The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-12
:yyete mystery which he ma ~. yet explain in

yet mystery which he may yet explain IN
the same fclicitous manner.
AS we left the church the etorm ragged
furiously, and the night was oppressively
dark, and no doubt some of the audience
had difficult passage to their homes, while
the elastic houses Of the families near re-
tanned some Of the more distant corners. Ii
vas o strange sight to behold in the partor
of President Atkinson, after our return,
large log FIRE, while We remembered the ex-
cessive heat Of the previous day.
Thursday, june HI A. M.-Ihe rain
has continued all night, and the heavens
are thieNy overspread with dark and
watery Clouds gloomy prospect OF pre-
sent for the exercises of commencement
day and the anniversary of the Union
Society tonight, but it will, no doubt, be
brighter by-and-by. PR. =. y
From another Correspondent.
Hampden Sidney Colege-Annual Meeting
of the Ugly Club.
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY,
June 9, 1868. s5t
The annual celebration Of our time
honored club came off last night, and was
marked by oil present rs the most success
full turnout since before the war. 1t is not
q result Of any change for the better in the
finances Of our section of the country, but
rather that the people, having submitted to
surrounding circumstances SO long in the
vain hope Of O." better time coming" de-
termined at last, and for this occasion at
least, to be the creators and not the crea-
lures of their fate, and that if circum
stances did not suit them they would suit
themselves to circumstances.
Mr.. Elisha E. Meredith was chosen for
the honor Of presenting o pair Of boots to
Mr.. James M. Wiser, as premium for his
proverbial ugliness, which was ikened to q
cred mud fence staked with rods of tad
poles.''
Mr.. Wiser replied in the pathetic style,
and concluded with the knowledge that if
his audience did not feel sorry for him, he
never saw 80 sorry looci,1g crowd in his
life.
Mr.. Robert West, the prettiest man in the
club, was presented with hat which on
former occasion was presented to q gentle
man of like accomplishments, but which he,
in an evil hour, had exposed to the ftful
storms of war, the result of which was that
both hat and owner lost their crowns.
The presentation of the old hat was made
in neat and lively rhyme by Mr.. E.
Crockett Painter. Mr.. Green, ST., pre-
sented Mr.. Downey with mirror as fit
emblem of his self-conceit; which was &C
cepted in speech which, for diction, GEES
ticulation, and the voice of the speaker,
placed him at the head of the list of speak
ing competitors. Mr.. Caffee, better known
here as :" Little Caffee," very sweetly re-
ceived the stick of candy as mark on the
part of the members of their candid affec-
ton for the smallest boy in the Club, he
being only six feet two inches high, and
about as broad as long. The committee
appointed to select the ugliest man in
the audience, after thorough search,
were unable to agree, much to the relief of
your correspondent, who heard his name
whispered in that connection several times.
The knife will therefore be kept for an
other year, till time has worked change
on one or the other.
The entertainment of the evening closed
by speech from Colonel Farrar, of Anne
liza, in his usual characteristic style, which
I shall not attempt to describe. The Rich
mond German band interspersed here and
there pleasant melody, and closed with
"Dixie."
The Union Society meets to-day, DR..
Hoge, of Richmond, being the orator for
the occasion; particulars of which I will
write in my next. Yours, &c., E. A.