The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-05
THE UNIVERSITY.
INCIDENTS AND HUMORS OF COM
MENCEMENT WEEK.
The Ugly Club-Droll Distinctions-How
the Week Closed-The B a1l-Vaca-
tfon-Next Session.
rrkoa ouR OWN CORRESPONDENT

[FRoA ouR OWN CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIA, July ].
AS indicated in the programme Of COM
mencement week, the regular annual celebra-
ton OF the Ugly Club of the University came
off last night. The chapel was crowded for
the first time during the week. At all the
other public occasions -orations and the like
the audiences have been small; but this cele-
bration brought out the full force Of the COM
munity. Commencement day did not have
over half as many present. The beautiful and
the fashionable, with the gallant and the
learned, were there. The officers of the club
E. E. Doyle, of oconee, president, NJ. c. Rob-
ertson, of Winnsboro, secretary, and Hamil-
ton G. Ewart, of North Carolina, the orator OF
| the occasion occupied the stage.
| The subject of the Grafton was Ugliness and
the Ugly, together with their opposites. The
discussion was happily conceived and effective
ly rendered. 1t was, of course, an occasion
wherein the extreme rigor of conventional
Law yielded little to the spirit of Momus, who
was the sovereign Of the hour. The, humor
was free, with degree of breadth not suited
| for scientific lecture. Applause, frequent and
hearty, attested the livellest appreciation Of
local hits. The discussion of the theme proper
occupied less of the Grafton than the illustra-
| tions of it afterwards. These consisted
in examples drawn mainly from the
last nine months of college life; and the fol-
bles, weak points, mistakes, verdancies, gau-
cherries and mal-aproposities in general Of the
students, (all being presently were arrayed
against them directly, personally, and by full
name. One was characterized as asking show
much one of these two or three dollar clocks
would cost" But the hits that brought down
the house most successfully were those aimed
at unsuccessful gallantries and the mishaps of
signing swains, with delicate but unmistaka-
BILE references to stray bits Of gossip in this
| direction. The eccentricities, fopperies and
vanitles of him who was in any degree noted
| for them, were merclessly touched up. No
less were the frugalities, when uncalled for, and
the civilities to professors, when oVer-done,
treated in the same style.
After the grafton, which seemed to be just
free enough and broad enough for the occa-
sion, came the distribution ofprizes.
/. To the Ugly Man of the club, Mr.. F., were
presented pair of boots. The recipients
name was called by the secretary, and he adj
vanced and ascended the stage to receive the
award. His appearance was greeted with
hearty round of applause. He took his posi-
ton and heard the presentation speech by the
president, and then receiving the boots-enor-
nous number thirteens-making in return q
handsome acceptance, In which he retorted
with keen points upon the president and ora
tor, and his hits were received with rounds Of
applause.
2. The Pretty Man-Mr. S., OF Columbia-was
presented, with the same formality, with q
gaudily dressed doll-baby. His reply won him
full measure of applause, and he retired with
the best Of 1t, as well as the baby.
8. The Lazy Man-Mr B., of Columbla-re-
ceived miniature armchair, as much too lit
tie as the Ugly Mans boots were too large, for
use. He remarked that he was too lazy to
make speech II
4. The Ladies' Man-Mr. E., 0f North Caro-
lina-received his fancy cane with a conun-
drum, at the expense Of the president, who,
by the way, was always addressed as G rand
Satrap.
S. The Baby-Mr. l.. was presented with
an enormous stick of red-striped candy. He
fell back on the adage that children should be
seen and not heard, and SO retired, speech
less.
G. The Fool was presented with huge cap.
This aYard is made to the student who stands
highest in the University so that there is no
sting in it. Mr.. NJ. received the cap with q
few graceful remarks. His parting shot was
aimed ut both ladies' men, and lin one sense)
ladies' He thought himself now properly
equipped to go forth as the rival of the ladies'
man, conquering and to conquer He fitted on
the cap; bowed to the audience and retired
from the stage, perhaps the most successful
figure of the evening.
Z. The Loaler-Mr. S., Of Georgetown-was
presented with diploma fully fitted up, which
vas read to him. His speech was characters
tic and short.
8. The Conceted Man-Mr. R.-was pre-
sented with hanl-mirror, and, in returning
thanks, protested that, while lie could make
good speech, he did not wish to win all the
| laurels of the evening himself.
In conclusion, the president announced the
name of the Queen OF Beauty, (the opposite of
the Ugly)-Miss T., of Columbia-chosen by
| unanimous vote of the club. He descended
| to the audience and presented the prize.
The whole occasion was characterized by
the greatest good humor, and the effect prom
ises TO be good upon future classes, and, after
the sterner duties of head work, is pleasant
recreation In ITSELF In former times, our
Legislatures always held mock session at the
adjournment of each regular session.
SATURDAY, July 2.
The festivities of last nis nisAt-commencement
ball and its etcetera-closed the institutional
exercises of the week, and were the final
close of the session Of lS69-'7O, in the Univer-
sity.
The ball was held as heretofore mentioned,
in the north centre building of the University,
in hall used in college days as the recitation
room of the professor OF history. That was
the dancng-room; and that, with some ada
cent apartments, met all the requirements OF
| the occasion. The halls were well filled, and
before ten the dancing was spiritedly under
way The usual round and alienation Of