Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-24
WASHINGTON COLLEGE CON-
MENCEMENT.

and GraIsam literary sOetefIes-Dis
tInetiOns-OratIO - General wade
championships Address Character
of Students.
From our Special Correspondent.
| LEXINGTON, Va, June IS, lS68.-The
celebration Of the Ugly Club Of Wash
ihgtOn College on the evening of the 18th,
was held on the College Campus. A
broad platform had been erected for the
| speakers, and liberal provision made for
seating the audience. Long before the
hour appointed for the commencement of
the exercises, the people from every d.
rection began to pour upon the scene.
Old men and young, staid matrons and
bright eyed maidens, cadets in gray uni
form, and students in their best "bib
and tucker"-all were there eagerly
awaiting the expected treat The crowd
was immense, probably not less than two
thousand in number
The exercises commenced with the
reading Of the Constitution of the club
by the Secretary, Mr. J. A. Leiper. This
is very humorous production, and in
many parts elected uproarious outbursts
Of laughter and applause The recipients
Of hOnors were nine in number, as fol-
lows:
Ugly man, J. p. Strider, Va, pair of
handsome pants was presented to him,
Vain man, J, S Miner, KY, a looking
glass Ladies man, J. w. Ewing, Ten
nessee, ladies garter; College bore, J.
H. Hunt n. j., a large auger; Pretty
man, o. S. Been, Jr., Ala, hat; Little
man, H. A. Moran, KY, huge stick of
candy; Lazy man, w. B. McChesney,
Va, a rocking chair; Greatest blow,
Frank Coleman, Ala, long tin horn.
The critic of the whole performance was
w. L. Sellers, Of Va
These gentlemen were severally intro
duced by the President of the Club, Mr..
C. X. Breckenridge, in very humorous
manner, and they all made appropriate
and credfable speeches. There were
numerous bright flashes of wit and the
speakers were frequently interrupted by
the prolonged laughter of the audience.
At about eleven 0 clock, the people around
dispersed in fine spirits, to reproduce the
witticisms and to laugh again and again
Last evening (l6th,) the large Prcsby>
terrain Church was filled to its utmost caN
pacity, to witness the final celebration of
the Literary Societies Your cores
pendent never saw such display of
beauty, fashion, fame and wealth as
greeted bis eyes on this occasion. A
splendid stringed band was in attend
anco and discoursed the most enchant-
ing music The exercises commenced
with the presentation of medal to Mr.
J. w. Dunlap, Of Virginia, as the best
debater Of the Washington Society
This was done in few appropriate re
marks by Mr. Webb, of Virginia, which
were ieelingly responded to by Mr.. Duhs
lap Mr. Peters, on behalf of the Graz
ham Society, presented similar medal
to Mr. j. II. McCleary, of Texas, who is
regarded as the brightest man of College.
After these ceremonies of presentation,
Mr. John B. Weller, Jr., Of California,
the chosen orator Of the Washington So
ciety, was introduced He announced as
his theme, "a glance at the progress Of
freedom in Europe" which he discussed
in a speech of twenty minutes. 1t was
happily conceived and gracefully deliv-
cred.
Mr.. J. $ Barlow, Jr., Of Kentucky,
was the orator Of the Graham Society.
His theme was, 1.-THE advantages of
literary societies" Mr.. B. has great
talent for word-painting, and as
rhetorical production, his speech was
almost faultless The orators were the
seemingly delighted recipients of numer-
Gus boquets, culled and arranged by APP
preciatiye fair ones.
The exercises being over the audience
dispersed, amid strains of enlivening
music.
Tonight we have an address before
the Alumni, and to morrow is Commence
mont day proper
! viii send you an account of the pros
ceedings
Last night there was gay assemblage
at the Lexington Hotel, participating in
the students bali One who was present
informs us that it was most brilliant
affair, and that he has rarely, if ever,
seen such q dazzling display of wealth
and beauty It gives me pleasure to in
form you that among the many fair lao
dies whose presence is now lending
brightness to these "elassic shades,
and admired Of all admirers" are.the
beautiful and accomplished Misses
D., daughters Of II. D., ESQ, of
Nashville, Miss A, Of Memphis, and
Miss C., of Columbia, Tenn.
This morning at ten o'clock the
regular Commencement exercises Of
the College took place in the Presbyte-
rian Church. The crowd was far greater
than upon any other occasion Of the
week Gen Lee!prosided, with his own
inimitable grace and dignity. The exer-
cises commenced with prayer by Rev DR.
White, Of Lexington. Then came the an
nouncement Of students distinguished at
the intermediate and final examinations
and the delivery of certificates. Quite a
large proportion of the students received
distinctions, circumstance which indi-
Gates the prevalence Of studious habits
in the institution Ii may probably in
terest you readers to know that the Col,
lowing students from Tennessee received
certificates Of distinguished proficiency;