The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-30

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non and the report of musketry !: now thes
m 'ne vocal with the hum Of busiest industry.
Inc tnrLit of a wise and patient and
sech-,r,estralning people assists the efforts
~ Iime with its eyer-recurring seasons.
| I9uGhinely abiding to the presence In
| Mhich he stood, he said: stThis Is in
ueed hallowed spot. The memories Of
ives wen spent, the evidences Of deeds we'll
incuicated and well illustrated, rise unbid-
den. They do indeed excite the sensibili-
| ties and kindle che imagination and warm
| the heart, but they also give the aimouition.
Put off thy shoes from off thy feet. for
the place whereon thou standest is hoIy
ground" He would humbly obey the
admonition and approach with diffldenee
the task assigned him. He beautifully al
iudea 10 Jefferson, and spoke also of
Madison and Monroe, the triumvirste of
Republican Presidents who illustrated and
honored the best days of the RepnbIic.
Happy those whose destinies have led their
years OF preparation and study into, this
living presence, and to these places, where
living, breathing, active men have riTalled
in the beauty Of their useful lives the natu-
raj beauties Of mountain and valley and ont
line and hue Of this unequalIeG scene, lie
drew vivid picture of these three worthless
IN their declining years, and earnestly
eXhorted mis- young friends to initiate
the best lessons Of their noble lives.
He gave striking sketch of the progress
made by the nation in the centuries gone
by, and spoke of it as IN inspiring thought |;
effort that this progress will continue SO
long as time shall last, and that every indi-
viduaI life must aid or retard its ad-
vance. lie did not forget the ages called
dark, or that nations are not immortal,
but believed that on the whole the con-
dition of human society is one of advance
ment. We must not he led astray by
egotism on the one hand or by an unjust
self-depreciation on the other. He wildly
sketched our civilization, and contrasted it
with that of Egypt, or China, or Rome, or
the Middle Ages, or France in the days Of
the revolution. He cited number ofaptly
chosen examples from history, and ably and
eloquently argued to show how good had
come out of the evil deeds of men and q
amined viii With clean clear ' ANALYSIS the ' e ef:
feet of different Governments on the
progress. Of man, and ably argued
mat more now than ever thought rules the
world, and we must look for the real ru lers
vi mankind not in the cabinets of states
rnen; put in the closet of the sage. He then
az thhtseo lhe questions, Is our age Worthy of
o onG worldI and are we worthy of our age
a aho,29 pro ;eeded to argue that while we are
rial d de or an preceding, generations in mate
Q. literary talent which threw such an
en9ulgence of glory over the last de-.
r ni"u Oh the eighteenth and the begin
nn'S OF the nineteenth century. nor
as ti'Sne stars III the political frma-
menu as Webster, Calhoun. and CIaW
not 10 mention Jefferson, Madlsons and
monroe but the true test OF the WORTH.
NESS .. Inc age is the worthiness of indi.
Slu9aiS anu tne distinguished orator pro
Seeueu " pomledly bring the question
picture of the surroundings of his yn o1v,
friends who were about to stem forth 10 ths s
battle OF life, and eloquently exhorted
them to be true to duty. He concluded "a
follows 81 cannot penetrate the past or
the future: / will not speculate on the
condition OF the soul before birth or after
death; but when see this phase of its de-
velopment, this period of its being, and re-
member the mystery of its connection with
the body, thu beauty Of the inanimatc
world in Whichit is called to act its capa.
cities for action and enjoyment its oppor.
tunitieS for usefulness in the close contact
with other beingslike itself, and the satisfac.
ton springing from good deed well done
i feel impressed beyond expression with the
Importance, the dnty, the worth, of thi:
human life and the supreme duty of mar
to live it well. l an not of the number o.
those who in the miGst of present Difficult
ties and doubts take refuge in despair
This, too, shall pas away,' was the
maxim of the Eastern sSre. / have faith ir
the promises of God. / have hope in thu
aspirations of man. Oul race is immortal
Its progress is onward AND still onward
higher and still higher. Higher as of thu
eagle when with unf1inchi. 9 eve he take,
his flight in the face of the 7lln higher a
of those myriad stars which, % the belief O
Faith, encircle the footstool g the Eterna
, throne higher as of the soul # man Whe1
leaving this earthly body it SEEKS through
. out all the ages the attainment of perfec
ton in the home Of its father ant God.''
Hon. John Randolph Tucker, being yo
cifcrously called for, came forw,rd. wa
greeted with vociterous cheers, an wittik
excused himself from saying more tan thai
he was again upon his native he&h an(
could deyoutly say, God bless the oloCom
monwealGh.
B.. j. Barbour, Esq, being called out
gracefully excused himself and felicit ter
the Societies OH the fine selection which I'M
eliminated in the noble address of to-nisst
Music and promenading on the lawn.
The students have ball in the hall of 81
Jefferson Society tonight, and will dOuh
less have a most delightful and pleasa'
time. ALUMNUs.