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

1t is one fit for the display of all the
most brilliant gifts of intellect and
oratory, and therefore it is one before
which [ stand abashed. It evokes all
the poetry aud sentiment which lie
hidden in the inmost soul, but which
the unskilled tongue cannot sing In
fitting measure. 1t IS the carnival of
memory, held beneath the softening
| eight of other days'-whose mellow
| rays shine through the smiles and gild
the tears of youth.
It recalls with vivid power images
that have long been buried beneath
the accumulated years; it rekindles the
light which shone in eyes now dimmed
and gone, and signs responsive to
| ''the cheerful hearts now broken"
This hour was made for genius; not
for me. Come thou ethereal spirit
| once, if never again, and touch with
| thy quickening power these faltering
lips. Bring back in al their freshness
and beauty the pale dead years.
| String again the silent harp and
wake once more the music
of the past. Recall the friends of my
youth. Marshal them around me,
and let their speechless eloquence
unite with me in the appeal which I
make for our stricken Alma Mater,
Inspire me with one breath of thine
immortal nature that may speak thy
language to-day in her behalf, and
thus aid in restoring her to her own
again.
1t is impossible for you to fully np-
| preciate and sympathize with the over
| powering emotions it awakes in those
who trod these aisles as students in
the long ago, before the majority of
you were born. just quarter OF a
century has passed since he who now
speaks to you entered this chapel in
all the newborn pride OF a mat. leu
late. and began to indulge the Sopho-
more's dream. The seed planted here
by the fathers fifty years before had
then grown to full maturity. Four
hundred students thronged these
ronized by all the Southern States,
the University rejoiced in its siren 9Th
and spread its beneficent influence far
and wide. Pointing with pride to her
many sons i'll all parts of the country
who had reflected honor upon hel
from every post of distinction in
Church and State, and in all the pro-
fessinns and pursuits of life, and en-
larging continually the sphere of her
usefulness, she was then at the very
acme of her proud and honorable
history. Her Trustees were body of
mon whom any people in any country
would have been proud to call their
fellow citizens, and the Faculty who
then guided her destinies how shall
| speak of them =? OF the living
members of that faithful band-only
one of whom still holds official posi-
ton here it is unnecessary for me to
say more than this: they have the
hearty sympathy, the sincere respect
and atfectionate regard of all their old
pupils, particularly for the idle and
good fornothlng ones who used to
abuse their patience and try their
temper, 'quO33tW magma 1DaJ's .fttt.
With Il more tender and fevtreDt
spirit, aud with heart as well as head
uncovered l would pay nny humble
| tribute to the memory of those other
members of that band who ''now rest
from their labors." 1t is pleasant to
think that they may not be unconscious
of this scene.
The stars are now shining above US,
although we will not realize the fact
until night, and so it may be that the
dead look with conscious eyes upon
the deeds of the living, although We
will not know it this side the tomb.
1t may be that the spiritual bodies
of those venerable men who once fire.
quented this spot-one of whom, clad
in the glorious livery of the Master,
and engaged in his service, passed
peacefully from this rostrum, conse-
Grated by the act. into blissful com
panionship with Him-are now here
with us. It may be that, with them,
are assembled a company OF their for
mer pupils, whose spirits took flight
from earth amid the flame and smoke
OF battle, from the weary hospital cot,
or the peaceful fireside of home. II
50, WE may rest assured that they arc
not Indifferent spectators of this scene,
but regard it with anxious interest and
deep solicitude. May the thought OF
their pr esence inspire Us with renewed
energy i'll the cause in which we are
engaged.
The time in the history of the Uni
versity to which I have referred rs
being the climactcric of her prospe rity
was one in which the country also had
attained its highest degree of peaceful
progress. The union of co equal States
under the constitution and laws was
in the hearts OF the whole people.
Educational facilities were daily in
crensing, the public debt was, com
paratively, small. abundant crops had
blessed us, credit was mistaken, and
roney plentiful. In word, the
blessings of Heaven were showered
upon rs continually. Such was the
situation when the "Sophomore's
Dream" of which l have spoken, COM
meuced. How sadly and strangely
different has been the realization
The greatest civil war of history has
since then swept over us, and left us
desOlate.
A very large proportion of those who
then DIRE AIMED with me here in those
happy days have passed to the other
shore. Those who are left, instead of
rehlizing life of case and prosperity
and honor as they fondIy hoped in the
halcyon days of thcir youth, have
found themselves face to face with ad-
versities of which they never dreamed.
Those of us who might very natur-
ally dwell on the past, and the hopes
and promises which it held out to us,
| really have no time for the indulgence
of such "reminiscences.
The more practical business of pro-
viding for present necessities absorbs
our time and thoughts.
] come, young gentlemen, not to
speak to you of the dead past, with
which you have no concern, but of the
living present and unborn future. I
wish to direct your attention not to
the fast-fading vision Of a time gone
by-which the elders naturally regard
as better time than this-but to the
stern realities which confront you and
with which you must soon grapple in
a patient and long enduring contest.
1t shall be my aim, without the least
indulgence in florid rhetoric to present
as plainly as possible before you the
changed social and economic relations
of the Southern people, the guidance
of whose affairs must in a few short
| years fall into the hands of those who,
| like yourselves, are now receiving the
inestimable advantages of liberal
education, and to point out what