The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-03

| &c., &C.
One OF the largest audiences ever assem-
bled at Mozart Halt WIS present last eve
ming on the occasion of the commencement
exercises OF the Virginia Medical College
All the available space In each aisle was
occupied, and many persons were turned
away, unable even TO obtain standiug-room
Among those who occupied seats on the
platform besides the members OF the
graduating class were Hon. b. johnson
Barbour, Rev. Dr.J. l.. NJ. Curry, Rev. DIR.
Charles Minnigerodc, Judge w. W. Crump,
General Joseph r. Anderson, DR.. j. b. Nc.
Cav. Dean Of the Faculty; DR.. d. w. Las.
sitter, OF Petersburg; DR.. +. u. Cunning.
ham. late professor; Drs. isaiah ii. White,
Hunter MCGUIRE, Otis +. Manson, George
Bush Johnston, George Ross, w. III. Tay-
| lor; Rev. j. M. Il. Atkinson, OF Hampden-
Sidney College; Rev. Robert Gibson, OF
Parkersburg; and James Alfred Jones,
Esq.
THE LIST OF GRADUATES
were read out by DR.. McCaw, and are
as follows: james Il. Cox. Grayson county.
Va; Benjamin +. Saunders, Smvthe coun-
| ~, w.; William V. Nance, New Kent,
Va; Philip II. Lightfoot. Petersburg. Va. /;
Chambers L. Bunting, Bristol, Va. Charles
X. Gardner, Richmond, Va; benjamin
Munday, King William county, Va; Barks-
dale Hales, Halifax county. Va. : Armsiead
l.. Wexford, Richmond, Va; Charles II.
Chalkey, Richmond, Va; Frederick
Wbaley, Gainesville, Va; French w.
Green, Stafford county, Va; Charles IL.
Moncure, Orange county, Va; George +.
Snead, Fluvanna county. Va; Edmund D..
Campbell, Lexington, Va; Alfred Leigh.
Jr., Fairfax county. Va; George Ii. ZIm-
norman, Wytbeville, Va; George W..
Richardson, New Kent county, Va; James
T. Humphrey, Culpeper county, Va.
| The graduates in pharmacy were Joseph
f. Heaton, John III. Crone, A. L. Johan,
w. Il. Savage, and - Conway.
PRIZE FOR BEST ESSAY.
! The prize for the best essay-a case OF in
struments-w awarded TO DR.. c. IL.
Cbalkley, of Richmond.
The graduating class is the largest turned
out from the college since the war.
Drs. G. II. Chalkley and Edward d.
Campbell Of Lexington, Va, received the
appointment as physicians to the city aims
house.
DIR. Meow introduced as
THE ORATOR OF THE OCCASION
Hon. Il. johnson Barbour. Mr.. Barbour's
address lasted about one hour and quar-
ter. 1t was not only able and eloquent, but
was instructive and interesting, and was
considered great literary effort. Stepping
10 the font Of the stage, he began as fol-
lows:
"Who shall decide when doctors dis
agree!" Is, believe, still to be ranked
among the insoluble problems-quite as
much as when Pope propOunded it hum
dred years or more ago; but OF that other
interrogatory-"W Who shall resist when doc
tors do agree ?"-I constitute the living il
not the most satisfactory answer. Why, /
was selected and forced to address an army
OF
YOUNG DOCTORS JUST ABOUT TO BE TURNED
LOOSE UPON SOCIETY,
not like roaring lions, of course, but like
good SamaTitans, seeking earnestly to find
who may be their neighbors; and whilst
not prepared 10 give or take the "two-
pence" which would be contrary to the eti-
quette of the profession, yet, like that good
man, to be always ready to 90 to him, TO
bind up his wounds-pouring in not, per-
| haps, oil and wine. but some newer aud
more popular prescription-som OF the
vitalizing phospbates, for instance-and
holding themselves ready to " "come again :"
as long as their services may be desired.
Why, repeat, 1t should have fallen upon
me 10 address this array OF young pbysi-
clans does not exactly appear to me, and is,
| I fear, 10 remain "occult" TO those who
demanded It'll They could hardly expect
that q three-months' attendance. upon the
| Legislature would burnsh my ideas for
such an occupation as this. Indeed, 1t
Seemed to me at first particularly abb
surd-a iorlorn hope-that legislator
and physician could be united in the
same person--that 1t was folly to expect
| to find Solon and Hippocrates under one
head, or, like Coleman's "two handsome
gentlemen, rolled into one" but presently,
like fash of inspiration, there rose before
my minds eye the porlly and pleasing form
OF one Of my esteemed colleagues, who halls
from the great Valley, and who, strange 10
say, does unite these apparently opposing
qualities; and | could but regret that he
had not been invited in my place, more par.
| ticularly as his voice and action would have
been doubly pathetic and persuasive just
now, tremulous as they would have been
over the early demise of the wonderful little
contrivance which bade fair to
HAND MY FRIENDS NAME DOWN TO AN ADMT-
| RING P0STERITY
as the author OF an instrument which, du-
ring its bright and brief and festive exist
| epce, has elected more comment than all OF
Edison's philosophical toys put together,
| which promised To invest my friend with q
fuller and more significant right to append
the double ID TO his name as the Trainer and
fasbioner of an instrument whose tDtinnob-
ulation was ever sounding from morn till
dewy eve, but more especially from early
cande-light until daybreak, the requiem OF
departed drinks, and making empty casks
and an ovefnowing treasury as the correa-
tiyes of a grand financial movement, the
tokens and The signs OF rapidly returning
prosperity. But, alas the decree has gone
forth that we shall have another mournlul
example OF the vanity of human wishes,
another proof that human fame Is but as
sounding brass or as tinkling cymbal.
Pardon me,my young friends, for little
preliminary playfulDess, for feel that un-
der any circumstances / should be incom-
petent to address you fifty, but more
especially Just now, after a laborious
spell In The Circumlocution Hall; after an
infinite WEAKNESS in doing nothing; after
an UNEQUAL and fruitless effort to aid those
who have striveL TO repair
TIE BROKEN FORTUNES OF A STATE
worthy of the noblest station, and with the
fullest consciousness that you may well re-
ply to any criticism | might make, "Pby-
sician, bealthyself!"
Yours, young gentlemen, Is profession
spite of festive or malignant wit, Is entitled
to, and in our heart OF hearts commands,
orr highest respect and admiration. George
Il flxo& tt,o 49, ,3t.<x