Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-10
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE.
commencement Week as Seen by Fer
mer StudenE-Disttnsu Ished united
states Army Officers Present.


From an Occasional Correspondent
LEXINGTON, VA, July 6.-'Twas
Monday morning, June IS, the first day
of commencement week. Scarcely had
the sleepy cadet been aroused from his
dream of absent ones, and the hopes Of
q speedy return to his distant home, by
the sound of the reveille, when ths god
of day, as he threw his brilliant rays on
our beautiful little valley, receiving his
usual greeting from cur signal.gGn in
front OF the bsrracks-then followed the
usual routine of cadet life, inteTspeTsed
with few visits from our friends Il
mean yisitOTs) in Lexington. Atlength
the time for review drew near, the pa
Tade ground in the meantime having be-
come crowded with ladies and cadets,
who were prepared to lose their hearts, if
such was not already the case Il mean
the cadets, OF C0urse), when much to the
surprise and regret of every one, heavy
clouds were seen approaching from the
south, and in q few minutes the rain
commencing, every one was seeking
shelter, some Of cur lady friends much
cut OF humOr over wet silk dress or
ruined bonnet; however, parade was
postponed until next morning, when it
passed off very pleasantly, the corps sus-
tanning ana, with some, even increas-
Jog its reputation for indispensable mil
itary training and discipline. On the
next night cur literary societies gave
their final celebration, which was at
tended by many distinguished visitors,
there being among those who hOnOred
cur entire commencement with their
presence Professor Charles Davis, Of
West Point, the distinguished mathe-
matiCi&n; General Barry, commanding
at Old Point, and MajOr-G General Al
VOID, psy master. general United States
army, the latter OH the next night de-
liveTing before the societies an address,
his SUBJECT for discourse being HTrue
Science, as Opposed to Scepticism,n
which wss not only interesting, but
beneficial to those who attended.
So We pass on, not having sufficient
time 10 even mention the many attrac-
tiOns Of our commencement, which
made everything so pleasant to our
many visitors, especially the young la
dies, in particular our ball, the MASTER
piece Of the commencement; and as the
guests made their first entrance into the
hall, they were struck by the great
beauty Of the decorations, and more
than once its praise was heard from the
lips Of fair ladies. The front OF the
band-stand was supported on two large
brass cannODs, which were decorated
with flowers; there also being four other
pieces arranged in the corners Of the
hall, each having TWO State flags partly
wound around them; swords were
crossed, under the gss-jets, a number
Of muakels being placed on and bayo-
nets suspended from the chandeliers,
each by their reflective power increasing
the brilliant light. All OF the southern
States, as well as England, France and
Belgium, were represented by their re-
speCtive flags, as each held representa-.
tIves with Us. At the upper end of the !
hall, with jets Of gas, was formed the let
tiers V. III. l.; at the lower end class
seventy-tive, the ball being given, as
usual, by the corps to the graduating
class; and just over the hand, formedfn |
the same manner. was the words "Auld |
Lang Syne." A splendid band added |
much to the enjoyment of the evening. |
All we lacked was q few Of our Mem |
phis bellies, and then our happiness would
have been complete. l have gwen you
but faint idea, in this description, of /
the commencement exercises Of 1873, |
which is said to have been the most |
brilliant since the war.