The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-06-22
Commencement Week, Western Md. College
Reported for the pemocra.Ic Advocate.

the exercises OF commencement week IN the
order of their occurrence. | shall be oblig-
ed, however, to refrain from any lengthy
comments upon the individual efforts of those
participating, as such an article would de-
mand too much of your space.
Baccalaureate Sunday, the eventful day
long anticipated by students as the one ush-
ering in the annual series of pleasant occa-
sious ALWAYS attending commencement, dawn
ed bright and pleasant, inviting us to to par
ticipate in the pleasure of listening to a
most earnest, practical, and instructive ser
mon from the President, DIR. j. L. Ward.
The DR.. chose for his subject the investiga-
ton of truth, taking as the basis the text Ye
shall know the truth and the truth shall make
YOU free" To the graduating class he gave
the counsel of friend, urged and impressed
with the earnestness ever attending his labors
as a generous, affectionate teacher.
On Sunday night the Rev. DIR. Alexander
Clark, of Pittsburg, Pa, Editor of the Meth
odist Recorder preached the annual discourse
before the Literary Societies from the text
'sFor precept must be upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon line;
here little and there little" The entire
sermon ahounded in beautiful figures and
comparisons, illustrative of the wonderful re-
suits of constant application and effort in one
direction, and of the great aggregates finally
reached through the agency of continued
though minute additions. Other and pressing
duties obliged DIR. Clark to return home on
Monday morning, depriving us of the pleas
ure of his presence during the exercises of
the week.
Monday of commencement was quiet day,
probably so in anticipation of the brilliant
close afforded by the ladies of the Browning
Literary Society. The anniversary of this as
ISOLATION, in accordance with the annual Gus
tom, was held IN the College chapel, and
despite the threatening character of the
weather, the chapel was filled at an early
hour with our friends from Westminster and
many visitors from distance. The stage
was beautifully and tastefully decorated with
evergreens, flowers and pictures. In the CEN
tire Of the wall, Immediately over the stage,
hung crayon portrait of Mrs. Browning, the
exemplar of the society. Resting upon this
was an exquisite wreath of roses and lilies,
expressive of the literary honors due the poet
ess, and directly beneath the portrait was
suspended an evergreen Tyre, significant OF
that richness of poetic music, characterizlng
the productions of Mrs. Browning. The re-
naming decorations of the stage were rep
resentation of Watkins Glen, the framed
motto of the society, bouquets and looplngs
of evergreens. The exercises opened with
piano quartette, followed by readings, re-
hearsals, and original essays. The opening
address of Miss Lizzie Trump, entitled g VitG
sine hteris nsors est or Life without Liter
AZURE is Death;'' the motto of the Browning
was well and clearly written, and read in
clear, and easily audible voice. The rehear-
sal by Miss Mamie McKinstry, ''The Meeting
Place." was not robbed of any of its inherent
beauty by the rendering. Miss Angie Maxim
sons powers of personation were well exhl-
bited in "Sam's Four Bits" and won the well
merited applause of the audience. The in
strumental duet by Misses F. Herring and f.
Jones was beautifully done for performers so
youthful. These little girls may be appro-
priately called the children of the Browning.
1.-The Glory of the Sunset Hills" original es-
say by Miss Mollie Landlord, was truly beauti-
full for its richness of language and delicacy OF
description. Light" rehearsal, by Miss
Flora Wilson, is poem of rare beauty, and
Miss Floras rendering would have shamed
many professionals had they listened to her
clear. forcible, and well infected enuncia'
ton. 1.-THE Weaver" very pretty poem,
read by Miss Emma Nicholson, was much ap-
preciated. The Original Essay by Miss Hat
tie Bollinger evinced care and culture. Miss
Flora Jones, in ''Bessie Playing Grandmoth-
er," was the very PRESERVATION of veritable
grandam, with her knitting and spectacles
The humorous and natural manner of Miss
Lou Vampires rendering of winning the
Widow" elected much well merited applause
and probably gave some of our modest young
men valuable lesson as to the mode OF con
Quoting an impro.nptu courtship. In lieu o
the instrumental duet by Misses Rinehart auc
Prince, omitted on account of the illness o
the latter, Mrs. Jones sang, by request, one
of Jennie Lind's sweet ballads-"Ive let
the snow-clad Hills" Our ability to pas
| Judgment upon musical renderings IS very
| limited, yet we must venture the assertion
that we thought this exceedingly beautiful
and our opinion is supported by many OF thu
audience more competent than ourselves
The browning act, however, of the evening
programme was reserved for the last; the rep
resentation of Rodman brakes novel poem
'The Culprit Fay" abridged and arranged
! by Mrs. Jones into three scenes; the hrs
representing the Elm Court assembled tt
pronounce the sentence of Punishment upol
the Fay, who had violated his vestal VOW b!
falling in love with mortal maiden. Seem
second presented the sylphs of cloud realm
Scene third the return of the Fay from ban
ishment, after the expiation OF his CRIME
| his welcome and recoronatlon. The entlr
arrangement and execution of this last ant
most exquisite representation speaks TN
| highest praise of the taste and skill OF Mrs
Jones, the Musical Preceptress of the College
as indeed the entire entertainment, throug
the untiring efforts of herself and the ladle
| of the Browning, proved most delightful
and entertaining treat, and one OF which ootl
the society and college may we'll feel proud.
Tuesday dawned wet and gloomy, but not
withstanding the rain, the students and quit
number of our Westminster friends assem-
bled in the chapel to witness the Glass Exer
cises ofthe Glass of '78. The exercises con
sisted of the reading of the Class History, b!
the historian, Mr.. d. W.. c. Ingle, the Clas
! "Owed," by j, Weldon Miles, and tn
Prophecy, by Miss Lulu Fleming. The his
tory was well written, Astounding IN humorou
illusions to college incidents, keeping the au
dience convulsed with laughter, and glvln
evidence of rich vein of humor hidden unde
the calm exterior of the historian. The Clas
s'Owed'' was witty, humorous, and much en-
| joyed, especially, we presume, by the hlsto
rian, of whose college exploits it was mar
ration The prophecies disposed very beau
tifully of her classmates, piercing the mist
future of their lives through the medium OF
prophetic dream. Her language was clear
chaste and sparkling, showing lively am
ready Imagination.
At night the Oratorical Contest between
the Irving and Webster Literary Societies tool
place in the pavilion of the College Campus
Each Society was represented by three ora
tors-Messrs. E. S. Bale, S. B. Southerlan'
and J. F. Somers, on the part of the Irving
and Messrs w. Fl. Deford, l.. A. Jarmal
and w. Mcdaniel, on the part of the Web
ster. Space will not permit us to treat lndl
vidually of the orations of these gentlemen
We have no palm to offer any individual ora
tor, but it is sufficient to say that all did wei
and won much praise for themselves ant
their societies in the form of hearty applaus
from the audience, and more especially TO
themselves in the shape of numerous equlsit
floral gifts from the fair ladies of Westminster
Wednesday morning, at 10 o'clock, tn
students assembled in the pavilion to hear tn
reading of the grades and undergraduate
honors of the scholastic year, and also to re
ceive from the hands of the President certifi
Gates of distinction in scholarship and deport
ment.
The annual business meeting of the Colleg
Alumni was held at the College Wednesda
morning, with President, B. Frank Grouse, i
the Chair The following officers were cleo
ted to serve during the ensuing year :-Presi
dent, Prof Geo. w. Devilbiss; Vice Presi
dent, Frank w. Shriver; Secretary, Miss Jen
ME Starr; Assistant Secretary, Miss Laura K
Matthews; Treasurer, Miss Alice A. Fenby
Mr.. Jas. II. Diffenbaugh was elected to de
liver the Annual Grafton before the Alumr
| e