The daily gazette., 1877-06-16
THE RUGBY ACAOEM Z .

ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT LAST EVENING
address BY EX-Gov. JAMES POLLOCK
THE PRIZES.
The Opera House was crowded last
evening by a very fashionable audience,
the occasion being the commencement of
the Rugby Academy. AS the curtain
We raised it displayed to he audience
set library scence, over the archway of
the door in the centre of which was
chain of natural flowers, while above the
door were the eters "R. A." also FORM
ed of flowers. Upon the stage, were ar
tistically arranged several handsome
flower stands.
The seats upon the stage were occupied
by DR.. s. A. Murphy, Ex-Gov. James
Pollock, of Penn, Rev VIM. Murphy, j
| H. Hotfecker, Jr., j. j. Pierce and Mr..
| Osborne.
The programme consisted of declama-
| tions and essays, which were enterspers-
ed with music at short intervals. Those
taking part in the exercises acquitted
| themselves with merit, not only to them
selves, but to their principal and his able
assistants. .. ....... ....-...
The defamation of Charles G., Philips,
| wTs we'll rendered, as was also the one by
Isaac Elliott, the only drawbacks being
that they did not speak loud enough for
| those setting in the back part of the hall,
| TO hear. The poem ''Lochinvar, "render-
ed by j. S. Spruance, was also spoken tCo
| low, and in such rapid manner that il
| was impossi BILE to Gear him over the room.
The most pleasant part of the pre-
gramme, was the defamation entitled
JIM" by G. Parke Postes. The piece
was rendered in an inimitable style, Mas
ter Postles seeming to enter fully into the
spirit of the piece, and at the conclusion
he waP greeted with round after round of
applause.
"Spartacus to the Gladiators," by
Samuel d. Mccullough, was spoken with
great force, and showed conclusively that
| the young gentleman fairly understood
the eloquence'andvalor of the great hero
he was speaking of.
| "Marco Bozzaris," by Willie d. Crute,
| a young lad, was rendered distinctly ana
in an excellent manner.
[ The essays were well written, and
showed considerable depth of thought on
the part of their authors. They were
| "The Advantages of an Education" by
j. r. Davis Grubb, and "Steam," by I.
Howard Hanson.
AT the conclusion of the Literary ex-
erciscs, Prof. Murphy, announced ttat it
| was the usual custom at the end OF
schol: tic year TO present the best schol-
ars with prize or testimonial, but as the
hour was getting late he would not de-
tain the audience by presenting them to
read their names, az follows: The gold
medal was awarded to Harry B. Brad
ford; the silver medal to Charles u.
Phillips.
The first prize in Mathematics, to John
Boughman, and the second to John w.
Leffee, In English Grammar, there were
two scholars who were equal, and plizes
B. Chandler. In Clfssic, Greek and
Latin, the prizes were awarded to John
w. Leffee and j. r. Davis Grubb, In
Spelling there was but one prize, to Jos .
Walker. In Elocution, senior class, w.
H. Gayley; junior, j. S. Spruant e; pri-
mary, Master w. E. Crute. In Geog Apply,
III. S. Brennan, John q. Patterson, Jr.
Pennmanship, senior class, Harry f.
Dure Junior. Phillip Churchman; pri-
mary, j. Conner Wilson.
Natural Philosophy, Andrew Norman,
John Bonghman.
Composition, senior, E. H. Hanson, j.
r Davis Grub; Junior, e. d. Downey,
Walter L. Butler; Primary, q. S. Croft.
Punctuality, Frank w. Pierson.
Excellence of conduct, S. f. DUPONT,
j. l.. Tatnall, j. q. Croft. AS each name
YVES announced it was loudly applauded.
= During the evening the participant
were presented with a large number OF
boquets and other presents.
, At the conclusion of the announce
} ment of prizes, the President OF the Soci-
, ETY. came forward and in few remarks in
} troduced Ex-Gov. James Pollock, of Pa.
who spoke for about half an hour. He
said that he had always favored educa-
> tion. The graduation of a scholar was
only the commencement of life He
wished to encourge them in their efforts,
c and he wanted the young men to resolve
never to grow old, and never allow grey
hairs make you feel old. Men of 80 are
L n,,1 nfix
, He wanted them to walk with their
face to the sun, cast their shadows be-
, hind, lookup and throw all distinctions
to side. We were grander in our
. achievements than the ancients were,
and every epoch of the world cores
! ponds with the ideas that men intertain
. | of themselves.
He then recited the different epochs.
. The first or oriental civilization We're
{ children of Patriarch but slaves of a
4 monarch. The second epoch the people
+ were citizens but property, civil nor poll
d teal rights being recognized. The third
g was man and the state, civil rights but
\ no political rights. He then came to the
0 present epoch of this country, the grap-
n dest of all, man was master of the state,
t and personally free, no king rules over
y us, we make and unmake rulers. He
8 then spoke of the modern politician as
d being corrupt, man who associates with
men that he despises, and all for the pu
pose of gaining office. He then closed
his remarks by admonishing the young
: stand by the right, labor to de;
C serve success, honor their country and
/, their country would honor them, honor
i their God and their God would honor
! them. At the conclusion of his addrec :
. I. he was loudly applauded. The exercises
q then closed by music during which the
a audience depersed.