The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-06-30
Random Thoughts.
BY THE EDITOR.

mencement exercises OF the Onl0 OnI-
versity Why is the close of a session
of college or university called the COM
mencementi Webster says, as his Sec
ond definition of the word commence
ment:
's2. The time when students in col
leges commence bachelorsi day in
which degrees are publicly conferred
in English and American universities. "
In order to have this word express
any sensible meaning, the degrees
should be conferred at the first, or com
menccment Of the session, and not at the
end, as is now the custom. Now, the
commencement is at the end, and not at
the beginning.
arrived at Athens at two o'clock,
and was taken in an omnibus to the
Brown House, Immediately west Of the
University grounds. After dinner l
went through the grounds. aud met
several ofthe students, and among them
several from Jackson county. One OF
them, William J. Jones, son of j ohm D.
Jones, ofJefferson township, went with
me to the Journal Office. There l met
David Joshua Evans, son of Joshua
Evans, of Jefferson township. Mr.. Ev.
ans has been nine terms at the Univers'
ity, and is young man of fine promise
found Bro. Wildes in the Journal
Office, with the inevitable cigar in hi
mouth.
From the Journal Office l went to tn,
Messenger Office, but Mr.. Jennings wa
not in. Going back to the hotel | rest
ed under the beautiful maple trees i
, front of the building. Soon a bugg
drove up. IR it was Judge Longbor
who had gone to Athens with me, an
he introduced me to Hiram Martin ESQ
Mr.. Martin was the founder OF the Ath
ems Journal, and last year was Mayor q
the village. He is very intelhgen
and pleasant gentleman. He had
span of beautiful bay horses. The
were in fine condition. Mr.. Marti
first took me to the new Asylum.
is south of Athens, nearly mile, br
in full view, being on the hill immed
, ately across the Hooking river. Natul
, has done everything that could be dC
:, sired to make the most beautiful sil
for such an institution. The foundt
ton is laid, and the walls are up SON
six or eight feet. 1t is much the la
gest building / ever saw, and is thrt
9. times as large as l supposed it to b
The foundation is laid of stone quarriC
north of Athens, on the hill. The
there is layer some three or four fe
of stone which looks like the Waver
stone, very finely dressed. Then Il
brick commences. Hon. N. II. Va
Worries has the contract for making Il
brick. He hos several brick yards
operation, at one of which bricks wei
being moulded by machinery operate
by steam power Mr.. Van Vorhes W
among bis men, pparently working
busily as any of them.
=, Mr.. Martin then showed me throus
tho village of Athens, then up Il
}, Hooking, where, from high hill, v
9 had a fine view of the Hooking, Il
y y canal, new railroad, and also of the vi
lage. The scenery is almost as fine
a it is around Jackson.
At night / went to hear Edward ]
l Mansfield lecture. He is "E. d. M
! of the Cincinnati Gazette. II
lecture was very fine one. He RET
, it from manuscript, in clear, distin
Q voice. He is quite an old man. II
hair is thin and white. His nose is qui
acquiline, or is rather French nose, b
ing full, and not sharp, He has q fl
, rounded chin, but his upper front tee
4 are out, which Injuries his appearance
4 and interferes with his articulation.
is spry, lively, quick in his gesture
and his mind appears to be as vigorol
, as that of a man OF forty Mr., Man
field is one of the very abIest newspap
, writers in this country, Twenty fl
! years ago | took paper called the Cir
, cinnati Chronicle, (which he was edito
/. The article on the first page of Il
, Standard this week, from the Cincinna
4, Gazette, was written by him,
o On Thursday morning at 8 l-2 o'cloc
the Atheneum (accented on the Mi
syllable) was we'll filled. The cor
- mencement proper then began. Mus
t on piano, bass viol aud violin. TIL,
prayer by DR.. Howard, Then musi
!. Then address by w, II, Hall, subjeC
: "a Name" Then music, and addre
n by 4. @. Ilif, subject, "Self" Tn,
= music, and address by G, L, Wei