The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-06-21
BETHANY.
COMMENCEMENT DAY AT THE
COLLEGE.
A Larse Ciass--.Exereisss by the LII.
erary Societies.-Meeting or the
Board OF usiees-.President 9 PEN
dl.tOn's AddI ess.
Correspondence of the REGISTER,

Board ofTrusiees-.Presid PEN.
dl.ton's Address.
Correspondence Of the Register.
Commencement day at Bethany COL
lege furnishes the chief excitement oi
the year 10 the good people OF the quiet
town and Of the surrounding neighbor.
hood. The graduation of class is an
event that seems to be looked forward
to with as much pleasurable excitement
by the people OF Bethany as by the stu
dents at the college themselves, and
when the weather is fair (as it almost
always is) on the day Of the commence
nent, the town puts on it's holiday at
tire, the staunch and thrifty Brooke
county farmers come in with their
wives and daughters, and from
the long rows OF horses hitched
to the fences, and the vehicles OF every
description standing in the stable yards
and overhowipg into the alleys, a
stranger would be apt to conclude that
a highly successful county fair was in
full blast in that locality.
The friends OF the College are justly
proud OF these eviden ces OF its populari'
ty. The best possible feeling seems to
subsist between the students and the
citizens and every person in the neigh
borhood comes to the College on
Commencement day to show their ap.
probation Of the good work that is be-
ing doue and manifest their good will.
| To those who come from abroad, the
most generous and graceful hospitality
is extended by the people of the town.
Everybody keeps open house and
welcomes with warm and open hand
every guest who may come to attend
the closing exercises at the school
Plenty 10 ca. and place to sleep are
guaranteed to all, and verify believe
that Colonel Alex. Campbell would
ind room and provisions for q thou
sand il necessary.
THE CLASS OF 1873.
The exercises this year have received
some peculiar interest from the TACT
that the graduating class numbered
twen;y-six, larger number than has
been graduated at Bethany in any year
since 1859, thus giving some indication
Of the returning and increasing pros.
perity Of the college and reminding the
audience OF "old times" And
II don't know but that this
is rs good place ss any other to speak
of another feature Of the class OF '73
that attracted general notice. The
Young men are older and more matured
than those Of almost any other former
class. Their average age was nearly
% years and there was apparent
among them o thougbtfulness and
earnestness that indicated now well they
appreciated the duties and respesibili-
ties Oft busy life bpon which they
were Just entering. The average talent
of the class was also high, and the pros
poets o. its members for usefulness and
distinction have not been excel!ed. That
their own hopes may be realized was the
wish OF all who were present at the con-
GLIDING exercises of their college career.
EXAMINATION OF CLASSES.
The examination of classes prellm-
mary to the close o: the scholastic
wear has been conducted during several
weeks past. Each class is thoroughly
questioned in the presence OF the entire
Faculty and the proficiency Of the stu
dent is critically examined. According to
the system of marks aud credits adopted
in the institution, 100 is perfection and
65 is the lowest allowable rank. Woe
to the idle or unlucky student the rec
ord OF who scholarship falls below o.
He is remorselessly pitched'-though
whether this term means pitched over,
or pitched under, or pitched within
and without with pitch" after the sl-
Multitude OF Noah's Ark, or that the
student has failed to attain the
proper scholastic pitch TO enable him
10 m aintain the harmony Of the class,
this deponent saith not Al any rate
| it is something terrible and is nsrvously
dreaded by the students.
The proper closing exercises Of the
late term commenced on Wednesday
evening with the performances OF the
| AMERICAN LITERARY SOCIETY.
The College Hal. a beautiful and com
modious room but somewhat deficient
in acoustic properties, was well filled by
an appreeiative and attentive audience.
The performers were all members OF the
graduating class, aud here is the pro-
cramme, omiting the splendid music
which was furnished at intervals by the
Great Western Band, Of Pittsburgh
Salu,story, NJ. P. Galleher Ohio;
Essay. Progress OF the Present Age. s
A Lacock. Pa; Grafton, Power OF the
Prees, J. E Dunn, Va; Essay, Music,
F,P. StClair, w. Va; Grafton. Des
peration, vsrsus Moderation, j. n. Ad'
ans. Tenn; Discussion, Affirmed: That
Railroad Monopolies are advantageous
to the Public. Affirmative, 6. W. NC
Coard. Pa; Negative. L. 81. Slime, ILL.,;
Valsdictory, J. ". Huey, Tenn.
The performances were Gil highiy
creditabIe and eviuced 8 good degree o'
culture on the pa1t OF the several young
men. 1t is impossible here, and would
scarcely interest the general public, to
sneak of the essays aud orations in de.
tail. There is sameness about all OF
this college eioquence that cannot fs,l
to be noted by any persou who has at
tended more than one Commencement
vhether q. the same or at different COL
lsges The titles Of the essays and ora.
TONS NAV be different, but the line Of
thought and the treatment OF the SUD
i.c,s is the came. / don't mean to say
that the young men copy from each
c,ber or from their predecessors