The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-06-28
From our Special Reporter.
WASHINGTON COLLEGE.
COMMENCEMENT DAT PROPER
LEXINGTON, juno "a. 1869.


aJ vo,Ir correspondent, therefore
10, crcat pleasure in saying that To-Day
Jncn. on the whole, the most brliiian,
- successful Commencement Day
" "m witnessed at Washington College. inc
chapel was crowded to its utmost capacity
nv a brilliant audience, in which beauty
and grace. youth and manhood, dignity OF
character and scholarship, mingled IN rare
proportions. H.
After an appropriate prayer by Rev. Ut
Kirkpatrick, the programme which sem
Won several days ago was carried out ",In
unwonted spirit and effect.
We notice among the many distinguished
men present, besides those of our own com
mun;tv-such as Lee, Maury, Smith, Pen
dleton. DR.. William S. White, Judge Brock
cnborourh. General Moore, &C.; among inc
Board OF Trustees, Rev. DR.. d. NJ. smith
of Hampden Sidney College; Major Kirk
natrick. of Lynchburg; William A. elias
aow. ESQ, of Fincastle; and Colonel b
Christian, of Staunton; and among the IN
yitcd guests, Judge Garrett, OF Texas
Prof. T. z. Eaton, Of Tennessee; MIR. Sau'
tini, of New Orleans; Mr.. Collins, Of ST.
Louis Colonel Graves, of Liberty, Va.
Rev, William Junkin, of Kentucky; Rev
Dr. r. A. Holland, Of Baltimore; Rev. Dr
Davidson. of Indiana General II. u Lilly
oG Aucusta-his empty sleeve speaks eio'
oucptiy to one who knows how he USED &c
lead the "old Fourth Virginia brigade =
and many others.
The delivery of the certificates, diplomas,
&c. WAS attended with the usual applause,
rs comrades and friends rejoiccd IN the
success of those who, by patient toll, had
won the high honors which Alma Mater to.
day bestowed. The college prize oration,'
which is awarded by the Faculty to that
student who submits the best Grafton for
their inspection, was delivered ny MT: W
Garrett, of Texas. He gracefully lntfo-
duccd as his subject queen that must ana
will reign supreme" Law" and mace an
exceedingly sensible speech-well written,
in good taste,. and free from everything
Sophomortcal, or of the spread eagle style
which so frequently characterizes college
orations. He had no superhuous fireworks
or flowers, no apostrophe to either Greece,
Rome, the Goddess of Liberty, or beau
teons woman. Mr.. GARRETT, during his
three years among US, has won the esteem
of both the Faculty and his fcllow-studcnts.
and now that he bears off to his home IN the
.Lone Star State" the degrees of A. Is.
md 3. p, he also carries with him the best
wishes for his future success. The Law
Class oration'' was delivered by Mr.. John
T. Pendlcton, of Kentucky, who has just
graduated on law.
Mr.. Pendleton boldly stepped out in front
of the stand and paced the platform UNI
tramelled by MSS. and entirely at his ease.
He discussed his theme, "The Desire OF
Glory" in terse, vigorous style, which fire.
ouently brought down the house. His part
ing words to Judge Peterborough, to the
president of the college, and to his class
mates, were fifty chosen, and seemed to
give very great satisfaction to the audience.
We predict for Mr.. Pendlcton brilliant Ca
rccr in his chosen profession.
The Cincinnati grafton, " awarded by the
Faculty to that graduate whom they deem
to have attained the highest degree of gene
raj merit" was delivered by Mr.. M. w.
HUMPHREYS, of West Virginia. Mr.. Hum
phrics came here in the fall Of '65, .and en-
tered college badly prepared, as he had
been following the standards of Lee during
the four years he would have been pre-
naring for college; but by native vigor OF
intellect and close application he has risen
to the position of assistant instructor for the
past two years, and to-day takes his A. M. di-
ploma and is pronounced by the Faculty their
best scholar. His address was so far above the
usual run of college orations that we deeply
regret that our space will not permit a full
report of ESPECIALLY as he was compelled
to read ii closely lowing to want OF time to
commit), and many OF the audience were
unable to hear it.
We should like to see the speech put in
pamphlet form and circulated widely i'll
all Of our colleges. ...
BY the unanimous choice Of his comrades
the post of valcdctory orator had been
awarded Mr.. J. P. Strider, of Jefferson
county, w. Va, one Of the Masters of
Arts. The keynote of his parting words
was "Lire!" and if you live you have
manliness, you have strength, you have
"Ali things that do become man;
Who darcs have more Is none ~
The speeches of all Of the young orators
were greeted with loud applause by their
comrades and with bouquets from their lady
friends. ...
General Lee conducted the exercises with
that dignity and grace which so preemll-
ncntly characterize him. His words were
few, but always fifty chosen.
The music on the occasion was rendered
by Professor G. Roses band, from the Con
cordia opera-house, Baltimore. The music
was very fine, and your correspondent nas
never seen band which seemed to be more
accommodating. They seemed willing 10 per,
form all the time il it was desired. Da' u
course the event of the day was
THE ADDRESS OF REV. X. A. HOLLAND =.
We had heard q great deal OF TINS JUS ;.
tinguished orator, but were net prepared "
sec a Young man of only Twenty-Five ano
of very Youthful appearance even, Tor tha'
ore. He made grand speech. With NJ
MSS. before him, his face kindling with hi'
suhiect-his voice melodious and pene
tratinC-his gestures easy and graceful
and his whole soul evidently an what III
was saving he has all Of the best points
of an orator, and thrilled the audience a
his will. He gracefully introduced his sub
ject. LEXINGTON
I'VE are compelled to cut short our cor
Respondents letter, and to omit his synop
sis Of Mr.. Hollands speech ea +, hs.
Letter from MiSidIesseN County.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
SALuDA, VA, June q, 1869.
The Rev. +. M. Edwards yesterday de-