Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-06-09
For the journal.


of the first commencement OF the
University under the new regime has
come to close and the friends OF that
'-useful learning that our fathers IN
l776 in convention assembled formally
ordained should be fostered and en-
couraged III Sin one or more UNIVERSE
ties" have no need to be ashamed or
discouraged. The University has done
it's part, far more indeed than could
have been reasonably expected when
it is remembered by what adverse cir
cumstances it has been surrounded.
The report made to the Trustees by
committee of their body appointed to
be present at Rotations and examlna'
lions was highly satisfactory, both as
to the progress OF the boys as TO the
methods of instruction. Indeed, L
heard one gentleman, a prominent
man in the State, who was member
of that committee, declare the MEM
bers of the lowest class We're better
scholars than he was at graduation
aid he WIS not accounted an indiifer
ent scholar in his day. 1t il an ace
complishcd fact that Young men can
now be thoroughly instructed here.
But time is wanting to do more than
give brief account of commence
ment.
Our party as we started from Will
min9ton for this place numbered five
in MI, Col, A. M. Waddell, Col. r. II.
Bridgers, Charles French, young
| Preston Bridgers and your correspond
eut. but we gathered many recruits at
different points SO that when we reach
| ed Durham Yesterday at dinner time
there were nearer fifty of us. At Hal
eigh the thing became exciting for the
| train was boarded and taken possession
| by a bright merry party of young PEG
| pie, and old people too, all going to
| the commencem' ut and suggesting
uncomfortable doubts about transport
tation over the road from Durham to
| the Hill; for to our shame be 1t spoken
there were those along, none however
! from Wilmington, who thought the
sight of bright eyes and merry smiles
would not be adequate compensation
| for twelve mile, walk over "dlrt
| road" 1t was q shockingly disloyal
sentiment that [ am happy to say
| found II, lodging place in the heart OF
any gentlemen from the city by the
sea. One of the gentlemen who joined
us at Raleigh will pardon mo for ;men-
| tioning his name and the fact that he
came all the way from Savannah,
| Georgia, to be here this week. L refer
| to Dr. Richard Ii. Lewis of Savannah
Georgia, formerly of Edgocombe
county in this State. His many friends
| will be pleased to hear how vigorous
and healthful has grown the frame
| that was once so frail and delicate.
He and the gifted yonng FULLER Were
| cotemporaries here and are associated
| together i'll my mind in connection
| with the place.
We had been at Durham but little
while before the down train from the
west brought large additions to orr
| commencement party. And still the
wonder grew how We were all to get to
| Chapel Hill without walking. After
| dinner, however, the vehicles began
to take position in front OF the hotel
| and presented q picture that would
have been worthy the pencil of an ar
tist Just precisely such another lot
| Of vehicles could not have been pro
dnced any where IN America, we Ven-
tire to say; vehicles with four horses
and vehicles with two horses and We
hicles with one horse were all there;
many of them doubtless having come
down to us from a former generation.
can not say that [ recognized any
particular hack as an old acquaintance
but certainly the t0'H ensemble OF
some of them had qnite a familiar
look. And to crown all there WAS SAM
| MoRPEIs scented .four-in-haud on the
| boot of genuine old "Chnpel Hill
hack" that carried six inside and an
other with the driver. Sam is stouter
and grayer than in days Of yoro. and
| to the fall as impudent and free
spoken. He raise quito laugh on
Judge Kerr. Sam, who was Ii sort OF
master of transportation, pointed out
L conveyance to the Judge rs the one
designed for him. The Judge said,
''But where is Dick, can't go without
Judge Dick, we came down together
and we must go on together" Quick
rs flash came Sans reply, 'Excuse
me, sir; ] beg your pardon, [ didn't
know you and he mixed yit; you knows
you and he has been mighty far apart.
All right, Jedge;" and thereupon a
shout of laughter went up, in which
no one joined mere heartily than the
two Judges. Your correspondent
was / believe the last to get off. He
had sublime confidence in the capac-
ity of Orange county to do the right
thing at the right time and proceeded
| leisurely not to make himself uncomfor-
table. But because he was the last to
leave, it did not follow that he was the
last to get here. Indeed we pissed
Sam Morphis in splendid style on the
home stretch MS We rose the hill com
| ing into town, and it is no easy matter
| to pass Sam four in hand, as
| many may know to their cost who have
| tried 1T. Arriving here we found the
| village in its Sunday clothes. It is
| perfectly beautiful but there is no
time for description.
The commencement exercises proper,
| did not begin until this morning. OF
course the procession was formed in
due order i'll front of South building,
| according to the most approved Old
programme, the Salisbury brass band
being in front and the orator of the
day in the rear. The old beaten back
of former days, leading by the CALD-
WE'LL monument was taken; of course
us we passed the monument every head
WAS uncovered, and may the day never
come when the procession will march
by without manifesting the sense of
obligation due from North Carolina to
the man who put the University of
our State upon snch a firm founda-
tiC11 cIIC O1-
der, the exercises were opened with
prayer from the Rev. FL. l.. Singleton,
now of Baltimore, formerly of Viii,
ington. The orator of the day, Col
ALFRED NJ. WADDELL of Onr city, was
then introduced by one of the mem
bers of the society at whose invitation
he was present. This office is known
now, as in former days. as that of
conductor" and is a place Of honor
bestowed by admiring friends upon
personal favorites. When youth is
a conductor it is sure sign he stands
we'll in the esteem of his comrades
The conductors this morning were
Messrs. r. e. Caldwell L. J. McNeille,
E. J. Hill.
For al hour Colonel WADDELL held
tho undivided attention of his entire
audience, young and old, male and fe-
male.
His Introductory remarks were ex-
ceedingly, touchingIy appropriate to
the time, the place and the occasion.
He said: