The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-03
There were now loud and prolonged calls
GENERAL EARLY,

who was on the platform, and came FORWARD
rather reluctantly, and said that he had come
here not TO take public part in these eXer.
cjScs. but to listen to the orator and poet
nrirs. who had done so much in prose and
verso TO perpct,rte and keep green the me-
| mory Of our noble Confederate dead. he
| had listened with very great pleasure 70 inc
cloo,,eut words Of his friend from Norfolk,
aud his sentiments of love to the Common
| wealth found All echo in his heart.
After thanking the audience for the high
and unexpected compliment they had para
him. he would only dctain them TO say
rhongh he could not say 1t in the eloquent
words of the great statesman VINO had Ut
| tered the same sentiment last summer mat
he had hope for the country so long as we
have so many noble women to strew win
flowers the graves of our martyrcd dead,
and 70 teach to coming generations the prin-
ciplc, for which they died. For himself he
had faith in the women, and in their ability
as we'll as willingness to preserve our prln-
c;plcs And if this he treason, then they
uiav make the most OF It..
General Early was received with great
enthusiasm. and took his seat amidst loud
applause.
professor s. .. Southall then proceeded to
read the report Of the committee on the
award of the medal to the best writer IN the
Tntrerstty N0qGziae, and the scholarships
IN the two best editors during the session.
The report states that the committee had
some difficulty in reaching conclusion, o"-
inc to the excellence Of many OF the arti-
cleS. Among other exceedingly crcdltable
,,icces the committee make special mention
Of The Poetry of Sorrow" "fope's Essay
on Man." The Modern Protcu>,' Menl-
orie>." and "Nirtue its Power over GraceS.'
But the article which, for its inYenion. its
harmony Of design, its felicity in rejecting
the tone aud costume of the age TO which it
refers. and lis general literary merits, best
deserves the medal. we think, is The Death
OF Marlowe." written, a has been since as
crrraiucd. by Mr.. William ". Thum, Of Lou
>yi'r Ky.
The committee had awarded the Editorial
Scholarships 10 Mr.. y. Ii. Ward, OF South
Carolina. and Mr.. William W. Thum, Of
Louisville.
In awarding the medal TO Mr.. Thum, Pro-
fr>>or SouthaIl said:
Il am dcputcd by our two Literary Socie-
ties 10 deliver the medal due TO the author
OF the best contribution to the MaJdz'ne du'
ring the present session.
-. Ii yiyeS ne sincere pleasure to deliver
into Your hands SO tlattcring testimonial,
hccallSe | think that its reception should be
an occasion Of unalIoyed delight to you and
10 your friends. Your success will be fol-
lowed by no regrets, as il has been achieved
by no indirection. You have pleased ny
manly arts. 1u open and generous
competition, without the aid OF COL
lateral influences or personal considera-
tons. YOU have gained the palm. As the
youthful Alexander avoNcd his Willingness
10 enter the arena If he could be confronted
BY royal antagonists, so you, IN your degree,
may have the pleasure of Knowing that you
have encountered most worthy competitors.
And though you have outstrippcd them all,
il will greatly hclghten the qualification OF Il
liberal and chiyaIrous spirit to be informed
that they pressed closely on you. and were
not lngloriou>lv defeated. They are here to
witness, and, through hearty sympathy. even
to partakc OF, your triumph. For bya slight
adaptation Of couplet of Pope's, | may
add
In a living medal see your work cnrol'd.
And vanquishcd frisads supply recording gold
"Your own good sense will suggest to you
that this early success conStrainS to Increased
and persistent effort. Our augur!eS OF your
future usefulness will be all disappointed
should you supinely rest contented to live
on the mere memories Of Il youthful tri-
umph. Laurcl> are grateful to the young
brow, but 10 feed on ldure'watcr is poison
on. 10 the strongest constitution. 1t was an
ancient fancy that the luurelWrcath protected
its wearrr from the thunder-bolt, but it iSa
modern experience that the lightniDgs Of the
public censure are launched most unerrln.lv
at the devoted head Of him who, resting
under his !aurelS, fails TO redeem the rich
promise of his youth by the achievements
OF manhood. -
Tar, very far from you, sir, be the ne
cessity Of any such warning. Let lis rather
hOrc and believe that your own high aims
and faithful cuGeavOrs but realize the fond
est expectations Of your friends, aud that
the light that now shines upon YOU will
broaden into 4 long day Of uncioudcd Splcn-
dor.
with these wishes gladly shaping them.
selves into arlcipltionS, l deliver this me-
dial. Receive it with the 1ervent congratl-
lationS of your friends and the general ap-
pl4lI>e Of the public"
The announcement Of the committee anu
the advance of Dir. Thum (whose youthful
appearlnce added interest to the honor was
erected with the most enthusiastic applause.
Mr.. Thum received the medal in III eX-
ceedingly graceful and neat little speech,
which | had intended sending IN iuil is
model Tor such speeches, but must close Tor
the mail. fiAloN'