The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-07-05
To 'Spactaahurg and Back.

hAh6O- O-CCENESIEAESA SSn4oS v e-Sto1
L1HIBIrloN-roCNG LADIES CONCERT
CEN. PREsToS's oRATIoS-PREsToN ASn
CALHOUN socIkTIRs-A NEW ERA IN TUE
HISTORY OF woFFoRD--wEpSEsDA
CLOSED THE >cBSE-TRE FEMALE COL
LEGE--TowS OF sPARTASRURe-SusL1N
IN ONE PIECE, ITc ETC.
Wofford College Commencement, las
week, was the occasion Of I large gathering
Of tho friends and parons Of tina; noble oil
institution, and among the honored guests
ours was tho happy privilege of enjoying no
only The Interesting exercises, but the un
bounded hospitality Of the citizens Of the
town. With the exception Of perfect de-
luge of rain, which fell jus. as the train hsc
cmp,icd its living freight, on Saturday af
ternoon, and which spitefully persisted tc
fall, in spite OF the efforts and desires Of the
wear;ed and dusty travellers to get away
from The landing, and which fell fast, thick
and long enough to almost drown the ideas
of the committee in attendance, and cause
forgctfuluess Of the programme, which ii
was fondly hoped was TO work out large
amount Of happiness to guest and host,
may truly be said that all was we'll and
charmingly carried cut. The sudden show
er was inopportune, it was Eot set down OF
the bills, and of course neither citizens mol
committee could be made responsible for it,
and il the wrong men got into the wrong
places, and some were los: entirely, the ele'
men.s alone could be charged with the con-
fusion. On Sabbath. wrongs were rightcd
however, and everybody made happy. and
from this time to the closing scene, it was a
continual round Of pleasure, Of joyous re-
union, of feast of reason and flow Of soul
and of bountiful, ciegan: repasts, in which
the ine,itab chicken occupied the fore.
ground continually-and for which blessing,
we. in hearty accord with the preachers in
attendance, felt under many obligations to
our kind and providcnt entertainers. 1t was
1 noticeable feature, and we could not fail
but make note Of it, that in few cases were
tue chickens fried, the prevailing style WAS
either smother bake, or bake and stuff. II
mattered NOT. however, it was chicken, and
though innovations on good old time hon
ored Institutions some times are productive
of unhappiaess, we are glad to state that no
dissatisfaction was manifested on this occa-
sion, and every man; from the Bishop down,
picked his bones contentedly. Suffice it,
justice was fully done. and if there was COM
plant it was for lack Of greater capacity.
The commencement sermon, delivered in
the college chapel on Sunday morning, by
Bishop Wightman, was an eloquent exposi-
ton Of divine truth, and particularly appli-
cable to the students OF Wofford. and was
listened TO with interested attention, during
the hour and fifteen minutes which occupied
its delivery. The singing in the gallery WAS
particularly fine, and we arc pleased to note
that the organ used was one Of power and
superior tone, and belongs to the Church
choir.
On Monday took place the junior c1hibt-
ton, and in the evening the pleasures were
delightfully."- added to by concert given BY
the young ladies of the Female College, in
their chapel, which latter gave proof that the
musical culture Of the young ladies is care
fully attended to. This concert was most
decided success, and though listened to un-
der an intolerably oppressive atmosphere,
gave the utmost satisfaction.
On Tuesday, Gen. J. S. Preston delivered
an elegant address before the Preston and
Calhoun Literary Societies subject, the Iu-
fuence of Religion upon Civil Liberty, and
like all other efforts of the distinguished and
eloquent speaker, it was rcplete with beauti-
ful sentiment and earnest thought. At night
the Societies occupied the hours with ami
mated discussions. The subject debated in
the Preston Society, over which Gen. Preston
presided, was, "Ought the Plea of Political
Necessity ever to be Admitted as IN Excuse
or Pallistion for Violating the Constitution
or the Laws"-Messrs j. Z. Carlisle and W..
B. Burnett, in the affirmative, and Messrs. j.
E. Webster aod J. E. Wannamaker, in the
negative. Not being gifted with the power
Of ubiquity We did not hare the pleasure Of
hearing the above discussion, the Calhoun
Society claiming our attention, and in this
the subject was, Tn Republican Govern
mcnts hare the People q Right to Instruct
their Representatives. The affirmative in
this argument was ably argued by Charles
A. Wood and our young New berriau, w. H.
Folk; in the negative by Chas. F. Smith and
F. A. Gilbert. II was decided in the negative
by d vote of 30 TO Q. The young gentlemen,
in our judgment, acquitted themselves hand
somcIy, and rejected ho1or on the institu-
ton with which they arc connected. We
we're not a little pleased 10 see in the pre-
siding officer over this latter Society. an Old
and esteemed friend and brother o. the edl'
torial fraternity, Mr.. A. 4. Gilbert, o. The
Sumter Wa;chman, and highly gratifed a.
witnessing the ability with which be dis
charged the duties Of the hour, and nc less
so with the graceful address he made to the
young men. We cannot help paying this
slight compliment, where it is so ,.uly mer-
tied.
Bu: VIC cannot enter too minu;ely into all
the particulars of this happy commencement
occasion, one which seems to mark q new
era in the history of Woford, judging by the
general and earnest interest which it called
forth, not only from the citizens of the town.
but from large numbers as we'll, from the
surrounding country and various parts OF the
State. We will therefore briefly alludc to the
closing scenes.
Wednesday was tho grand day, and carly
in the morning the whole town was in lively
stir, moving as we'll on 200; as in every Kind
of vehicle. from the latest and most fashion
able turnout, down to some of mos, sntedi-
luvian appearance, each and all heading for
The college, where no less than fifteen noble
von0~ r,pn yero to hid adjeD m .hci- Aim,