The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-12
Hampden Sidney college Commence
ment -aloSlng Exercises.

THIRD DAY.
ire. o:ted fer The .,ispatch.]
THURSDAY, June 10. 1875.
The day was fair and pleasant, and the
general aspect Of the place indicated that the
ninety. anniversary Of the institution
would be celebrated with much of the old
interest and oftection that renders these occa.
social and intellectual enjoy ents.
Farmville and Prince Edward county
were well represented in the audience that
assembled at the Collt &c church. Trustees
and visitors from other parts Of the State
were present In considerable numbers.
After prayer by minister present, Presi-
dent Atkinson. read The list Of distinctions In
the several studies OF the college.
and then introduced Mr.. B. Frank Bed.
niger, Of Kentucky, OF the gradua-
ting class, who proceeded to deliver an
I'd iress on "Meptal Activity" MIR. Bed
niger is a son of Rev. Z. w. Bedinger, for
merly of Virgiola. The valedictOry was then
delivered by MIR. Edgar j. Davis, Of West
Virginia. first. honors' man--who succeeded
in pursuing strain of remark OuSIde OF
the beaten track over which such addresses
usually travel. He commended to The trus.
tees the care of an institution which had
| been born when men bad just come out Of a
struggle for civil freedom, hicb had been
greatly impaired, but wbich was converted
! TO the high end OF promoting intellectual
! freedom. He Thanked the professors for
their fidelity ia their efforts to polish the
rude material put in their hands, and the Ia
| dies of College Hill for educating the stu
dents in those "refnementS which entitled
| them to be called gentlemen" lie reminded
bis felow-studentS that man is not 10 De
| considered so much "for what be does as
tor what he So He said "goOd-bye" in
stead Of farewell, which was an agreeable
variation. DR.. Atkinson then, with lew
impressive and afectio1ate remarks, dtliV-
cred diplomas to these gentlemen ana 10
Mr.. Frank Nash, OF Farmville. Inc
other members Of the senior cla>sare MeSsrS.
| George w. Davies, OF Lvnchhurg, Va; En-.
NETT NJ. Dickson, Of Millersburg, KY; aud
| G.. G.. Gaines, Of Charlotte county, va.
| These three had all been interrupted during
the year by sickness two by weAkeyeS), ana
| failed to graduate 10 time, but are S'uden's
of good Standing. In manners, character,
and promise of usefulness the class has ac-
quired u reputation here which will be grail
Tying TO their friends; aud | am glad to be
able to say that in respect to the general de-
pertinent Of all the students this year the
testimony is highly favorable as to their
maintaining that standard Of diligence, cour.
tesy, and morality which has been SO preya-
lent at this College in the years that ~
passed.
Dr. Atkinson then called Colonel w. r.
Berkeley, Of Farmvlle, to the chair.
Colonel Berkeley introduced DR.. Is. NJ
Smith TO deliver the annual address before
the alumni, and remarked that he bad come
from his far distant home about two huEdreC
yards CHI ITO lay his of ring upon the oil al
of his alma mater,' Sc. But before the Doc
tor had gone tar in his singular and inlerest
ing coltquia address The audience exhibited
an Interest which might have gratlll"u q
speaker who had traverSed bali the country,
and whose tones were rs new TO them as Or
Smiths were familiar.
Dr.. Smith said that after the 'centenniaP
had been postponed TO next year the ar
ranyements had been, Of course. changed
The distinguished senator from Kentucky
who had been expected to deliver the address
at the centennial this year would be reserved
fJr next year. He hau Dcea called on, there
fore, not to take the senator's place, but be
cause it was impossible in the brief Time al
lowed since the postponement TO get any
body else. He was not SUBSTITUTE IOr Tue
senator, but 4 substitute for nothing. ma
ture abhors vacuum, and when the VACUUM
Is filled with nothing else it is filed Wild ar
for certain kind OF which he presumed he
had reputation. He had been greatly per
picked about the selection of subject
lie bad discarded metaphysics, be-
cause the peHs 10 the church were moi
well adapted 10 sleeping attitude, though
sometimes used for that purpose. He had
thought of the connection between Science
and Christianity; but as the friends Of the
former have so 6rmlv laid down their pos
tulates, and he teachers OF the latter had not
vet asct rtained all OF theirs. be deemed the
| discussion inappropriate. He had consider
ed the propriety OF a pathological analy SIS,
but could not make up bis miod to introduce
tue upside dozen, hind port before language
which belonged 10 his chair. he had
thought that modern Hebrew would be more
suitable, but fousad that his knowledge OF thai
w.s insufficient. While thus unsettled and
uncertain il had suddenly occurred 10 him
that just fifty years had elapsed since he en-
tered Hampden Sidney as student, ana ne
had therefore concluded to choose for his
theme "The Memories aud the Lessons OF
the Las. FIFTY Years" Hesaid that be came
to the college boy, In round JIcket,
with the home.sickness Of youth. Tnat ven.
cradle man DR.. John II. Rice, the founder OF
the seminary and fread OF the college, whose
name Is fragrant and whose works around
| us here are his memorials, kindly TOOK him
by the hand. But DR.. Rice capdidly told
| him that if be would endeavor to make UP
bis deficiencies in arithmetic and Greek be
| could probably enter the freshmen the next
fall. He could not master the rule OF three
according TO Pike. and quit If. But be APP
piled himself to Gre, X. AID with the assist
ance Of an English translation succeeded be-
ter. In mentioning certain held through
which he walked In those early days, be re-
minded his audience that il was now traversed
By the road to the college, excellent 10 sum-
mer, but execrabIs In winter" Soon after
his arrival be was introduced into the Phi
authropc Society. The first debate was on
ttat i'm ,ortant subject +" Whether It bad been
better for mankind if Bonaparte had never
been boru," He was told that be need not
speak unless be chose; blu. when bis name
was called for bis vote, he rose TO his feet,
his knees shifting together, ard said, !" think
Bonaparte was q very bad man." ana sat
down. The sclre was scared out OF blm.
He had since that time faced one woman
more than once, and mixed assemblies Of
nen and women often, but had never been.
scared since. DIR. Smith next proceeded 10
70 ice the changes in the country during the
last fifty wears. In 1925 there were no rail-
roads, {, took as long 10 80 from '5taunton.
The geographical eenl.e Of the State tWeteh