The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-06-24
-5iIIY. IlIl lIIai13I ~ b 2. u. jan ~ ~
REPORTS OF COMMENCEMENT AT THE UNI
.oAA Lal -. VERSITY. ili.a 81. n nAil.N

MESSKS. EDITORS IL was not present at
the late COMMENCEMENT at the University,
but my attention was called to the two re-
ports of the proceedings on that occasion,
Which appeared in the Standard of the 11th
inst, and one in the Sentinel of a prior date
The first of the three referred to, signed
Wolcott, is well written, and the clear and
forcible style would reflect credit upon a
Professor in the University But its author
is evidently only visitor. The report is,
no doubt necessarilya very imperfect one.
The proper facilities were probably not af-
forled him for a full statement, or he may
have retired before the close of the festivi-
ties. He gives no account of the exhibition
on Thursday. 2l3 lf4 ania. H's1o2
The second report in the Standard, as well
as that in the Sentinel, is synonymous. They
seem to have issued from the same pen, and
to have been written from "behind the
scenes" The transit from the fresh, free
style of" Wolcott," to that of this Univer-
sity reporter, is like that from the bright,
clear water of the mountain lake to the mud
of a cess pool. JnGds bna ,sla1isGg 1un
The title of the communication being
gone, read the first sentence! "This was
the seventy-first in ORDER" &c. What was
the seventy-first in order of what is most
pleasant" predicate1? i"This" what p
".This" man, or this beast? But turn for
light to the second sentence. "The atten-
dance of relatives and sweethearts was very
gratifying" Relatives and sweethearts" of
whom ? Of the Commencement Unlikely.
Of the author2 If a married man, let him
at once retraet! They must have been of
man or horse to which reference is made by
the "thisp OF sentence No. 1. lr.lHuini U2I
But, have neither time nor patience to
attempt to revise sentence by sentence the
murdered English or to fully vindcate the
fair fame of old Murray, whom this reporter
shows to have been sucll Il fool. If l were
disposed to enter the arena against departed
grammarians, would just repeat the SEN
1ence :" these orations were made by the
crack men of that class, concerning qohon
the Faculty declaredito the Trustees that in
maturity of intellect and extent of attain
ments, as well as in years, it is of more than
an average with its pretecrssors.n Now where
are We? Just parse (" class, W" wholnn and
it," Do you want perspicuity, read this !:
"Only one of the twenty graduates Mr..
james A. Watson, of Chapel Hill, 1864,
joined college and was examined at the eight
times appointed for a class" Clear as mud.
Mr. james A. Watson was one of the twenty
graduates in 1864 or else he was of Chapel
Hill in 1864, but subsequently removed
perhaps, I" in the scary times of 1865" when
his feller Freshmen " all forsook him and
fled" Talk Of taste: read this. Among
the Seniors, Messrs. Burgwyn, Busbee and
Morehead got The first mite" These young
gentlemen must be the first miters" whom
the same writer refers to in his report for the
Sentinel. They must enjoy their pontifcial
dignity! .-aI'-'g. aalF7ij s'i-Hi1i oa-
But enough criticism of such report
And now, one object of this critique has
been to excite the author to closer study
of tho English alaagua 50, ,or ta greater care in
ito eeo- hnfnre hn @ aain rnes before the nnh
lie from the halls of a literary institution
Secondly, to repel the mischief that might
result to any of the late graduates, shoule
they adopt this style. Thirdly, to insist thai
the proper authorities will see to it in future
that none but correct writers be employed tr
report the proceedings Of Commencement
day at the University. $50 1g-F aei
It Why did not the accomplished Secretar!
of the Faculty write out a report for th'
public at a time like this Prof. Phillips
or some other gentleman of the Faculty, o
cultivation and taste, should have done th
work. There are men whose reputed deptl
of intellect consists in peculiar faculty o
obscuring all objects at which they aim
Such men should not be employed to repor
simple facts when perspiculty is most desired
4n-l III ts'itU71 800 u bALUMNUS. j
lime fifth 1868. .Hgl 7 Hot a'ts pod $50 81