Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-07-04
Commencement Exercises at the Univer

large number of distinguished persons from all
portions of the South shows an increased in
terest in the success and prosperity of this no.
BILE Institution of Southern learning. The COM
mencement week was begun on Sunday night,
the 18th, by an address before the Young Men s
Christian Association by the Rev. Mr.. Dudley
The attendance was quite large, being much
increased by the congregations from the several
churches in Charlottesville, there being no
services in Charlottesville on that evening
On Monday night the celebration of the
Washington Literary Society came off, We
ber's excellent band was in attendance, and
filed the pause between the speeches with de-
licious strains of appropriate music. After
prayer by the Rev. Geo. B. Taylor, chaplain,
the President of the Society, Mr.. B. Gibbs, of
Miss, after very appropriate address, deliv-
cred the Debaters Medal to Mr. E. Howard
Farrar, of La, as the best debater of the ses-
sion of 1870 and II. Mr. Farrar responded in
a beautiful and well delivered address, and
from the number of bouquets received by him,
we should infer that he was as popular among
the ladies Of the University as among his fell
low students. After some excellent music from
the band, Mr.. Penn, of Va, was introduced
by the President, as the orator Of the evening,
and announced as his subject THE Revolution
of Modern Opinions" His subject was well
handled and the frequent burst of applause
showed that he had an attentive audience.
Mr.. PENIS Grafton being finished the as
sembled crowd adjourned to the Lawn bril-
liantly Illuminated by calcium lights, where
they enjoyed themselves as best they might,
until the "wee sma' hours
On the following night, the 9th, the Jeffer-
son Society had their celebration The pro-
ceedings with few changes, were the same as
on the preceding night. Mr.. Geo. E. Nelson,
of Va, having been introduced by the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Geo. G. Hume Of Nd, announced
as the subject of his Grafton THE war of Opin-
ion." Although the subject bore great sim
ilarity to that of the previous evening, yet Mr..
Nelson succeeded In keeping the close atten-
ton of the audience during the entire speech,
by the force and vigor Of his utterance and
manner and by the evident enthusiasm which
inspired him. He was frequently interrupted
by bursts of applause, and when be concluded,
the loud and continued stamping showed how
successful had been his effort After music by
the band, the President in short and very
appropriate speech presented the Debater S
Medal to Mr.. Ell. Howard Morton, of Va, who
responded in beautiful and eloquent speech
with the one only defect Of being too long
Mr.. Morton S appearance on the stage was that
of the graceful and cultivated orator. The
President then returned thanks to the audience
for the attention and good order they had dis
played during the evening. The audience then
adjourned to the Lawn, and We rather suspect
that many speeches Of the previous night were
elOquently repeated.
On Wednesday night the Hall was again
crowded with youth and beauty to listen to the
address before the two Societies by Gen. Al.
Baker, Of Ala. We have neither time nor in
clination to comment on the address. The ad-
dress being over, many young ladies and gen.
tlemen adjourned to the Soiree Dansante given
by the students ia Mr.. Massies dining Hall,
where sounds of revelry were heard until the
morning star heralded the approach Of the
coming day. 1t would afford us much pleas
ure to give full description Of the Ball, which
was grand success, and Of the numerous beau
tiful ladies present from all portions of our
sunny South, but space is wanting for so great
task.
Thursday, the 29th, was the end Of the com
mencement as well as the end of the session. =
In the morning, the Degrees, Diplomas, &C.,
were delivered and the commencement exer-
cises were closed by few remarks from Col.
Venable to the graduates, which we hope they
will long remember. After short recess the
Alumni assembled to hear the address of Judge
Napton, Of Mo. The Judge read his address
from the MS, but his voice failed him near
the end and Lieut-Gov. Mayre completed the
reading. The speech was very fine and is ia
vorably spoken of by all as one of great depth
and maturity of thought. After the grafton
the Society Of Alumni met and elected Gen.
W. A. Quarles, of Tenn, as the orator of the
Society for 1872.
About 5 2. M. the Alumni and guests as
sembled in front of the Rotunda and forming
in column marched to the music of Weber,
band to Mr.. Massie's dining Hall, where he
had prepared sumptuous repast, which was
fully appreciated by all present. There were
about two hundred persons present, many OF
them students who took this opportunity of
joining the throng of those who are working
earnestly and zealously for their loved Alma
Mater. The loosening Of the champagne corks
seemed to loosen the tongues Of the orators
present and many toasts were proposed and
eloquently responded to, all of them showing
how near at heart the speakers had the interest
OF their Alma Mater, and how hopefully they
looked forward to the future, when they might
be able to say that the greatness and prosper
ity Of the great Southern University would in
no small degree be owing to their labors The
evening passed off pleasantly and will long be
remembered by them who participated in the
renewing Of old friendships, forming new ones
and forgetting for the time the cares Of the
world and joining together as loving brothers of
loving mother in fond family reunion.
Mr.. A. Ii. Stephens, of Georgia, says that
in bis interview with the New York Tribune S
correspondent he did not hint at such posi-
bility as that the South should use force to gain
her rights. He believes the appeal should be
to the ballotbox Mr. Stephens excoriates
the correspondent aforesaid, who disregarded
the understanding which he had with Mr.. Ste