The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1872-06-15
commandments Exercises OF Mar
shall College stnte Normal
school.

On Yesterday We had the pleasure Of
Iaying our first visit to Marshall College:
and ~ it Was the day on which the COM
rnencemcnt exercises OF the State Normal
School took place, we euioyed the visit very
much; although re had neither time nor
opportunity to psss through the different
apartments OF the bniding, or over the
grounds, so as to beprepared to write such
a description of them as will convey to
stranger any correct idea OF tire beauty
and grandeur of this old and farorite in.
stiiution.
The Object OF the visit wa. 10 witness
the exercises, that we might convey to our
readers some idea Of their character, and
inpart TO the public our own views con.
corning the general management and ex-
cellence OF the sohoel
We arrived few moments before the ex.
ercises commenced but the large Hall and
every part of she'building appeared to be
iensely crowded with ladies aud gentlemen
to witness the interesting exercises that
were then and there to take place They
did not have to'wait long, for Prof Powell,
with his usual promptness, had all Ibis
preparations made, so as not 90 weary the
patience Of those present by compelling
them to wait an hour for the entertain
inent to begin, nor was he tardy in going
through with them after they began The
programme opened with music, followed
hya beautiful and appropriate salutatory
from C. j. Reynolds of Proctorsyile, o.;
then came music and an soration from
Robert I. Phillips, OF Guysndotte, w. Va,
and beautiful aud well-written essay by
Mrs. Lucy L. Eib, OF Williamstown, w.
Va
Orations were delivered and essavs
read by the following persons, to-wit: W.
Fisher, OF Gallipolis, Ohio, Grafton; Lizzie
liuxham OF Huntington, essay; Buenos
Ayres, Of Mt. Olivet. W. Va, Grafton:
Miss Selona Holt, OF Cerro Gordo, w Va,
esssy; AS. Parsons, of Huntington, ora
ION Miss Willie A. Duling, OF Maiden,
". Va, essay; j. NJ. Pritcharl, Of Coal.
ton, Ky, Grafton; Miss ella f. Nef, OF
Hartford, W. Va, essay 4 Marshall. OF
Stcutf Mills w. Va, valedictoryi-this
wac chaste impressive and well.matured
effort and reflected much credit upon the
gentleman who pronounced il.
Diplomas were then cosferred upon n
number OF graduates, and the ben edic-
ton followed
These exercises were interspersed with
melodous music and listened to with the
most profound attention by all present
The orations were delivered and the essays
read with clearness and distinciness not
often heard on such occasions, and the
Young ladies and gentlemen acquitted them
selves with great credit Prof Powell bore
himself with dignity and gracefulness
throughout the performance, and is Ger.
tainly gentleman admirably calculated
for the discharge of the ardnons duties
which devolve'uPon him.
Aiter the benediction those present were
entertained by the delivery OF an old
fashioned Buncombe Fourth Of July ora
ton, by young gentleman whose name
we failed to learn. 1t was, however. the
most laughably ridiculous specimen Of
bombast that WAS ever extracted from the
English language.
Take it all in all, the exercises were adj
miraby conducted, and the people Of Hun
tinrton and West Virginia have abundant
reason to feel proud Of Marsall College.
and theiri sons and7 daughters whoi from
time to time, graduate there We regard IL
ss one of the best institutions Of learning
To be found in the Great West aud regret
that we have not space to devote to a more
extended notice Of it,