never bowed the knee 10 8aai, He
never meant TO acknowledge higher allegiance
than he owed his state.
General Echos said that General Lee had re-
tired, expressing his regret at leaving such pleas
ant company, and now that be had gone he pro-
posed the health Of Old Marse Robert" as we
used 10 call him. This was drank standing and
three Vociierous cheers given for the loved old
hero.