The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-26
OXFORD.


|
ramifies and extends. Commence
ment week is always a lively ant
interesting season for Oxford, but tho
last Commencement ELECTED more
interest, perhaps, and drew a larger
crowd than any previous one.
THE COMET representative reached
Oxford Wednesday morning and
consequently did not witness the ex.
ercises of Monday and Tuesday
However, if the judgment of the large
crowd of prominent and cultivated
visitors is to be taken as sound, the
Sophs and Juniors bore Off the chief
honors of the exhibition, notwith-
standing the Seniors were primed for
the victory and played II highly meri-
torious part.
The Address of Mr.. Barry, of West
Point, before the Literary Societies
Wednesday morning, was admirably
conceived, and pronounced in an elo-
quent and pleasant manner. He
spoke about 40 minutes, but in that
time presented an array of brilliant
and practical and valuable thoughts,
calculated to put the boys to thinking
and acting. His speech was conspicu-
ously free from the pedantry of the
scholar, though exceedingly chaste
and elegantly arranged. Gen. Robert
Toombs, of Ga, had been invited
and had accepted the invitation to
make this address, but declined at the
last moment, when Mr.. Barry was
chosen. OF course he had but little
time to prepare, but he did his work
well, and we doubt whether Toombs
himself could have succeeded better.
The address is abundantly worthy of
publication and will be given in the
COMET next week.
On the same day the Rev. Mr.. Gal
loway, of Vicksburg, an Alumnus of
the University, and a favorite wherever
he goes or is known, presented the
medals to the prize declaimers of the
Junior class. Mr.. E. l.. Ragland, of
TocopOla, Miss, received the first
prize, and Mr.. w. G. Sears, of Oxford,
the second prize. In this presenta-
ton the remarks of Mr.. Galloway,
were received as a model of fitness
and aptitude. There could not have
been happier little speech. The
universal verdict was that he made a
perfect job of it. Mr.. Galloway is COM
paratively young man, close stu
dent, and man of brilliant gifts. He
is rapidly mastering the art of oratory,
and we predict great career for him
The graduating class was much
this year than usual, consist
ing of only five young men in the Lit
erary, and eight or ten in the Law De-
partment. The first honor was ac-
corded to Mr.. Edward E. Bryant, of
Coffeeville; the second honor to Mr..
Robt. Shotwell, of jackson; and the
third to Mr.. Joseph B. Jones, of Mad
son.
At 1880 o'clock, the Chapel was fill
I'd to its fullest capacity by one of the
pest educated audiences which Missis-
,ippi has ever assembled. Mr.. Shot
we'll presented his salutation in Greek,
which was an interesting speech,
III droll strokes of ancient
lumor and sentiment, but some of its
pest points were lost upon portion of
he audience, because, for want of prac-
ice, they had grown little rusty in
he accent of that respectable and mu-
ical language.
Mr.. Hugh H. Quin, of Summit, gave
ONE cOgent reasons for intellectual
IXertions in America" His speech
vas splendid in substance, and spoken
ike lawyer.
The Eulogy on the Irishman, by
Walter Cain, of Okolona, ought to be
rinted. 1t showed an excellent con-
option of that interesting character,
nd struck many responsive chord.
Mr.. Lewis r. Quin, of Summit,
welt upon "The Progress of Liberty
nd Learning" broad and compre-
ensive theme, which he handled
-ell.
Mr.. Joseph b. Jones, of Madison
tatlon, confined himself to "The
pectroscope, and its Application to
stronomy," but he made good talk ,
4 it.
The valedictory to the law class by
[r. Nal. C. Pegues, at Oxford, and
lie literary Valedictory of Mr.. Ed
ard f. Bryant, of Coffeville, were
9TH very happy and agreeable, elicit 7
q much earnest applause.
Chancellor Stuart's addresses to
9TH classes were beyond all praise. '
o comment can do justice to !
ther. The speech to the Law class {
pecially, was masterpiece of the t
nd. Plain, practical, ennObling,
and. 1t was only necessary to hear !
is speech 10 convince anyone that @
e Chancellor was at once a great G
ID a true man. This speech of .
teen or twenty minutes, was, of it. a
If, worth going to Oxford to hear. o
night the annual recep- J
N of the Chancellor took place in
e chapel, which was thronged from 8 Fl
| II O'Clock by visitors of all ages t
d sexes. The Chancellor and his ?
ly have that quiet and easy dignity I,
lich draws around them all sorts of n
ople, and makes them feel that they e
: in an atmosphere from which the a
purities have been more or less re- =,
,ved. He is a splendid man, and 81
2 is superb woman. o.
The great Commencement Ball took =
ice Thursday night, but we had TO ii
we before it opened. However, we
I there a numhpr of fair ('oNfEr r. I'll