The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-24

heri roll of hotipred iietlalists, the
tSocfety feels assured that she sends forth
ianother5re presen NATIVE whose course in life
will win for1ffer fresh laureis.s Your career
among us has been In 80 high degree on
ward and upward, and true to the line," as
to, warrant the prediction that when in
after years the Society comes to make up her
i Jewels the medalist of 1870 will be among
the brightest"
Mr.. Boyd responded "To say that
thank the Society for this honor which she
has so unworthily bestowed upon me,
would be but cold expression Of the
gratitude which feel. Yet, as ] know
that can add but little either in depth OF
thought or grace of diction to this
literary festival at which we are
assembled tonight, / shall only attempt
to speak the homely words of grateful
heart. This feeling Is not unmingied with
sorrow-sorrow for the loss of an ever-in-
dulgent foster mother, the Society which
claims our allegiance" He then spoke
some fitting parting words, exhorting those
who should leave to remember, and those
who should remain to cherish, the Society,
and concluded rs follows; MAY the guar
dian spirit four namesake in Heaven above
watch over and protect you. May his in
tegrity of character and unselfish devotion
to country find among you many jealous
imitators. Then will the land that gave
him birth feel justly proud of the two lnstl-
tutions in one that are honored by inc
name of Washington"
MIR. Bovd only occupied five minutes in
the delivery of his speech. His delivery was
easy and graceful, and the audience voted
that he richly deserved the bouquets and
cards which his fair friends sent him:
Mr.. Marshall, of Kentucky, president of
the Graham Society, made a brief and very
;, appropriate speech in presenting the medal
to Mr.. William L. Prather, of Texas. After
fittingly Introducing the occasion and pre-
senting the medalist, he said to Mr. Prather:
~ am commissioned by the Graham So
ciety to present to you this medal as testl-
monial of her esteem, and the satisfaction
she has that you have been true to her best
interests.
Entering rs you are upon new ana
wide career, we tender you our best wishes,
feeling confident that it will ever be your:
ambition to walk steadfastly in the path of
duty, rejecting credit upon yourself and
honor upon your Society"
In receiving the medal Mr.. Prather
said: "But one thing is needed to make
this the happiest rs it is the proudest OF
INV lile-acords that could speak the feelings
of my heart. This occasion and this token
of your esteem and appreciation awaken in
my bosom profound gratitude. That my
humble efforts, made in the conscientious
discharge of duty, should be so richly
rewarded, and that l should stand
here tonight the recipient of your highest
honor is the realization of all that the most
sanguine heart could have hoped" Grace
fully abiding to the joy which the youth
full mind experiences in the flush of tri-
umph, he said: Never before have won
so bright trophy, so distinguished an
/ P,rf derives lnStrQ
an enhanced value from the honored hands
that gave it. The pleasant hours spent
with you in your hall, the happiest
of my college life, / can never forget !;
around them cluster associations which it
will be sweet to recall and dwell upon in
after life. This beautiful medal will serve
as a pleasant reminder Of these hallowed
memories, and of this happy occasion of
IeXultant joy and hope. This golden tro-
| ply, FURNISHED by the hard steel of contest,
will ever, as now, have to me brilliancy
unseen ny the strangers eye; and time,
which can never tarnlsh It's lu7trc, will hut
brighten the association which it commence
! rates. AS Il memento of your esteem it will
cheer me amid lfc's tolls and nerve me
amid LIES duties. Bound henceforth to
my fostering mother by Il golden tie it
shall be my highest ambition to lead life
worthy of her confidence and esteem, ever
remembering the responsibility now incur
in the reception of this treasure, to couse-
ciples which our beloved Society
inculcates, and which her past history has
so worthilv illustrated" He earnestly eX-
horted his comrades to be true to duty, and
concluded as follows: "In parting allow
me to express the earnest wish of an affec-
| tomato heart for the fond mother who hath
done so much to fit me for life's rude shocks.
May prudence, harmony, and wisdom ever
reign in the dear old Graham! May genius
and true chivalry delight to worship at her
altar. May no cloud of adversely ever lower
in her sky, but may the radiant beams OF an
eternal sunshine illumine her future as she
yearly sends forth her sons imbued with
virtuous and noble sentiments, to battle for
| right and Justice while bearing aloft her
proud banner graccd with her beautiful
| motto 'Eloquentid ct Fer1taS.' My CRATE
full heart can never forget this bright, happy
hour, nor you, my fellow-members, to
whose generosity and affection I owe this
| high distinction. Farewell"
Mr.. Prather delivered his speech well,
and received the loudcst applause and
heartiest congratulations.
| The medals are both very pretty. Mr..
Boyd's has inscribed Oh one side g Wash
ington Literary Socicty-!Scientia ct dna'ct-
tid-to our best debater, Aston Boyd,
| 1870" and the date of the organization OF
| the Society, "1S12."
The reverse side has Minerva encirclcd
by laurel wreath. Mr.. Prathcr's medal
has on one side Washington College,
awarded to W. l.. Prathcr by the Graham
Philanthropic Society, Virginia, lS70.,' Inc
reverse side has carved on it neat Con-
federate battle-flag cncircled by the motto,
"Pal,nam qati nlerut ferat."
| Mr.. Moody next introduced as orator OF
the Washington Society, Mr.. 5. D.. Nc
| Cormick, of Kentucky, who gracefully in
| troduced rs bis theme "Ihe Need Of An
| tiguity in oar oacn Count'y.'
lie made a very sensible, appropriate,
and taking speech, which was greeted with
loud applause by his comrades, and a show
er of bouquets by his lady friends. We re-
| gret that we have not space for some eX-
tracts from this wel-timcd address. After
music, during which there was pleasant
chat all over the house, Mr.. Marshall intro
duccd Mr.. E. G. Logan, of Kentucky, who
made 4 most capital speech. He selected
4" The Character Of Byron" rs his theme,
and handled it with the hand of a master.
Clear in his analysis, keen in his satire
and wit, and at times touching in his
pathos, it was one of the best specimens of
such an address we have ever heard. We
regret our want of space to give full
synopSis-the less because the full speech
would be necessary to do it Justice. We
hope that it may be published in full as a
model for our young orators-short, free
from politics, ana i'll excellent taste every
way. ~.
| He was greeted with loud applause, and
bouquets.
| Ir * wnrthv of ramark that the yonno