The daily gazette., 1880-06-11
FIRST EDITION.
RUGBY COMMENCEMENT.
THE REGULATION EXERCISES, CALLS
THEMES, AN ADDRESS BY DIR. MAC
NJ A u

THEMES, AN ADDRESS BY DIR. MAC
KENZIE AND AWARD OF PRIZES.
Rugby Academy commencement
came off in the Grand Opera House,
last evening, and was attended by
large audience, whose floral offerings
displayed the interest they felt in the
exercises and those who participated
in them.
The regular programme was as fol-
lows:
Overture-Diadem, Herman.
Recitation-The Famine, Edward
H. Eckel.
Essay-Tramps, Clarence s. Robb.
Recitation - somebody's Moth, L,
Malcolm McLear.
Music-Holliday st. Theatre Galop,
Hartell.
Recitation-The Palmetto and the
Pine, Percy Nields.
Essay-"Dreams," Walter L. But
Ter.
Recitation-The Fire Bells Story,
Frank ID. Carpenter.
Muisic-Piccolo Polka, Dodworth. i.
Recitation-The Color-Bearer, Geo.
H. Price.
Essay-Ages of the Creation, Edw
II. Eckel.
Essay-The Study of Mathematics,
Robt. Leithead, Jr.
Recitation-Little by Little, Regi-
nald Ii. Murphy.
Music - Potpourri Chips, Ringle-
ben.
These exercises were pleasantly con-
Quoted throughout The recitations
were spirited and well timed. while
the essays were calm, thoughtful pro-
ductions, mature in their conclusions
and expressed in clear, concise terms.
Liberal applause greeted each effort,
while presents of bouquets and books
attested the substantial recognition
| the exercises received at the hands of
the audience.
The class in calisthenics, comprising
about twenty-five little fellows from
the primary department, next gave
some interesting exercises, showing
the muscular strength and agility en-
gendered by this excellent branch of
physical culture. So well were the
various evolutions performed, that
they impressed the audience as favor
ably as silent drill by trained militia,
and three encores were enthusiastical-
ly demanded.
The feature of the exercises was the
address of DR.. r. Shelton Mackenzie,
L. L. D., before the Rugby Literary
Society. DR.. Mackenzie is one of the
most celebrated literary men of this
country, and the productions of his
pen are everywhere read with the
keenest pleasure. For years he was
literary editor of the Philadelpnia
Press, and his weekly contributions tC
Saturday Night, on every conceivable
topic, are the most interesting literary
tid-bits that could be selected for the
qualification of cultiveted aste. His
address last evening was delivered il
too low tone for most people to heal
it distinctly, which was a matter O
sincere regret, as many thereby missed
rare treat.
| DR.. McKenZie's address was brie
review of what education has done ant
Is doing for the old county. He spok'
of the move in Scotland, soon after thu
Reformation by which law was enact
ed providing for school and schoo
master in every parish, from whose in
structions the people rapidly gainet
knowledge and sound, practical instruc
ton. In Ireland, he said, education die
not become general until the close o
the last century, when began the era o
"hedge school-masters," who held schoo
in the open air, and impaired TO TIN
eager people instruction in the variou
branches of learning in which they wer'
well versed. BY this system of instruc
ton good, solid education vas impart
ed to many OF the people. 1t was no
until 1870, the speaker said, that tn
necessity of public education was recog
nized by the British government. Ii
1910 The public expenditures for educa
: ton, with a population of 100000
, were only $l50,000, bnt in in 1879, wit
population of 100000, five millio
pupils were in the National Schools @
England, while the total expenses fo
( elementary education were 2s,OQO, ,O0C
, The Doctor also said that women eXer
cised dominent power in the schoc
} boards of England, with very benz
. fetal effect. He also spoke Of the grea
= colleges and universities. The Un
l versity of Oxford contains 81 college
= and halls, with 10000 graduates Gao
( bridge has eleven colleges, with abol
/ l0,50O graduates. The former college
= noted for its classics; the latter for i
e mathematics.
:. The academic year consists OF
= weeks or four terms. Th;ee years al
required for graduation, but nobleme
and noblemen's SONS have special col
cessions as to time and examination
~ Their professors are selected with gre
o care and iRpartiality. In conclusio
the Doctor spoke of that school u
recollection Of which is an ideal
every school boy-Dr. Arnold's Rugby.
ID made world famous by one of its pupl
q in that matchless work, "Tom Brown
,e School Days at Rugby" He spol
ce afiectionately of DR.. Arnold, and /
great power over pupils, and in closil
=, said he hoped the boys of Wilming''
Rugby would so act in school and OF
as to confer honor on the name
Rugby.
H. The Doctors address was loudly a
e, plauded.
DR.. Murphy then closed the exercit
by announcing the award of priz'
q? The general prizes mainly compris
ns books, but those for penmanship we
us highly ornamented testimonials, hal
ne somely framed. The announcement
es were as follows:
Ia Graduates, "class of 49," Edwa
1d Henry Eckel, OF Wilmington, Del, a
hpa Robert Leithead, Jr., of Rockland, d
II. The medals and premiums award