Middletown transcript., 1869-07-03
The Reunion at Delaware college.

Friday the 25th of June, the centennial
anniversary of Newark Academy, was a
gala day in the Athens of Delaware. By
special invitation the former students Of
the College assembled together to be pres
ent at the reorganization of the institution
which has been closed for several years.
Newark Academy was incorporated June
18th, 1863, and the College in 1921, and
BY an additional act of the Legislature in
1888. In 1867, the State granted to the
College the land script donated by the
General Government for the encourage
ment of Agricultural and Military Edu-
cation, on condition that they should es-
tablish an Agricultural Department. The
grant was accepted, the Governor appoint
ing 15 of the 30 Trustees, and the old
Board the remaining Is, who together
constitute the present Board of Trustees
The one hundredth anniversary of the
Academy was deemed proper time to
assemble the old students and former
friends of the College together, to take
steps for its reorganization. The day was
bright and beautiful, and the friends of
the institution gathered together from
every quarter. The following report of
the proceedings is from the Delaware
Gazette:
On the arrival of the 10a o'clock train
from Wilmington, bearing Gov. Sauls-
bury and a large number of gentlemen
from different parts of the State, the citi-
zens who were waiting in large numbers
with vehicles of every kind formed in pro-
cession, headed by the Newark Brass
Band, and with stirring music escorted
the Governor and company to the College
Campus, where ample preparations had
been made for the festival. The Stars
and Strips foated from the College build
ings and festooned the main avenue un-
der the trees bordering either side of the
gravel walk, tables 140 feet long were
spread, loaded with all that could tempt
the appetite; to the right was erected
stand for the speakers and seats for the
hearers, while on every hand the people in
holiday costume, with bright eyes and
hearty welcome, greeted the guests.
The order of exercises was to be ad-
dresses, music, dinner and an exhibition
of the pnpils of Newark Academy; all
which was faithfully and agrecably car
ricd out.
The old students of the college met in
the oratorio, at Il o'clock, A. NJ. and ap-.
pointed Governor Salisbury President,
and William Reynolds Secretary Short
and pithy addresses were made by the
Governor and a hummer of the students,
and the walls of the college were again
made vocal with the olden echo.
The Board of Trustees met at II o.
clock in the Presidents room, and were
in session during the day. Rathmell
Wilson President, and George G. Evans
Secretary. The act of re-inccrporation
passed by the last Legislature was accep-
ted and much business transacted looking
to the immediate repair of the college
buildings, and the carly re-opening of the
college under new auspices.
Five hundred Or more people were as
sembled on the Campus, and listened to
addresses from Wm, II. Purnell, Esq of
Baltimore, Anthony Higgins. Esqr. of
Wilmington, and George w. Cruikshank,
of Elkton, editor of the Cecil Democrat,
all of whom were students at the college
in her palmy days, and spoke with free
hearts and gifted tongues, of the old and
the new, and predicted well for the future
of the college, while at intervals the band
discoursed sweet music.
The dinner was pleasing feature of
the day, $50 people sat down at once to
tables spread under the shade of the grand
old trees, and with vigorous appctites at
tackled the bounteous store of good things
under which the tables literally groaned
At the head of one table sat the Cover
nor, with the Trustees of the college; at
the head of the other sat Edward G. Brad
ford, Esq. Honorable Willard Salisbury,
Hon. B, 7. Biggs, and other distin-
guished guests. The people of Newark
and vicinity had prepared plentiful din
ner for 1000 people, although expecting
800 only, A vase of beautiful boquets
occupied the centre of each table, whose
greatful perfume lent an appetizing flavor
to the savory meal, During dinner the
glee club assembled on the stand, and
beautifully rendered I" Aud Lang Syne."
AT night the Academy exhibition un-.
der the efficient superintendance of the
Principal Prof. E. D. Porter, was bril-
liant success. The college oratory was
crowded. The essays, dialogues and
speeches sparkled with wit, satire and
sense, while the music, under the care of
Prof. Beggs, enlivened the scene and
made the hours pass merrily as mar
riage bell" The exercises closed at II
o'clock, the people dispersed to their
homes after enjoying one of the most de-
lightful of festal days. Nothing seemed
to mar the pleasure of the occasion, and
all felt the reunion was hopeful augury
of more prosperous future for the col
lege.
1t is the intention of the Trustees to
prosecute the work of reorganization as
rapidly as possible, and they earnestly in
woke the hearty cooperation of the peo-
pie in making Newark College a credit to
the State, and an efficient educator of her
MISUNDERSTANDING snecial attention IN tho do