Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-03
Educational.

cecded BY the Faculty and other distinguished
personages, entered the hall, already well filled
with the youth and beauty Of town and country.
After prayer by the Chaplain, Coz: Ncnable,
Chairman Of the Faculty, proceeded to deliver.
the Certificates of Proficiency and Diplomas OF
Graduation in the various schools Owing to
the admirable manner in which Col. \cnable
performed his part, this proceeding occupied
much less time and therefore, was much less
tedious than formerly.
The number OF graduates in the different
schools bears very fair proportion to the
whole number of students, and speaks we'll tor
the Institution. Without wishing to draw in.
vidious distinction, yet Justice makes 1t ncces-
sary for me to state that Archibald Henderson
TAYLOR. of Alexandria, is among the most dis
tinguished Academic Graduates tor the ses-
sion OF lS7n-'1l.
Diplomas with the title of Bachelor Of
Science were conferred upon Frank I. Dun
nington of Baltimore, JAS. y. Reagan, OF Ten
nessee. and ChaS NJ. Smith, OF Richmond.
The Degree Of Master of Arts We're conler-
red upon the following: John NJ. W: Doggett,
of Richmond, Edgar II. Farar, Of Louisiana,
jackson Guy, of Virginia, and James Il. True
hart, of Alabama. The audience WAS then dis
missed for halt an hour.
At - clock the Society OF Alumni formed
upon the lawn, preparatory to marching INTO
the hall to listen to the address Of Judge VIM.
B. Napton, Of st. Louis, Mo. In this procession
and on the roStrum your correspondent noticed
some of the most distinguished alumni; Is.
johnson Barbour, Col. Il. l.. Preston, Judge
Alexander Rivcs, Lieutenant Governor ). L.
Marye, President of the Society, Col. Ii. Fl;
WithcrS, Bishop Doggett, Judge Earar AND
Mr. Chante, OF Louisiana, DR. James Mcdowell
Rev. DR.. Withespoon, Of Mississippi. recently
elected Chaplain to the University, Col. John
S. Mosby, and many others. Lieut.. Gov
Marye, in his usual ieiicitous style, welcomed
the distinguished brother from !; far distant
State, and introduced to the Alumni and the
audience as the ''Orator Of the Day. Judge
VIM. y. Napton.
The Judge began by saying that t years had
ELAPSED since he had had the honor of speak
ing to an audience in IN adjoining building and
begged leave to recall some OF the names OF
those who were present on that occasion, swell
as the incidents connected Herewith. There
were ex-Presidents Madison and Monroe, the
two Barbours. Gen WA. +. Gordon, VIM. {.
Rives, Andrew Stevenson and others. AS he
went on naming these friends Of his youth, and
connecting with each one some pleasing rcnl-
niscence, the aged orator seemed Tor i time to
regain the vigor of his youth:
1t would be almost impossible, in letter, to
give a synopsis of this Speech and rs 1t will be
published in full dismiss it without any it,
Their attempt to follow the train Of though t sug-
gested by the orator Suffice it to say that it
was speech worthy the occasion and the. ora
tor. The delivery of this speech occupied about
one hour and quarter, and was listened to
with marked attention by the whole vast audi,
ence Judge Napton is about e. or ct years OF
age, was born in New Jersey, graduated with
high honors at Princeton, and came to Virginia
as tutor in the family Of Gen. VIM. +. Cor
don. lie afterwards studied law ut the UNI
versity of Virginia, practlced his profession Tor
awhile in the town OF charlottesville and then
removed to Missouri. In this latter State he
enjoyed in large degree the confidence OF his
tcllow-citzcns and for many years @raccd the
Bench of its Supreme Court.
Thus closed the literary and academic part of
the DAYS proceedings The next scene was
to he much more cnlivening and OF more sub
stantia naturc--I mean the annual Alumni
Dinner This year the dinner WAS prepared by
MIR. H. Massie, one of the efficient hotel keep
ers at the University, and certainly it proved,
beyond doubt that he, at least, knows how
to keep hotc' Speaking the words OF truth,
and soberncss-for the wines had not yet COM
mcnccd to flow-it was i very line table that
presented itself to the gaze OF the hungry
alumni as they ,entered the large dinner hall;
there was everything that could tempt the ap-
petite, but to appreciate the character OF the
least you should have seen the vlTor ut the on
set, which WAS made as soon rs grace was sud,
which was done by Rev }. W. Jones, Of Lex
ngton.
The cloth being removed and wines brought
in, our President, }. l.. Maryc, rose and i'll Il
most fclicitous speech introduced the regular
toastS LIST, Alma Matcr-'Gve her OF the
fruit Of her hand and let her own works praise
her in the gates Responded to very happily
by Col. Willis Bowcock, Of Ala, who said he
supposed this was what his friend the Rev.
Mr. Jones would call Pathological topic, and
he COLD mt see how he could he expected TO
speak to such toast under such IN inSp ration.
I'd toast Board Of Visitors, responded to
by B. johnson Barbour. 3d--The Gov. Of
Iireinir-Gov. Walker The Governor being
absent, johnson Barbour moved that raid ne
made upon Col. Nlosby to supply his p ;lcc-,,
the Colonel responded that he was too much
used to making raids to allow himself TO DC
raidcd upon.
18th, The Orator Of the bay Missouri
sends buck to Firginia--the daughter to the
m0ther--the maturcr orator Tor the youlhiul
speaker responded to by
Judge Napton, in Il few appropriate words,
concluding with the sentiments 1.-THE Common
wealth Of Virginia-may her future be as her
past Webbers Band meanwhile playing
Garry me back to Old Virginia.
9Th, 'The Faculty --'Likc nature, they
work in silence In presenting this toast GOV.
Marye remarked that perhaps the Faculty
worked in silence now, but it was very differ
ent when he was at college, in those days they
did i power of talking. This toast was re-
sponded to in very earnest and iorclblc man
ner by COL Chas. S. Nenablc.
9th, Our IIonQred Dcad-"Thc heritage Of
noble examples, the best earnest OF n9hlHr
achievements responded to 10y Prof Southall.
It'll, Our Sister States of the Sonth-"tor
what is love made for, il It's not the same in
Joy and in sorrow, in glory and in shame,
responded to by
Mr.. Gordon Of Alabama. This gentleman
created 80 much enthusiasm by the earnest way
in which he spoke of making the University Of