Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-12-23
SOUTH WESTERN PRESBYTERIAN
UNIVERSITY.

The customary intermediate orations
of the senior class were given last
Thursday night in the College chapel
to large and appreciative crowd. We
regret to observe that a conspicuous
feature in this years list is the num-
Der of excuses No less than four out
of the whole number, nine, of the
graduating class are recorded as ex-
cused for one reason or another, which
we the more regret as among the miss
ing we notice names of students whom
we know to be able to make a good
address if they chose. We will not
speak of the dead, however, but the
living.
DENIsoN ATCHIsoN made the open
ing address, the title Of which was
Greatness. His leading topic was the
obstacles both within and without
which are hindrances to greatness, and
the right way of avoiding or overcoming
them. The subject had been we'll
considered and well digested by him,
and the ideas were lucidly expressed;
only one thing was wanting to complete
the effect of a really good speech, and
that was the self-possession which only
practice can give.
JOSEPH r. WEST unfortunately Sc
lected a subject almost identical with
Atchison's: The many fail, the fea0
succeed. We have the same merits to
commend in the composition, which
was remarkably good and defect to
speak of, which, though not the same
as that above noticed, arises we think
from the same cause; it was want OF
energy in delivery. AS we believe the
cause of defective delivery in both ca
ses to be the same, and partly the fault
of the speakers themselves, we will
mention it. Dennie and Joe have
both fought shy of public speaking
through their whole college course,
and the consequence is that now in
their senior year they have the same
diffidence and nervous agitation to
overcome which they ought to have
rubbed off when they were sophomores.
w. Y. DAvIs-Silent Influence. An
able and eloquent exposition of the
moulding and modifying power which
has been exercised on society by men
of genius throughout the worlds his3
tory. The speaker was peculiarly i'm
pressive in his description of the age
of Pericles and of the elevating power
of that great mans genius upon
Athens, the most enlightened State in
ancient history.
r. A. WEBB-The Harmony of the
Spheres. This was an essay of very
high character on the harmony of
physical nature. The speaker started
with the nebular theory and then
speaking of the concurring causes,
which developed the physical universe
from the whirling void in which it
originated, dwelt upon the essential
unity of purpose and tendency which
marked them all, however diverse, in
ferred the unity of the great creative
cause the eternal God. 1t was far
above the average of college exercises
and delivered with much force of
expression.
j, L. PLUNKET; Geqius. Mr.
Plunkett is now so we'll known in
GAINESVILLE as fine writer and finer
speaker, that we only need to say that
he surpassed himself in exhibiting the
power of Genius as the one moral
force which raises the human race
from bad to good and from good to
better throughout its chequered his
tory. Mr.. Plunkett, whether in the
pulpit or in whatever other sphere he
may exercise his powers, will himself
make a mark that will not be soon OBJ
liberated from mems memories.
The orations having been duly and
deservedly applauded. bouqueted, &C.,
President Shearer gave them few
words of counsel. 1t seemed to be
his special purpose to cut the combs
of the young ROSTERS. Doubtlessly it
was a salutary operation we hope it |
did not hurt.