The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-06-22
Commencement Week, Western Nd. OOlleg
Repo5lea for the nemocratIe advocate.

eus however, 10 refrain from any lengthy
comments upon the individual efforts of those
participating, rs such an article would de-
mand too much of your space.
Baccalaureate Sunday, the even;ful dav
long anticipated by students as the one ush.
ering IN the annual series of pleasant occa-
sions always attending commencement, dawn
ed bright and pleasant, inviting us to to par
teipate in the pleasure of listening to a
most earnest, practical, and instructive ser
mon from the President, DIR. j. I. Ward.
The DIR. chose for his subject the investiga-
ton Of TRUTH taking as the basis the text .sYe
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 generous, affectionate teacher.
On Sunday night the Rev. DIR. Alexander
Clark, of Pittsburg, Pa, Editor of the Meth
odisg Recorder, preached the annual discourse
before the Literary Societies from the text
''For preeept must be upon precept, precept
upon preeepti line upon line, line upon line;
here a little and there a 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 a 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 a 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, characterizing
the productions Of Mrs. Browning. The re.
naming decorations of the stage were a rem
resentatlon OF Watkins Glen, the framed
motto OF the society, bouquets and loopings
OF evergreens. The exercises opened with
Q piano quartette, followed by readings, re.
hearsals, and original essays. The opening
address of Miss Lizzie TRUMP, entitled - VftI
sine dteTis Hsors est, or ''Life without Liter
ature Is l)eathi' the motto of the Browning
was well and clearly written, and read in a
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
son powers of persOnatfon were well exhi-
blted IN SANS Four Bits, - and won the well
merlted applause of the audience. The in
sttumentai duet by Misses f. Herring and T.
Jones was beautifully done for performers SO
youthful. These little girls may be appro-
prlately called the children OF the Browning.
The Glory of the Sunset Hills" original es.
say by Miss Mollie Landlord, was trulybe
full for Its richness of languageand deiicacy of
description. Light" rehearsal, by Miss
Flora Wilson, IS poem of rare beauty, and
Miss Flora S rendering would have shamed
many professionals had they listened to her
clear, toreible, and well infected enuncia.
tion, The Weaver" very pretty poem,
read by Miss Emma Nicholson, was much APP
preciated. The Original Essay by Miss Hat
:e bollinger evinced care and culture Miss
Flora Jones, IN bessie Playing Grandmoth-
er, was the very personation of a veritable
grandam, with her knitting and spectaeles.
The humorous and natural manner of Miss
Lou Vampires rendering of 'sWinning the
WIDOW, elected much well merited applause
ana probably gave some Of our modest young
men a valuable lesson as to the mode Of con-
Quoting an tE1pr0mptu courtship. In lieu OF
the instrumental duet by Misses Rinehart aud
Prince, omitted on account of the illness of
the latter, Mrs. Jones sang, by request, one
OF Jennie Lind s. sweet ballads-sI've left
the snow-clad Hills Our ability to pass
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 the
audience more competent than ourselves.
The GROWING 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 first
representing the Elm Court assembled to
pronounce the sentence of Punishment upon
the Fay, who had violated his vestal vow by
falling IN love with mortal maiden. Scene
second presented the sylphs of cloud realm.
Scene third the return of the Fay from ban
lshment, after the expiation of his crime,
his welcome and recoronatiOn. The entire
arrangement and execution of this last and
most exquisite representation speaks the
highest praise of the taste and skill of Mrs.
Jones, the Musical Preceptress of the College,
as indeed the entire entertainment, through
of the Browning, proved most delightful
and entertaining treat, and one OF which both
the society and college may we'll feel proud.
Tuesday dawned wet and gloomy, but not
withstanding the rain, the students and quite
number of our Westminster friends assem-
bled III the chapel to witness the Glass Exer-
cises ofthe Class of '7S. The exercises CON
sisted of the reading of the Glass History by
the historian, Mr.. ID. W. c. Ingle, the Glass
Owed by j. Weldon Miles, and the
Prophecy, by Miss Lulu Fleming. The his
tory was we'll written, Astounding in humorous
illusions to college incidents, keeping the an
dience convulsed with laughter, and giving
evidence of a rich vein of humor hidden under
the calm exterior of the historian The Glass
Owed was witty, humorous, and much en-
Joyed, especially, we presume, by the histo-
rian, of whose college exploits il was a mar
ration. The prophecies disposed very beau
htuily of her classmates, piercing the misty
future Of their lives Though the medium of a
prophetic dream. Her language was clear,
chaste and sparkling, showing q lively and
ready Imagination.
AT night the 0ratorical Contest between
the Irving and Webster Literary Societies took
place in the pavilion of the College Campus.
Each Society was represented by three ora.
tors-Messrs. E. S. Bale, S. b. Switzerland
ana y. r. Somers, on the part OF the Irving,
and Messrs. w. II. Deford, l.. A. Jarman
and W. Mcdaniel, on the part of the Web
ster. Space will not permit us to treat indi-
yldually of the orations of these gentlemen.
We have no palm to offer any individual ora
tor, but 1t is sufficient to say that all did well
and won much praise for themselves and
their societies in the form of hearty applause
from the audience, and more especially for
themselves in the shape of numerous eauisite
floral gifts from the fair ladies of Westminster.
Wednesday morning, at 10 o'clock, the
students assembled in the pavilion to hear the
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 College
Alumni was held at the College Wednesday
morning, with President, b. Frank Grouse, In
the Chair. The following officers were elec.
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 X.
Matthews; Treasurer, Miss Alice 4. Fenby.
Mr.. JAS. ii. Diffenbaugh was elected to de-
liver the Annual Grafton before the Alumni
in June of 1879. The meeting was largely
attended
In the afternoon the Browning, Irving and
Webster Societies held their final reunions.
all Of which were most delightful, marred
only by that touch of regret aud sadness Incl
y