The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-26

not be prophet to predict for Mr.. Miller O
brilliant future. The loud applause which
greeted him showed the high appreciation
of his fellow-sLudents, and Of the audience.
The yaledictory Of Professor Puryear was
then delivered:
vALEDICToRY ADDRESS 0F PROF. B. PrRYEAR
He begun by saying that they had had Q
pleasant and profitable session, and that the
professors could look back upon it as one not
spent in vain.
He proposed, in parting from these young
gentlemen, to commend to them few
thoughts which he deemed worthy OF their
careful consideration.
lie said that the object of the training
through which they had passed was not SO
much to tit them for any particular calling
as to nuke them men-to develop and
strengthen their faculties as moral and in
tellectual beings. He insisted that while
skill and knowledge are important, true
manhood is the essential thing ; and that the
better man is as man the more success
full he will be in any undertaking whatever
EIe charged the young men to seek as OF
primary importance solid, pure, and manly
character. He then proceeded to- briefly IN
dictate the elements Of true character.
l. He named inteTity-fidelity to truth
and obligation-as q very foundation stone,
and exhorted the young men to possess this
which is worth more than gold, ana Whlch
gives title to respect which is never dlSal'
lowed.
2. He next mentioned unse5ishness as an
important element of true character. lie
earnestly combated that school OF philosophy
which would make sclf.interest the control
~ N
roughly selfish man is tit to be trusted in any
great or responsible station. He cited Cice-
70 as an example OF the blightng curse OF
selhshneSS. and our own Washington, jack
son, and Lee as examples of those who
sought all for country and nothing for them
sclyes-and pointed to "the Son Of Man y
as the very embodiment Of uDsellishncss.
3. He next mentioned rs an essential ele-
mcnt of true character industry. He spoke
how lnbo,. has forced its way to the respect
of the world, until now soft, white hands,
dainty feet, and locks powdered and per-
fumed are no longer indicative of the highest
STYLE of man. In an age when We are seek
ing to utilize all the forces Of nature, we
cannot afford to tolerate dleneSS in men. II
costs from five thousand to ten thousand dol
lars to raise and educate a man, and unless
q
be is simply bad speculation. He urged
the young men to see to it that their parents
and society shall not sink money in
them, and that they settle it in their
minds that laZneSS is not merely 4
weakness, but a social crime that is not to be
tolerated even in the eneryating days Of
spring, or in burning summer, when cool
shades and rustling leaves WOO US to inglo-
.;n To fnS iSta
presen. need Of the Commonwealth is not
increased capital, or exemption from taxa.
ton, or u better civil Constitution (aS much
as these are nceded), but men-men who are
both able and willing to work. He eX-
pressed the earnest hope that in these young
gentlemen there may not be verified the re-
mark of shrewd observer that young men
touched with the classics seldom love to
labor.
He closed with the following remarks TO
the students: "True, unSeItiSh, industri-
ous-ir such be your characters Richmond
College will not he ashamed to recognize
you us children, or blush when you call her
mother. 1t only remains for me to express
my good wishes for you all; 10 hope that
you will have q pleasant vacation and 4
happy srjourn among your friends; that
though you may part from some here with
humid eyes, each one of you will find his
fair one at home duics rldeafenl, dntce To-
queniena. And in the Dalue OF my colleagues
and for myself pray that to each one OF
you may be. allotted long, 4 useful and i
happy life"
The refreshing rain, although breaking
up the projected promenade, was a fitting
tinale to the most brilliant commencement
Richmond College ever had.