The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-26
Washington ana lee University Conn
nencement.--0 p euins Exercises,

nencesnent.s-0 ID eni Exercises,
&c.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
LEXINGTON, June II, 1873.
This usually quiet town is now throngcd
with strangers. who have gathered here to
witness and take part IN the closing eNer-
cises OF Washington and Lee University.
Notwithstanding the annual recurrence OF
the commandments the crowd OF friends
and visitors now in attendance seems rather
TO have Increased than diminished, and the
youn. people especially are evidently bent
on making the present one even more en-
ioyablc than al previous occasions.
The exercises OF the students had rather
an unpleasant and premature beginning on
Saturday night. when at O'Clock an alarm
OF fire was raised, and the University mess
lall was discovered 10 be in flames. Very
soon all the students were Oh the scene and
were workin. manfully. Hundreds OF the
citizens turned out and added their efforts
to those OF the students in stopping the
spread OF the lire.
In little while the corps or cadets came
up in beautiful order. all in rank, and every
man with n bucket on his arm. They went
10 work with hearty carnestCess, and but
for the combined cyertiOns OF all hands the
confederation must necessarily have proved
iar more destructive. AS it is, only one adj
Joining house was burned, Which, with the
mess-hail. is now 4 smouldering ruin. The
Students lose their ballroom, which was be-
ing beautifully decorated for commence
Ment. There were numerous private losses,
sIch as books, furniture, &C.; but none OF
these were VERY serious. AS the building
Was Very large. the escape OF adjacent
houses is considered almost miraculous.
The cause OF the fire is as YET unknown.
The property was fully insured.
Genuine disappointment was felt when
on Friday telegram from DR.. Henson, OF
Philadelphia, announced that it would be
impossible for him, on account OF sickness,
10 be present 10 preach the baccalaureatc
sermon. Rev. Mr. Eager, OF Lexington,
was invited TO supply DE-. Henson's place,
but as he was compelled to decline, Rev.
J. l.. fitzpatrick. d. D., professor OF Moral
Philosophy and Beles-Letters in the Cni-
yersity, occupied the chapel pulpit on Sun
day morning and delivered magnificent
discourse from the text WhcreWitbal
shal! young man mend his ways,
lie made beautiful appeal to the
Students TO make the Bible their great text
book in life, and to look to it as an unerr-
!ng guide in the course upon which many
-
lasting po!e-star their way would necessa-
rily be made plain. The sermon was re-
pletc with beautiful illustrations and strik-
Ing anaogfes, and will carry with it last
!nS impression for good.
At haf-past S O'Clock another large alt
dleAce had assembled in the University
chapel 10 hear the address before the Young
Mems Christian Association, which was
delivered by Colonel Skinner, OF staunton.
The wrapt attention which the speaker
received from the beginning to the close OF
Ills splendid effort was sufficient evidence
that the audience was listening to no ordi-
nary discourse. The address was enriched
with fand Of appropriate illustration, and
We'll balanced with carefully-chosen quota
lions, beautifully declaimed. His theme
was 3" The Influence OF the Christian Gen
lleman," and the part he performs at the
University. 3.