The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-12
DUE WEST COLLEGES.
COMMENCEMENT At ERSKINE COL
LEGE. Ass

Beginning OF the Public Exorcises-Es-
says, Declarations, Orations and De-
bates-Lindsey Hall In Gala Dress-
The College Band.
[FRoN OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
DUE WEST, 8. G., July 3.
The first public exercises Of the commence
ment season at Erskine College were giy ZEN
last evening at Lindsey Hall, and attracted q
large and intelligent audience. The great
hall had been beautifully decorated for the oc-
caslon by the tasteful fingers Of the students
of the Female College, and when IN
the evening it was lighted. up by the
numerous lamps of the two large chande-
liers and filed with crowded rows of
bright faced auditors, formed a beautiful
and animated picture. Over the stage,
which extends com etely across one end OF
the hall, were erected arches Of evergreen,
hung at intervals with baskets Of natural
flowers. On the stage was handsome car
the faculty, and on the wall, in rear of the
platform, were various legends and designs
wrought In evergreens. or these the
motto of the college, "ScientiG cum moribus
conjuncta," cross with flowers wreathed
upon 1t. and the fve-pointed star OF the iAme-
lian Society. for medthe central ornaments, and
were flsnked on either side by the badges of
the Euphemian and Philomathean Societies.
and their respective notices 10 Greek and Lat
10. The windows were shaded by fine lace cur
tains depending from gllded cornices, and the
light was furnished by two massive cnande-
liers of bronze and gilt depending from the
ceiling. In the gallery, which extends across
tho ifa nf
members OF the college band. an Institution
In which the students take a great and par
donaole pride. 1t contains about dozen
members, and owns ten fine brass instru-
ments, upon which, on occasions like the
present, class Of music is discoursed which
would do no discredlt to many OF the profess
slonal bands OF the United States. Last eve
ming the literary exercises were alternated
with brilliant succession of marches, quick
steps. polkas and popular airs, which were
performed with an accuracy and delicacy OF
execution very creditable indeed to the yonng
amateurs.
The exercises consisted of contests In essay
reading between members OF the junior class
and in defamation between the members or
the sophomore class. Not that all the members
OF the two classes delivered themselves OF
orations and exhibited their powers OF decla-
nation, for that would have resulted In q
stream OF adolescent eloquence for which
even the patience OF the commemorative
Ing Due .Westers would hardly be sufficient,
but each class put forth four representatives,
being presumably the best essayists or De.
Chalmers of the GLASS; and thus the contest was
limited to four Individuals In each class and
the programme to eight exerc.ses.r These
champions (or Wranglers, .i, to use me me
solemn conclaves of the two literary 30
cIeties, to one or the other Of which
every student of the college is sure to
belong, and thus the element OF rivalry De-
tween the two societies entered Into tne con-
test, and doubtless made 1t more attractive.
The Euphemlan Society nominated as eessylsts
Mpssrs. J. @. Chisolm and u. B. Clinkscales,
and. az declaimers, Messrs. T. NJ. Lowry and
W. l.. Miller. The Philomatheans named as
essavistS Messrs. D. G.. Caldwell and L. W.
Hunter, and. as declaImers, Messrs. T.. ID.
Lowry and W. L. Miller. The literary por-
llon Of the programme was fellows:
ESSAYS By JUNIORS.
"Qualiacatlons necessary to success in llfe."
D, G. Caldwell, Concord, N. G.
"Natlonal Glory" j.. G. .Chisolm, Fort
@AIi things rise to falf; and flourish but to
decay" N. B. Clinkscales, Anderson, 8. @.
"ralents honorable only as they are used"
L. W. Hunter, Charlotte. N. G. q.,a.,
DECLARATIONS By soPHoAoREs.
E. Becton, Selma, Ala.
..Spartaous to the Roman Envoys In Etru-
rian 3. 8. Galloway, Due West, 8. @. =,
'The South" T. M. Lowry, Yorkville. 8. Q.
"NapoIeon. his career and fate" W. L.
Miller, Due West, 8. G.
This programme was faithfully carried out,
and all of the young gentlemen did well, the
and frequent floral offerings from the ladies
of the audience. The prizes for which they
contended consisted simply Of honorable
mentionn In the catalogue, and the award LIB
not to be made until Thursday evening, when
| the reports of the various examining commit
tees will be made and the prizes publicly
| awarded.
This evening there were further exercises IN
| Lindsey hall, consisting of the first batch OF
oratlous by the members of the senior class,
| and q prIzs debate between tour OF the seniors.
There were five orations, as follows:
mo More" T. A. Barron, Oakland, Tenn.
"Power Of Eoquence." b. E. Bonner. Due
"i' sF;lsndship.s B. P. cllnkscales, Ander-
''si aWhat have ye DONE" G. s. Dale, Allen
Tue path Of glory leads but to the grave"
D. Walter Hawthorn, Due West, 8. @.
The debate was upon the question, "oughe
representatives to be bound 6y me. WIN Oh
sustained oy Messrs. W. NJ. Hunter, Of Craig
head, N. c., and W. E. Mcllwain, OF Wolfs-
vile, N. G.; aud the negative by Messrs. 3. -:
Ligon, OF AbbevilIe, s. G., and E. A. Reld, OF
Anderson, 8. c., the frat two representing
the Phllomathean and the others the Eupness
miap society. The programme, like that OF
last evening, was ntsrspersed with music by
The college band, and all passed off smoothly
and with evident satisfaction and pleasure 70
the crowded audience assembled. PICKET.