The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-22
RICHMOND COLLEGE.
Commencement Week-Joins Final Celebra.
tion OF Mu sigma Rho and PhilologIsn ss-
ctetfes.

These anniversaries OF the young men Of
the college are always occasions of deep in
terest TO their friends, and always attract
q crowd OF the youth and beauty Of Rich
mond. Last night was no exception, and
long before the appointed hour a brilliant
audience had begun to ill the beautiful
chapel, which had been very handsomely
decorated for the occasion with eyergrcens
and flowers.
Sweet strains Of music by Kessnich's
band enlivened the occasion until at tue ap-
pointed hour the young orators, attended
by the committee, marched up the aisle and
upon the platform, and exercises were
opened with prayer by Rev. DIR. c. II. Read,
OF the Grace Street PRESBYTERIAN church.
Mr.. X. Il. Holland, president OF the Phlo-
Logan Society, then delivered the "Saluta.
tory" He cordially welcomed the audience
in the name and by the authority OF the two
societies. They were greatly encour.
aged by the presence OF the beauty, the
character, and the intelligence Of The city. 1t
had cost the great orators Of the centuries
hard work and much experience to gain
success, and 1t could not be expected that
these young and inexperienced orators
should be more than bunglers in their art.
He spoke OF The power OF oratory in re-
public, and made good hit at Ingersol and
Z" Lord Roscoe" The object OF these so.
cleties, he insisted, was TO make orators who
could express themselves with fuency as
well as strength and grace, and he asked
for them the abiding interest OF the friends
OF the college.
Mr.. Holland delivered his speech well. It
was in good taste and well expressed, and
be was rewarded with hearty applause and
floral tributes when he took his seat.
Next came the Grafton OF Mr.. G. G.. Alb.
btt, OF the Mu Sigma Rho Society. He an
nOunced as his subject "Will 1t Pay 2"
He spoke Of the peculiar features of our
great republic and the many advan.
tages which it possesses. But he viv-
idly pictured and protested against
that utilitarlan spirit which applies to
every question the sord:d test, "Will 1t
pay ?" But he thought the test Il good one
il we would only NEE. it in the right spirit
and properly consider what will pay.
He spoke OF the uses and abuses OF
money, brought out its advantages, and
satirized severely its inordinate love and
improper pursuit. He insisted that 1t
would pay to develop our God.given facul-
ties-pbysical, mental, and moral-illus-
trated his theme by well-chosen examples
from history, and closed with an earnest
appeal to his fellows.
Mr.. Abbitt, too, has good delivery,
used no Ms. during the delivery OF his
speech, and elciled frequent applause and
tributes OF flowers from fair auditors as he
took bis seat.
The next orator was Mr.. L. C.. Catlett, Of
the Phlologian Society, who announced as
his theme Supernumeraries."
lie said that the child might regard some
OF the glltering stars or much else in the
universe as supernumerares, but the man
OF wisdom or OF humble faith knows that
none OF Gods works, not even mosquitoes
and such pests, are useless. But be insisted
that many Of mans works, such as bar
rooms, theatres, clubs, etc, are worse than
supernumeraries. He then earnestly satir-
lied the supernumeraries in otfice-State
and Federal-in the church, in society, and
in the college.
Mr.. Catlett had some good hits In his we'll
delivered speech. which frequently brought
down the house in rapturous applause. He,
too, was rewarded with a number OF beau
tiiul bouquets.
Next followed The yaledctory, by Mr..
Carter Helm Jones, Of the Mu Sigma Rho
Society. who delivered with great seli.pos-
session one Of the most graceful yaledicto'
ries that it has ever been our pleasure to
hear. The Society and Mr. Jones are to be
heartily congratulated.
The young orators generally are to be
congratulated on the good taste which cha
racterized their productions and the socie'
ties on the grand success OF their celebra'
ton.
IDDRFss BEFORE THE LITERARY SOCIETIES
AND POEM BEFORE THE ALUMNI OF RICH
M0ND COLLEGE.
Tonight in the College chapel Rev. DIR.
A. b. Brown will deliver the address before
the literary societies and Rev. DIR. t. Hume
the poem before the alumni. A rare treat
may be antic 2ated.