The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-06
virginia. Military Institute Conn
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Virginia Military Institute Conn
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c,nrrs--aAI,r. TO TnE GRADUATING
1,ss-forRrR-oF.JU CELEBRATioN' ~.
fRepor,ed for the Dispaich.)
LEXINGTON, VA, July 4. 1873.
Tho commencement season for the people
..Inyinoton has come to its close. Witf
,ba hail on Tuesday night the programme
. .n CONNECTED. and the quiet OF vacation DC.
Gins already TO steal over this classic o'c
s sa".n atthe celebration OF the Cadet ano
D;oioc,ic Literary Societies on MONDAY
n;.ht the usual number Of enthusiastic anc
na,,aent college speeches were made, anC
,,,n5aIs were presented. but still the worlc
IL 70 be convinced that life is all sunshine
I ~. No. the display OF diploma is pass
" s.,r, ~ success. The Grafton OF Cadet LIND
pv. poh;nson. az Charlottesville, attracted
,"srrs5 attention; and Cadet Wade. OF BAL
.,r,nra &c orator OF the Dialectlc Society,
LA well. Cadets Boney and Haynes re-
on;vod the orators medals in their re-
e,,ac,;vc societies, and the medals iot
hes+ debaters were given to Cadets
Eeitt and Smith. 4 hop after the ceieoTa,
ton was BY no means the most unpieasai,
feature OF the evening, and II was aitei
O'Clock before the young ladteS coulu us
q,srsunded 10 Leave. But the GROWING even,
OF an Institute commencement IS tue hha
ball given by the corps OF cadets 10 the era.
duatins class. II not the most important, II
is certainly the most pleasant feature OF the
closing exercises. To make thls occasion
Grand success no effort is ever spared, ana
rs from year to year the experience Oh tne
mast session is made use OF, each bali seems
more charming and brilliant than the one
,chich preceded it. The meSs-ha!l-hereto'
fore decorated by men who make such work
q specialtr-was this year taken IN charge
hv the ladies OF the town, who arranged II
With extreme taste and beauty. PORTRAITS
q, distinguished men adorned the walls
evergreen hung in graceful fcstoons from
.br massive yaiterS overhead, and flagS o.
different States and nations reflected the
LIGHT of hundreds OF gas-jetS, which glitter
ed in every direction.
ON the middle OF one OF the side wall:
and Immediately over the band-Stand were
suspendcd the words "Auld Lang Syne,'
formed by brilliant little jets OF gas, and al
one end OF the hall the initials ''F. VI. l., -
50 talsmanic 10 every cadet, blazed forth,
while opposite this, at the other end, the
=. Class of 49, was as distinctly marked
and even more perfect and brilliant. Long
before the dancing was to commence large
crowd OF ladies, gentlemen, and chlldren.
caiv dressed, had assembled TO witness the
beautiful scene. and the line OF promenaders
reached completely around the spacious
room.
Among the visitors present were Cover.
nor Holiday and General Smith, General
ID. II. Maury, Mr.. John S. Wise, Professor
White. Governor Lctcher, and members Of
the Board OF Visitors and OF the Faculty.
At hali-past O'Clock the startling report
Of an immense cannon in front OF the hal
was the signal for the bali to open, and the
president, Cadet Lowell, announced thu
initatory waltz.
The music commenced. and soon the floor
was crowded with the happy dancers.
Eyes looked love 10 eyes that spake again,
And all went merry as marriage bell"
until the sun, with his strengthening beams
put to blush The lesser light OF the gas and
warned the dancers that another day wa:
"welI advanced a deafening boom o.
the cannon summoned the company to ar
elegant supper at O'Clock, and much
needed rest was enjoyed. ! can only make
incidental mention Of few of the young
ladies present.
Miss Smith, OF Washington; Miss Pc
gram, of Petersburg; Miss Bell, OF Staun'
ton; Miss Frceland, Of Richmond; Miss
sue Maury, of Richmond; Miss Moreland,
OF Mobile; and Miss Husson, OF New York,
were all beautiful dancers, and handsomely
dressed.
Misses Edmond. Williams, OFT, and Blair
OF Richmond; Miss fancy, OF Illinois
Miss Mcdonald, Of Berryville; and the
Misses Tucker, Johnston, Letcher. and Sci
lcrs, OF Lexington, attracted much atten
ton, and their costumes were. without eX
ccption, handsome and tasteful.
The closing ball was grand success, anC
q monument to the perseverance or the
cadets. Many are the happy recollcctions
which cluster around it.
The Board Of Visitors have appointed
the following State cadets, who enter ii
september: 3. 3. Thornton from the First
Nv. T.. Lewis from the Third, G.. 2. Smith
8eyenteeDth, Is. II. Smith from the Nine
ieenlh, Robert Paine from the Twelfth, d
Us. Wall from the Twentieth, j. II. Turner
@rom the Twcnty-tirst, Benjamin Bryant
I1rom the Thirty-Second, j. II. Clark from
1.-The Twenty-fourth, Edgar Smoot from the
3Tmrty-Gfth, j. Z. Figgat from the Thirty
aeighth. w. D. Winston, Of Richmond
IVA, Giliat scholarship; o. J. Wise, OF Vir
gina, i. st. George Cooke scholarship.
The Board OF Visitors adjourned thi:
morning to meet again in July, 1879.
The pleasures OF the commencement were
kept up last night by a delightful entertain
mcnt at. Professor. Whites, given in honor
OF his daughter, Miss Sallie, who has beer
nj Mrs. Carrington's school, in Richmond
and received there Il few weeks ago tn,
medal for the highest scholarship.
\ secret order entitled the ELI Banana
has made its appearance here, and has tel
or twelve very influential members
Whether the objects OF the order are 10
the advancement of social, political, or com
:naaistic principles is not known, as thci
tcncts are profoundly secret, but they hav
succeeded in producinga decided stir in tn
upper circles OF Lexington life. The or
ganization dates back to quite remot
period.
The colored population OF Rockbridg'
are to-day celebrating in grand procession
The 18th OF July. Bands Of music are play
Ing in the streets and crowds are pourin!
in the town. This afternoon several dis
tinguished speakers will make addresses a
the FAIRGROUNDS. The Hon. Fred. Doug
lass, marshal OF the District OF Columbia, i
here, and is programmed fora grand speech
Q The most perfect order and good feelin!
8preyais. B.
a William ana Mary College.