The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-06
LETTER FROM WILLIAMSBURG.
commencement Exercises at william
and Mary College.
Especial Correspondence Of the Dispatch
WILLIAMSBURG, VA, July 5, 1871

WILLIAMSBURG, VA, July 5, 1871.
AS stated in my previous letter the eX-
ercises of the college, which had been post
poned on account of unavoidable circum-
stances, commenced yesterday at the col
lege chapel.
about TX o'clock the crowd began to
assemble, and although the weather was
oppressiyely hot, the building was soon
crowded with the beauty and chivalry Of
the State. Richmond was well represented
by several of her most accomplished bellies
and Il host Of gallant men. and although 4
gloom had been cast over the little town
by the hand of death, the spirit of past
glories and future hopes stu burnt deep in
the hearts Of the surviving alumni Of old
William and Mary.
Among the prominent persons present
; on the stand were his EXcellency Governor
Walker, and Aid, Colonel Owen, General
Ii. n. Wise, Hon. James Lyons, Tazewell
, Taylor, Hugh Blair Grigsby, General w.
b. Taliafcrro, Judge w. W. Crump, Rev.
DR., Woodbridge, President Ewell, and Il
host Of others.
The exercises were opened with prayer
by the Rev. Ct. Il. Wilmer, chaplain of the
college, and professor of the department of
bellies lettrcs.
President Ewell then introduced to the
audience the Rev. j. II. d. Wingfeld, of
Petersburg, who delivered the address to
the Alumni Association. The speaker held
his audience entranced for one hour, and
closed in an earnest appeal to all the friends
OF his old Alma Mater to stand by her IN
this her hour of need.
President Ewell then announced that the
Phoenix Literary Society would take charge
of the exercises, whereupon Mr.. e. =. Cole,
of Williamsburg, the president of the So
ciety, came forward, and, in neat and APP
propriate speech introduced to the audi.
ence Mr.. John S. wise, Of Richmond, as the
orator Of the occasion. Mr.. Wise, after q
touching allusion to the past glories OF old
William and Mary, announced as the SUBJ
icct of his address, "The Use and Abuse of
the Practical" He handled bis subject in
u manner worthy OF n maturer age, and
proved himselfa "chip of the old Block"
lie reprobated in strong and unmeasured
terms the tendency of this age of progress
to confound the true practical with mere
mater1alism, into which everything true and
noble seemed to lie drifting, and the ring Of
the true metal lost in the .adingjiugle of
dollars and cents. The true ideal practical,
he argued, was the happy and harmonious
union of theory and practice of thought
and action, and such was to be the basis
upon which we should revive and regen-
crate the greatness OF old Virginia.
The Young orator was listened to with
intense and untlagging interest throughout
the whole of his address, and the warm APP
Dlause OF the men and the silent but eX-
pressiye eloquence of the kindling eyes and
bright smiles of the fair ladies were flatter-
ing indeed. The address occupied an hour
in delivery, and for graceful rhetoric and
deep research has seldom been equalled
even in the classic halls OF old William and
Mary.
After its close President Ewell came for
ward, and in feeling terms alluded to the
recent death of one Of the students, Mr..
George Turner, OF Goochland county. In
fact that in the last fifty years there had
been only four deaths In the college, and
not one from local causes, which contra
dicted the prevailing prejudices, and spoke
we'll for the salubrlty OF the climate. He
spoke encouragingly Of the future pros
poets of the college, which should be dear
to the heart of every true Firginlan, asso-
ciated as it is with SO many OF the greatest
OF Virginia's sons, and the mother OF Amer
lean colleges. he alluded to the vacant
seats caused by the deaths in the Board of
Visitors and faculty, and paid high
tribute to the lamenCed Robert Saunders,
the late distinguished president, and accom-
pIlshed and elegant gentleman. he also
alluded touchingly to the deceased Of the
Alumni-Gee, Preston, Forniss, and the
chiYalric and gallant o. Jennings Wise,
After the delivery of this address Presi-
dent Ewei announced that the next order
of business would be the comforting OF GER
tifcates of merit upon the different students
entitled to them. The following certificates
were then presented:
Senior Latin.-E. Z. Cole, 2. n. Boyden,
r. Z. Mercer.
intermediate Latia.-Z. Hofheimer, E..
d. Murdaugh, w. T.. HARDWOOD, ID. l..
Kasey, Il. S. Jones.
Jnnior Latm.-J. P. Little.
Moral Philosophy and Log,c.--R: w.
Goode, r. S. Jones, X. I. Cole, >. b. wal
Ter, w. f. Harwood, J. T. wilkins.
Junior Rhetoric.-I. de Bree higgins, II.
Nj. Cosnahan, E. z. Powell, ). T. Little,
N. Martin.
- Senior and intermediate Mathematics
d. L. Kasey.
Junior. Mdthematics.-J P. Little, z. S.
Jones, j. 7. Wilkins.
Geology and Physiology.-W. e. Har-
wood and George A. Hankins.
Senior 9ernsan,-R. w. Goode, c. w.
Wharton, q. Hopheimer, III. L. Kasey, w.
K. HarwOod.
JUNIOR German.-R. N. Hughes and R.
P. Mercer. NJ
Senior Greek.-E. p. Cole and b. w
Goode.
intermediate Greek.-R. L. Jones and =
u. Boyden.
JUNIOR Gresk,-R, n. Hughes.