The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-13
Commencement at Due West.

| and ever wide awake to variety and degree
of enjoyment usually afforded by college
commencements, and prompted by felt
want of recreation as we'll as by the deep
interest I shall ever feel in the progressive
welfare of the two colleges at Due West
INDUCED for a few days last week in long
anticipated pleasure-that of attending the
commencement exercises in Erskine College
and in the Female College located in this
pleasant little village.
As most of your readers are doubtless
aware, according to long established custom
these two institutions hold their respective
commencements during the same week, a
circumstance which, from its making the
occasion doubly attractive, renders Due
West famous as place of amusement at
least once year. This is evidenced by the
large numbers usually IN attendance. And
on this occasion, Notwithstanding the strin-
gency of the times and the want of accom-
mediation resulting from the late breaches
in the Blue Ridge and Laurens Railroads,
thus preventing any representation on the
part of Oconee and Laurens counties -coun-
ties usually well represented on this occa-
sion-the attendance was much larger than
was expected, the capacious Lindsay Hall,
in which the exercises are held, being nearly
filled Monday and Tuesday evenings and
on Wednesday, Wednesday evening and
Thursday, it was crowded to overfowing.
In submitting report of the affair for the
benefit of those of your readers who were
not so fortunate as to attend, want of time
and space in your columns will confine me
to mere outline of what transpired.
On the evening of Friday, the 3Oth Of
June, the Euphenian and Philomathean
Literary Societies of Erskine College assem-
bled in their respective halls in annual meet
ing for the purpose of awarding diplomas to
their respective graduate members, and
medals according to a plan lately estab-
lished by the Societies, Independent of the
College, by which a gold medal in the Eu
phemian and silver medal in the Philoma-
thean is awarded each to the best declaimer
in the Freshman, the best debator in the
Sophomore and the best essay writer in the
Junior classes. The medals awarded by the
Euphemian Society were to E. c. Frierson,
Anderson, S. c., of the Freshman; D., w.
Wiseman, Cotton Plant, Miss, of the Sopho
more and J. A. johnson, Due West, S. c.,
of the Junior classes. Those awarded by
the Philomathean were to VIM. McMorris,
Fairfield, S. c., of the Freshman, and H.
w. Harris, Pineville, N. c., of the Sopho-
more classes-the competition among the
members of the Junior class in this Society
being so close as to render decision impos-
sible. This is the first year the plan has
been in operation, and the benefits arising
from the spirit of emulation melted by it
among the members of the various classes
are already noticeable in the generally health
full aspect of the Societies.
Sabbath morning heralded the return of
commencement week proper, and at half
past ten o'clock the pews and galleries of
the village church were filled by congre-
cation of eager listeners to the Commence
ment Sermon for both colleges, which was
preached by Rev. ]. E. Pressly, of N. G.
Mr. Pressly, in his usually impressive style,
kept the attention of his large congregation
fastened upon the text for an hour and a
half, and we trust made some deep and last
ing impressions upon the minds of his
youthful hearers.
Monday morning opened the exercises in
Erskine College and was occupied by the
contests in defamation and original essay
reading-the former between four members
of the Sophomore class, two of whom were
elected by each of the Literary Societies, and
the latter by four members of the Junior
class, elected in the same way. The follow
ing were the representatives of the two So
cieties in the Sophomore contest: James
Boyce, Jr., Kings Mountain, N. c., and ].
L. McLin, Anderson, s. c., on the part of
the Euphemian, and H. W. Harris, Pine
vile, N. c., and W. T. Mathews, Wolfsville,
N. G., on the part of the Philomathean. In
the Junior contest, ]. A. Johnson, Due
West, s. c., and Neil E. Pressly on the part
of the Euphemian, and w. o. Cochran,
Charlotte, N. c., and j. E. Mcdonald,
Youngesville, s. G., on the part of the Phi
lomathean. The s.'caHers and essayists ac-
quilted themselves well, both rejecting
much credit upon the thorough training
afforded by these Societies in the arts of
speaking and writing. The testimony Of
the committee to decide was, that in the re-
suit of no previous contest had they found
it so difficult to decide between four such
finely rendered extracts or four such finished
essays, so close was the competition.
Tuesday evening was devoted to orations
on the part of the following five members
of the Junior class, who, on account of the
large number in this class, could not be
heard on the occasion of the Junior E1hi-
bition i'll May, and who were carried over
until commencement: E. E. Patterson,
Louisville, Ca; w. L. Philips, Louisville,
Ga; J. l.. Presley, Due West, 8. c.; L. H.
Robinson, Craigsville, S. c.; R. NJ. Steven
son, Winnsboro, S. c. 1t has not been my
pleasure for long time to listen to such q
series of finished productions as were fur
nished on that evening.
Wednesday was commencement day prop
er in Erskine College and it was not diff
cult to observe, from the hurrying of vohi-
cles through the streets and the number OF
people vending their way across the campus
to the Hall at an early hour in the forenoon,
that the most attractive features of the affair
was yet to come. At ten o'clock the exer-
cises were opened with prayer, and the fore
noon was occupied by speeches on the part
of the following seven graduates ]. F. Big
ham, Blackstock, S. c.; H. c. Fennel, Ches-
ter, S. c.; ]. c. McGill, Yorkville, S. c.;
w. H. Miller, Chester, s. c.. w. W. Orr,
Charlotte, N. c.. Horace Rabt, Due West,
S. c.; J. w. Sherard, Anderson, S. c.
Want of space forbids my commenting here