Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-06-18
TEE CONFERENCE AoADEMx.


DovSa, Del, June II,
Yesterday morning opsued upnr
Dover In perfect deluse Of golden san
beams amongst the heavily shaded
streets and squares, and at an early
hour with the singing of the larks anc
the chattering Of the sparrows, the citi
zsns were astir and making prepara
tions for the Academy commencement
announced TO open at 10 O'Clock In th'
court house. Misses in gay white attirt
trippei nimbly along to the cour
house long before the opening, carrying
baskets OF flowers, bouquets, floral de
Vices and other presents TO shower upoI
their frisnds, who they expected Il
graduate with honors.
Bsfore ten o'clock the, court hous'
was crowded with q high-toned ant
fashionable audience, that would hav'
dons honor b the openings Of Yals o.
Harvard.
Ushers were kept busy securing ant
putting in conspicuous place on th'
platform the fl,ral tributes and oshei
presents intended for the graduates
until the platform resenblsd a fairJ
garden. Hanging baskets depended
from the overhanging curtains and Ii
the back ground hung the stars anc
stripes, more popular now in Doyei
than they wers eighteen years ago.
Professor Skinner presided and oo
cupied middle seat, while on eithel
side were the we'll known faces OF DR.
Caldwell, DR.. Ha:nes, DR.. Phmbus, c
u. Wharton, C. II. B. Day, Rev. T
s. Williams and others.
The exsrci5es commenced precisely
at 10 o'clock, Rev. DR.. Caldwell invok
ing the divine blessing.
Miss ]. G. Wilson, principal in in
strumental music, and Annie b. Hayes
one of the lady graduates, performed
an exquisite dnett on the piano, "Dt
|. .'Rlisers D'Amne."
Professor Skinner, In introducing
Adalbert Z. StOckwell to deliver the
salutatory, said the rank Of Mr.. Stock.
well was the same as that Of Miss An,
ME J. Cannon, and he had to draw l:ts
to see which should dsliver the saluta-
tory and which the valedictory. The
lot fell 10 Mr.. Stookwsll 10 deliver the
but he wished It understood
that he did not outrank Miss Cannon.
Gas the dawning so the Twilight"
was the subject VI Mr.. Stookwell's es-
say, which was delivered In excellent
style. He had q keen imagery OF the
ideal, and fancy drew bright pictures
of the future. In his description Of the
cottage home in which he was born,
and the view of the Adirondack noun.
tains from his window, he carried biz
hearers with him until In thought they
too we're gazing on the same dream pic
lures.
II Mr.. Stocxw ell becomes a pnblie
speaker he will b ons OF the popular
kind.
Mr.. l.. Ely Qulgg in rsciting an
original poem called 'The Saxon Min
iltrsl," was tas opposite Of Mr. Stock,
we'll. Though strong In imagination,
Mr.. Quigg grappled nSore with the
rouga realities Of life. Tho poetry was
good, the sentimep. was we'll clothen
in Language, and the terror Of Alfred
the great at the Numbering OF the
Saxon Mlnistrsls harp was well de-
Iineatsd. Mr. QuiSg is natural born
orator.
"Psbbles'' was the subject Of an ex-
,,llent essay by Miss Lizzie Pennipg-
ION. She went on! gathering pebbles
by the sea, and picked up the pebbles
u power, honor, fame. wealth, knovl-
edge aud religion. Her pebbles were
made Of solid material and her thoughts
were of the lefty and noble order. If.
tor an analization of all her gathered
pebbles, Miss Pennington compared
.hsm with the Pearl of great prioe
which shone so brilliantly that the lus-
ire of the pebbles we're eatirely OBJ
jcured.
OF all the graduates Mr. Andrew ?.
Smithsrs Of Smyrna possessed the best
vo;s aud rnoat commanding gestures
ior an orator. His thesis was: "Fame
4 stimulus to moral action" us had
very little sympathy with the useful
asss OF Fame, but had TO admit tks
'avorabls results Of actions inepi.sd by
ams. Nr. ernithsrs will make
and couv!noing orator and
strong antagonist In debates.
John Clare, a bIillian. Epgl:ah poet,
| jewel which shined bscanss it
couldn't help bnt shine, was ths sub
cot of an excellent grafton by Robert
L. Williams, of Salisbury, Md. DIR.
Williams did not present very ot-
ractiva appearance on the stage, his
gestures being awkward, but his
houghts were original and brilliant.
bliss Anna D. Hayes, whose part in
hs exercises geamsd 70 bs 10 p"rfHTm
N the piano, her perfoymanr" Of
Linda di Chamounix," was very due,
Edward D. Ridgeley Is a graceful
'rator and faultlsss in rhetoric. he
howed great originality and acutensss
II tbousht in tis presentation and
sadine Of his plan OF "Makipg our
ives sublime" Mr. Ridgelsy has o
,ood command OF langusgs and will
make a popular speaker.
Mr.. Walter D. Hawkins remarks on
we're good and we'll dsliv-
red. without competition he thought
here would be an excess OF monopolies. |
lr. Hawkins ID a Large stslWart young
,an and appeared At disadvantage
ompared with some OF the diminutive !
ouths who had preceded him.
Mr.. George +. Hopkins occupies high
ank amongst the graduates. His
Aoughts on "Astrsnony" were reduced
, original poetry. The winding up of
is poem in asking where indnity and
his thoughts were sub