The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-06-11
'From Messy Creek
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF
THE COMMENCEMENT -
MossY CRREK, June 6, 1873.

MossY CREEK, June 6, 1879.
To the Editor Of the Gorristown Gazette;
Quiet again reigns in our little town.
Tbe commencement exercises, which
had been in progress for over week
at the Male College, were concluded yes
terday at o'clock, p m. Our town was
filled 10 OVERLOOKING with visitors from
a distance, and the streets literally
blockaded with Buggies, carriages and
other vehicles of transportation. But
this morning presents scene similar TO
Goldsmith's deserted village; with moth
ing scarcely to relieve the painful still
ness save here and there wheelbarrow
arollfng DER the stony street, ," or some
lonely student 'plodding his weary way.
to the derot to take departure for home
and friends.
d The exercises were unusually interest
ing this year and shows progress IN
the institution that is destined at no far
distant day to place it among the frst
Of tbe country. Last Sunday was the
day appointed for the baccalaureate ser
mon, which was to have been preached
bv Rev. Doctor Eager, of Knoxville, but
on account of sickness was not able to
attend. His place was occupied, how
ever. by Mai. &C. Conner, Of Chattan-
oopa. who lectured in the morning on
tsPaul, the Apostle" and in the after
noon on ttThe conflict between MOham-
mechanism and Christianity. We did
not have the pleasure of hearing either
| of them. but learned that they were
ably delivered ard well received by the
large and attentive audience.
Examination Of classes were contlnu-
/ ~ ioht cnuaral
| saws were read, which reflected credit
| on their authors. Tuesday night came
| the Junior orations, and Wednesday at
1 Q o'clock in the evening, the Alumni adj
j dress. by Rev. J. j. Burnett, OF Win
chester. The address was well prepared
and the delivery earnest and forclble'
At night was the public debate. SUB
| iect: "Have the lower animals future
| existence?" As your correspondent
heard only part of the discussion, &c
not know whether they were all sup
nIied with souls and Immortality or not.
A negative speaker thought that u .
should be so, he imagined there would OF
a happy meeting in Paradise DetWeeI
his opponent and his DarW1nlan progen
itor, the monkey. The debate closet
the exercises of the night, and the mex
morning being Thursday and the CLOS
ing day, the crowd had reached It's max
imum. The whole of the college hill
seemed to be alive. 1t was the. larges
crowd we have ever had on any prev
Gus occasion. Orations by the gradua
TING class, interspersed with music, oc
cupied the morning, and at IL m. re
freshments were announced as IN order
In the pet phraseology of some writers
the ground fairly grOGr'ed beneath u
| s.b0Sce TStIDdS
In noticing the speeches delivered D.
the young gentlemen, we congratulat
them on their new departure, as ther
was less QatSh about classic Greece an
ancient Rome than is generally parade
on such occasions. They seemed I
have something practical to speak ABOUT
and confined themselves principally :
the present age and to terra Ji7n1d. That
to say, there was an exhileratlng aosenc
of bombast and sky-scraping.
At2 O'Clock, the literary address wa
delivered by ReY. w. A. Nelson
, Nashville, in his usual happy style
Judqe James Shields had been engage
for that purpose; but owing to sickness
was prevented from attending.
The degrees of the College were ne1
confirmed on the graduates; after who
. the audience was dismissed.
One of the enjoyable features OF til
, occasion was the MorrlstOWn SllVt
Cornet Band, which interspersed the e.
ercises with choice music, and gave I'll
scene an air of the military that was II
Z deed animating, and refreshing. Inc
, are all high toned gentlemen, and
hone they may find it in their hearts
visit us again on some other occasion.
: The College seems to be in a MOI
: nrosperous condition at this time tina
. ever realized heretofore. May succe
, continue to crown the efforts OF u
| faculty and friends of this lnstitutlo
The good they are doing is not on
2 confined to this vicinity, but is radlatlr
, | into the less favored portions oil this, al
other States.
: If you could see boys from some
d our wooden country, "before tGIds1eg, al
!, then behold them, "Gfter taxing =
course in this college, you would III
: the contrast fully as striking as that pI
y sented by the two pictures in Mclean
= Almanac. In some cases, eOeTa the
], daddies wouldn't know 'em.
We would say to all who have boys
educate, and are without such adVa
q tages at home, send them here, a.
n give them the benefit of this Institute
3, and the high toned, moral society 81
NJ rounding it, and they will leave here n
:, only scholars, but polished gentlemen
ii Having now MI Editor, about run
Of of something to say, will proceed to clio
n Might however, say few words aDc
II crops, and the weather; but presuml
that you know fully as much abe
J. them as we do, will desist until 9
~ next. Yours &c. D