Middletown transcript., 1874-06-20
commencement at Delaware college.

College Commencement was ever a season of
the greatest enjoyment to the good people Of New
ark and vicinity, and is looked forward to from
year to year with feelings of the most delightful
antcipations. Other times and seasons have
their own peculiar attractions and pleasures but
none offer such intellectual entertainments as are
furnished during that week. 1t is season in
which more universal interest is taken and which
is enjoyed more generally than any other time
of the year.
The public Commencement exercises of this
year were inaugurated on Sunday evening last
with the delivery, in the College Oratory, of the
Baccalaureate Address, or sermon, by the Rev.
Henry Mel, D. D., ofPhiladelphia. On Monday
evening pleasant entertainment of Recitation
and Defamation in which the young lady stu
dents participated, was given. On Tuesday
morning regular meeting of the Board of Trus-
tees was held, and the evening was devoted to
the celebration of the Athenaan Literary Society
of the College. The very large audience which
was assembled in the oratory that evening is
certain evidence that the interest of the people
in the College exercises has not diminished in the
least
The exercises were opened, at the request Of
the chairman of the evening, Mr.. Gouverneur
Emerson, with prayer by Rev. Joseph Stone,
Rector Of st. Thomas Church, Newark, after
which the young chairman, in a neat address,
extended cordial welcome to the audience and
thanked them for their presence and the interest
shown, &c. He then introduced Mr. .Thos. .Lumb,
Jr., the society orator of the OCCASION The ad-
dress of Mr.. Lumb was well prepared and de-
livered in strong, energetic manner. Assuredly
if the manner of the boy foreshadows the career
of the man, it would require no prophetic mind to
determine the pursuit to which this youth seems
best fitted
The next speaker, was Samuel NJ. Harrington,
Esq, of the New Castle Bar. Seldom has it been
good fortune to listen TO so excellent and per-
fectly appropriate address as that of Mr. Harring-
ton. Replete with sound practical advice and
good common sense, intcrspersed at times with
bursts of most thrilling eloquence it was greeted
by the large audience with frequent storms of
applause testifying their delighted appreciation
of its excellence. Now, as in his school days,
MIR. Harrington is great favorite with the cti-
zens ofNewark. The very announcement Of his
name by the chairman called forth warm greet
ing that aroused feelings of the deepest emotion
which were plainly visible in the speakers OPEN
ing remarks.
AT the close of Mr.. Harrington's address the
young chairman again came forward and intro
duce Mr.. G W. Marshall who on behalf of the
graduating class, of which he is a member, de-
lvered touching farewell address to his fellow
students. The modest, unassuming manner of
this young gentleman gained for him the warm
est concentrations of the audience His address
was couched in the finest language while his
clear, though not strong voice and graceful
manner won upon the admiration of all his
hearers. In response to a call of the students
short addresses were made by Alex. Fulton Esq,
of Dover and the editor of the TRANscRlpr.
The exercises of the evening were cnlivened
with choice music by select orchestra from
Ritchie's band of Wilmington.
On Wednesday morning the old oratory was
again filled by a large audience of ladies and
gentlemen to hear the orations of the graduating
class. The Divine blessing having been again
announced in regular order the graduates with
the subject OF their orations as follows
Gouverneur Emerson, Optimism
\. F. Williamson, Man an Initiative Being
W. W.. K. Martin, The Newspaper Press
Thomas Lumb, Jr., Science
G. W. Marshall, Mysteries
j. N. Hudson, College Influences
The defamation being concluded the Pres an
nounced that gold medal offered by ProfJetferis
to the student who should attain to the highest
rank in the Geometry class, had, after the most
careful and thorough examination of the various
competitors, been awarded to Miss Anna NJ
Evans
The degree of A. B. was then conferred upon
the graduates The President also announced
that the honorary degree of D. D. had been un-
anmously conferred by the Board of Trustees
upon Revs. j. l.. Vallandigham, of Newark, and
Geo. A. PhGbus, of Smyrna, and that of A. NJ.
upon Jno NJ. Dieifenderfer, of Martnsburg,
w. Va former Student of Delaware College.
An excellent scientific address was then delivered
by W. H. Wahl, Phi. D. of Phil, but as the
morning hours were rapidly waning, we very
much fear that his address was not heard with
the patience and appreciation it merted.
All OF these young gentlemen acquitted them
selves with remarkable credit, but without de-
string to wound the feelings, or detract an iota
from the need of praise awarded the others, we
think special mention is due Messrs Marshall
and Williamson. Seldom have we listened to
College "spceches" of such rare merit as theirs.
Enlivened by the music of the Orchestra the
exercises of the day were of the most entertaining
and pleasant character, and though prolonged
far beyond the neontide hour were attended
with the utmost patience by the audience, not
one of whom vacated his or her seat till the en-
tire programme was finished,
In the evening the Delta Phi anniversary was
celebrated, T. G. Hurd, Esq, of Mass, being the
chief orator. The members of this society ac-
quilted themselves with the same amount of credit
as did their friendly rivals on the evening before,
and thus ended one of the most pleaeant enter
tanments that we have attended for a long
while.
The friends of the College will be pleased with