The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-02
The Annual Public Debate ut lgamp
den.SiGney.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch
HAMPDEN-SIDNEY COLLEGE. yA..3
Norp!, sc 1870

HAMrDEN-SDNEY COLLEGE. VA..2
March IS, 1879.
AS The college bell rang loudly tonight
many al eager foot was pressing on 10 The
chapel, where "ladye faire'" and "sallant
gay" were assembling TO witness again the
annual public debate. Soon the building
was tiled, and the wheel Of conversation
was RAPIDLY turned around many an axle
tree OF human understanding, aud all was
mirth; but suddenly the clattcr ceases, for
the doors are thrown open. and, preceded
| by the ulaIshalS, the youthful orators en-
tered the room and took their seats on tie
rostrum, from which in the past might have
been heard the e!oouence Of many who POW
hold high positions in the land, while others
sleep the sleep Of death.
Professor Walter Blair presided with
grace and dignity. The exercises were
opened with prayer by Rev. IL. {. AleXan-
der, D. D.. OF the Seminary.
AS freshman dec1imer. Mr.. Robert A.
| Walton, OF Virginia, was introduced, who
| in an easy, pleasing manner, gave his dccla-
NATION, the subject Of which was The De-
celt1ulneSS OF War"
Mir. j. \. Fandcvauter. Of Virginia, was
then introduced as junior orator. Mr..
Fandcvanter, in an easy delivery and with
graceful carriage, showed how "Adversty
| Devciols Charactcr;' how that from the
early times adversely has been the great
thing in the formation Of characters which
have since challenged the admiration Of the
world. Mr.. Nandevantcr's speech was well
written, and showed that he had borrowed
on it much thought and study. The Grafton
was rcVlrto with happy thoughts. Though il
did not border too much on the ''f)wery.'
Now for - the tug OF war; or, more pro.
perry, the war OF words; and pretty fight
it WAS. The president then announced the
debate, the question being, "In view Of the
Heavy Indebtedness Of the State, should the
Virginia Public-School System be Main
talncd?' The debate was opened by Mr..
+. l.. Irvine, the first gentleman on the al
tirmatiyc, who in an able and polished man
ncr showed some fine arguments for the af-
tirmative. Mir. Irvine tonight won new
laurcIs to his now well-kGown reputation rs
4 speaker OF great merit and worth. \ loud
round OF applause rang through the build
Ing IS he took his seat, leaving the field open
10 tie first speaker on the negative. MI. W.
=. Martin, OF Virginia. TO use the words
Of Homer. would compare him to The
is!lvcr-nou;hcd chief. from whose persua-
sivc lips Swceter than honey flowed the
stream Of speech" Mr.. Martin proved his
liability "a dcbatcr Tonight. In 4 speech
full OF sound arguments and statistical facts
be showed the fallacy OF maintaining the
school system. In the opinion OF many this
was the speech Of the evening.
The affirmative was then brought up again
By Mr.. w. +. Bowman, of Virginia, who in
u pleasing manner upheld his side OF the
Iuucstion Mr.. Bowman'S delivery was good
and his appearance on the stage graceful.
" Once more unto the breach, once more'
for now comes the hast speech OF the debate
and Of the negative side.
Mr.. Charles q. Donnan was then intro
duced. This gentleman, a son OF Ireland
represented the country OF his adoption in
had on the floor representative worthy Of
the land who claims as her own Burke, /
Grattan, and an Emmett. ....
Here should have followed Il junior ora
ton. but the gentleman who should have
spoken was unayoidably prevented from
doing so.
The entertainment in the chapel was now
brought to close by the last freshman de-
claimer, Mr.. j. II. Cobb, OF Texas, who, III
a very creditable manner, presented tht
defamation "Whither." Mr.. Cobb die
honor to himself and the Society which he
represented. His style was easy and un
affected.
This closes the oratorical part Of the eve
ming. As is customary here, after the
speaking all hands adjourn to the halls Of
the literary societies, where general prom
enade ensues. Many and beautiful were
the representatives of the fair sex tonight
who, with their great beauty, both physl'
caly and meRtaly, and with beWitchins
smiles, lent grace and liyeliness to the
whole scene. The halls still. are crowded,
and ''ali goes merry as a marriage bell.'
| q IT w