The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-26

SSotN okakSCiy UdfS HdQ u HOIBt UIUpi
tious occasion for their final celebration thai
last night: The sky was without cloud
and tbs air so cool and pleasant that the
spacious church in which the celebration wa!
held was by no means Uncomfortable. | 5.
The main audience-room Of the Grace
Street Baptist church, for there the exercise:
took place. was well-nigh crowded witt, g
brilliant assemhlage Of ladies aud gentIemen
who had gathered TO enjoy the entertain
ment Of the members Of the Mu Sigma Rho
and Philologian Literary Societies. McC Cam:
First Regisaeut band discoursed the music
before The celebration began, and indeed
during tie entire evening at appropriate
times. ss - = =
The exercises were opened by an appro
PIRATE prayer by the venerable Doctor ,Jeter
lately returned from Rome. j., =.
Nr. J.Ad. French, president of the PhiIoIo
gian Society, then introduced Mr.J. .W.Wild.
man, OF Campbell county, who delivered the
sALuTAroRY ADDRESS. !,
Mr. Wildman said: i=.'1 15i @as Z. L,a
Before introducing the orators of the eve
ming it is my pleasant duty in few words
to manifest our appreciation Of your pre-.
sence, and assure you ofour earnest, cordial
united welcome. Would that could fitly
express the JOY it gives us to meet again
within these walls the brilliant and kindly.
disposed audience here assembled. The
time has been short since we met in our last
annual celebration, but in the brief period
that has intcryened we have had renewed
evidences of friendship and interest in our
behalf which stir our souls to their depths.
No heart is more sensitive to the amenities
of life than that of aspiring youth. He
who recognizes the efforts Of the student
touches q chord that shall vibrate for
ever. Even cold. icy winter melts into
spring, and the sealed fountains of the
north gush forth at the coming of the sum-
mer sun. Is it strange, then, that those who
are in the spring-time Of lite-the period OF
bright hopes, high resolves, and noble aspira-
tions-should greet with the deepest emo
tions of pleasure those who come to stinu-
late and cheer them? So long as smiling
nature welcomes with springing grass. bud
ding flowers, singing birds, and laughing
rIls each returning spring-time let not the
youth of our institutions on each returning
commencement day fail to be greeted by
those who gladden. with their presence and
cheer with their smiles. Gladly, joyously.
we welcome you all. ! speak the common
sentiments of those I represent. MY words
are but feeble echo Of their deeper feel
ings. If by some magic stroke could sweep
the Tyre Of their hearts, each trembling
chord would give forth a strain as sweet as
ever stole along the Delan hills and as the
sounds died away in the distance, back, float
ing on the breeze, would come the echo,
/" Welcome ! welcome! !"
. Ladies and gentlemen, will not consume
more of your time with the passing breath
of salutation which shall soon be forgotten
when the gentlemen who follow me will bet.
ter claim your attention.. For long years
they have dwet in the regions of ParnasSus,
and ! assure you that now their graceful
locks are dripping with CaStalian dews. But
pardon me the injustice do you if / speak
a few words on subject very dear to our
hearts and quite appropriate to this occasion,
We should be false to ourselves and our
best friends if, while we are celebrating our
own triumphS. we should not equally re-
ioice in the success Of our Alma Mater. This
session las been marked by grand efforts and
glorious achievements. The visions Of one
year. ago arc now tangible realities.
We congratulate you as friends of the col.
lege OH what has been accomplished, and re-
joice ihlG soon the plans of many years will
be consummated. Our institution was not
at once admitted into the council of her Sis
ters, like Minerva, full grown and pano'
piled; but she is Il daughter of many pray.
ers and deep solicitude. We trace all the
fcrtiizing streams of earth back to few
gushing springs. This unpretending stream,
flowing steadily on, has increased in size and
beauty at every step until suddenly from IL
hidden reservoir crystal river gushes forth
into the widening channel. Far back in the
,;rrI,t hop ta1 chc
could step across the brook, but now she
does not attempt to span the broad river even
by building pillars OF prejudice on which to
rest her bridge oil night. t... s,f
u congratulate you, my countrymen, that
Virginia, from whose classic fountains have
gone forth the purest streams of national and
moral blessing, is now fostering the same in.
f1uences to irrigate her deserts which caused
them to blossom so fairly in "days OF yore. .
By the triumphs of intellect she then tower
ed above her sister States; and If she would
gloriously rise from the dust OF her present
prostraiion, like Thebes, it must be at the
sound of Amphion's Tyre. Educate ouI
youth, and the future is secure. For the
abode of science, which stretched forth its
hand and led the lightning harmless to the
earth, build spacious temples, crown them
with lofty towers to attract the beholder's
gaze, and catch the FIRST rays of the rising
sun, and 10 our trying hours these temple:
will preserve better than Jupiter Stator, re.
concile better than Copcordia, and nurture
truth and honesty more surely than
Fides. Let the pleasant walks of litera
ture be illumined by the etheral lights
those ancient worthless may fire the soul and
| kbo hoe Fnr
+" ihe gods that tread the golden halls ot
Olympus; our friends, the poets, philoso.
piers, aud statesmen, Of all ages" The stu
dent lives over again the palmy days o.
Greece and Rome. He scars with Homer
sails with Cesar, and conquers the world
with Alexander. He learns law from Solor
surveys the COLISEUM, treads the Pantheon
stands on Mars Hill, or muses. in the portico
the academy, or the iyceum, he is eyel
brought into contact with the nobiest prin
ciples and purest traits of character. Shai
an institution fostering such incentives o.
youthful action stop. short of success! a
voice all over this and other States answers
"Nol" "We have laid our cornerstone II
prayer, we are carrying on our WORK II
faith, and we hope to bring forth the cope
stone with! shoutings OF JOY" -, :.
During the session we have worked amif
the distracting din of ,busy trowels ant
noisy hammers, but We have not iabored il
vain. We rejoice to know that there art
those of our number who shall bear away
the highest honors of the institution. Witt
mingled feelings of joy and sorrow addres
you, noble victors, for the last time as fel
iow-students. But, allow me to say, W.
share with you the pleasure you feel on thi
occasion. Your honors, nobly won, will b.
modestly worn. The willing tribute Of oul
hearts we pay to your talents and your viz
tues, and may your MONDAY De as bright a
unnr morning of life and itS evening neace