The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-03-30
From the Columbus Index.


i cunning ABOUT the nrst OF June and cOntir
uing some twenty or more DAYS. The ex
aminatiOns are on this wise % neralIv thre
examinations are going on in different hall
NJ the same time, beginning at 10 O'Clock !
"a. each day, and continuing not less tina
three. and sometimes four hours-each at
tended Dy Committee of the Faculty
Inc class, say the Sophomore in History,
OF JUNIOR In metaphysics" or the Senior i
Foiltical Economy" (for all of them ar
IN my departmenE) assemblies in the exam
NATION room at the time appointed,
O'Clock, bringing nothing with them bu
their pencils, and take their seats at tn
writing tables, when several sheets of iarg
looiscap paper, stamped with the Universe
~ sea-, In order to guard against any deep
ton, are furnished TO each. Then
series of comprehensive questions, EN-
substance of what has been pOn,
over, Is dictated to them, which they write
communicating them as they are dictated
/, .; DC q am describing my own meth
| Cd. Some of the professors have thei
questions on the blackboard by the tim,
the class assembles) Then the pencil
| drivers begin their arduous work havine
| three hours, and sometimes by special grace
| four, in which to complete their task Rut
| whilst the scribes are vigorously and silent
/ ly at woT k-nOthing being heard in theiI
| ball but the creaking of pencils. on the ba-
per, and now and then the sigh of some
| poor fellow who has got into the fog, (foI
4
or To receive help from any source whatever
| except his owl. brain) an "Oral" examina-
| ton Is at the same time going on in an ad-
joining room, and on different part of the
| subject. Each one is called SUCCESSFULLY
from his writing table, and undergoes the
| ordeal of a catechizin gfor about five minutes
My Orals were restricted to the TerminoIogy
and Technicalities of each science, except
| History, in which the Oral embrace the
Geography, Chronology and Mythology OF
Ar fho oil -. ~,
work, each student folds up his manuscript,
places upon it his symbol, a private mark,
and hands it to one of the attendant pro-
fessor, who takes the name of each one with
his mark, and keeps it until the professor in
charge has carefully examined and graded
each paper, which he does In utter ignorance
as to its author. Consequently in affixing
the grades he is wholly unbiased by his
feelings or partialities.
have been deeply impressed with the
great Importance of these Semi-Annual
Examinations to the student. | am satisti-
ed that ne learns more, and that his mind is
more thoroughly disciplined during these
examinations, than in all the previous part
of the term. His brain is subjected to the
greatest possible pressure for the time be-
ing, so that the dim ideas are forced into
the light, and his half gestated knowledge
is brought to the birth by painful mental
throes. We may stand Oral examinations,
and pass with half-knowledge, but we can
making nonsensel
will take the liberty of stating in this
connection, that the representatives in this
Institution from your side of the State.
stand amongst the very first on the scale of
scholarship and ability. There is not sec
ond-rate man amongst them. | feel proud
of them L may mention Edmond Wat
kins. of Meridian, Nicholas G.. Augustus, of
Macon, Lamuel 5. Scales, of Charlottesville,
Thos. b. Hargrove, Cornelius Miller and
Jerry Withelspoon, of Columbus and vicin-
ity, Charles G. Ewing and Albert III. Whit
field, of Aberdeen, and VIM. III. Calhoun,
(nephew of Judge ORR of Tupelo-all '99''
men. and five of them. viz Watkins. White
field, WitherspoOn, Miller and Scales, Hon
or men," / mention these because they
are from your side of the State. But there
are others from other parts of the State, in
all respects their equals. / am told by the
older professors that the present student
body has never been surpassed in point of
intellect, industry, and moral and gentle
manly bearing.
Notwithstanding the unparalleled obsta-
cles the University has had to contend with,
this year, arising from the low price of cotton
the uncertainty hanging over its fate at the
close of last year, and the attacks made up
on it by certain newspapers, however honest
in their convictions, yet wholly mistaken in
their fears, as time will prove, yet the num-
Der of students is slowly but steadily in
creasing so that by the time the Catalogue
is published, the Chancellor thinks our
number will have reached one hundred and
twenty. We confidently anticipate alarge
accession next year. Why not? Where in
all the South can there be found an institu-
ton affording better opportunities, or great
er facilities for an accomplished education,
for any profession or vocation In life, than
here at Oxfords The State has II guessl
million and half of dollars in this Univer-
sity. The interchangeable Observatory, and
the various Cabinets and Museums OF natu
raj history, not surpassed by any in the
South. The Library is respectable, con-
tanning about 5000 volumes, and $4,000 APP
propriated to add to their number. The
Faculty consists of ten Professors besides
tutors in the various departments. The
Chancellor Rev. John N. Waddel, ID. d.,
who has been connected with the UNIVERSE
ty ever since its foundation, inherits the
prestige of his father, who educated many
Of the most distinguished Southern States
men of the last generation, and surpasses
him in many respects, is unriva1led as an
Educator and disciplinarian. l.. Z. Car
land, IL. d., for many wears the Chancel-
Ior of the University of Alabama. is at the
head of the department of Physics. E. w.
Hilgard, Pin. D., has national fame as
Chemist. The gallant General, c.
w. Sears, who lost leg at the
terrible battle of Franklin, Is at the
head of the Mathematical department. Rev.
G. G. Wheat, ID. D., an able Methodist min
ister, is the professor of Greek. A. j.
Ouinch, A. NJ, whom the people of Column
bus will recollect as the principal of clas-
steal school there some ten or fifeeen years
ago, is the accomplished professor of Latin.
s. G. Burney, ID. D., distinguished minis
ter of the Cumberland Presby terian church,
is at the head of the department or English
Literature. George Little. Phi. d., at the
head of the department of Natural History,
a graduate of the University of Alabama
also of the University of Berlin, in Ger
many, where he spent several years, bids
fair TO take rank with the first Naturalists
of this country. Although he is but just
thirtv-three wears of age, yet he has but
few superiors in his department.. As for
myself l shall do all that in me lies to make
nv own department (Metaphy sizes and Log
ic5 respectable and TO make christian gen.
tlemen. as well as scholars, of the young
men who may come under my influence
The Hon Henry Graft, of Memphis, will be
year. As 10 the expenses OF receiving an
education here they need not exceed $50 or
$500 per annum, at the outside
oxford is distinguished alike for the salu-
brity of its climate and the cultivation and
refinement of its citizens. In view, there
fore. OF all these facts and considerations,
where will you find an Institution in the
Southern Country, affording better oppor-
tunities and greater facilities for obtaining
an accomplished education, than can De
found in our own University
- JAMES A. LYON.
PSI would respectfully request the
Columbus Democrat, THE JACKSON CLARION
and other papers In the State friendly TO the
cause of education. 20 give this article
place in their columns. gshfs