The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-06-11

AgAln-A HAPPY Ilme Aulonk AAt
YOnnE People.
MoRoASTowS, June 8, 1881.
Editon intelligence.
1t has been three yeArs since We spent
commencement week here, we have
very vivid rscollectious, however, Of the
time when commeuCements to US were the
ultima thule OF all that was elegant, high
toned and enjoyable. A practical rubbing
up against q very practical world has
worn away much oil this enthusiasm
nevertheless We still have q very great
sympathy for the young gentlemen about
to "step down and OUT OF school into the
world, with q thousand and one brilliant
plans already prepared for the future.
They will soon find these plans dashsdin'
To thousands Of pieces and scattered to the
winds on account Of their impracticability.
You cannot convince them Of this, and It
"a well enough that you cannot, for they
will learn the lesson from practical ex'
perieuCe soon enough, God knows.
As we approached the town from the
south and caught q glimpse OF 1t from an
eminenCe our impression was that 1t look.
ed very natural. We were convinced Of
this on a Eearer approach, and on entering
80 natural and like Its old sell did 1t appear
that it seemed ss though We had been ab.
sent but q day. Butfew improvementshR have
been made, With the exception oil q very
handsome jail we cannot recall any OF Gny
importance. The presence here Of abody
oil civil engineers, however, brings
thoughts Of a time when ATHENS" shall
DO Awakened from her sleep, AID these
surrounding hills, "roCk.ribbed aud eter.
nal" shall Teverberate to the whistle oil the
locomotive. God speed the day!
Our impression Of the naturalness Of the
place was by no mean lessened when we
mingled once more with its people and
renewed the R~cquaintAnces OF former days.
We found them the same genial, kind and
hospitable people as OF yoTe, Time seems
u have laid his fingers but lightly upon
them, and while we were not recognized
by many Of them on account Of the change
10 US, 1t was no trouble to fully recognize
them. In fac. when we ran across our old
friend, Judge Berkshire, and found him
looking fresher, heartier and apparently
younger than when We last saw him, we
convinced ourselves that time had
retraCed it's steps instead Of going forward,
II was thus when we grasped the hand Of
the honoEed ex-senator Wiley and our
good friends, DR.. II. B. LGzier and G. W.
MCViCker. The latter hiss previous 10 this
time been Sheriff OF this county for two
terms, and has Just entered upon thethird,
yet he looks but little more than thirty or
years OF age. The same impress.
zion was lett on III minds after meeting
Major McGrew, State Senator Of this dis.
triCt, and, the members Of the University
faculty, under whom we trained in former
days, and last, but not least, A. L, Wade,
noted for his interest in the educational
concerns OF our State. All looked younger,
and we almost came 10 the conclusion that
MorgsntoWn's people had discovered the
Fountain oil Youth but alas this pleasing
illusion was soon banished.
On walking up Main street we met
couple alter couple and crowd after crowd
OF "fair and radiant maidens" (God bless
them,) rejoicing In the strength OF young
womanh0od, who, with well. bred polite.
ness, glanced at us, and, metaphorically
speaking, passed by on the other side"
knowing US not When we had been here
as O student we had never acquired the
reputation Of being q society man."
Nevertheless We had been 80 fortunate as
to become acquainted with almost all Of
Morgantown'B people, ladies as well. Al
first we supposed theso strangers fair were
visitors here attending the commencement
exercises, but their number oon grew 80
great we concluded we must be mistaken
and began making inquiries. Judge Of our
these beautiful, full. blossomed ladies, were
not quite entire strangers, but were the
young school misses OF our recollection;
that they composed largely the society OF
the place, and that q large number Of the
ladies with whom We had been thrown
were married and gone. Then It was We
felt cad and realized that slime and tide
wait Tor no man." We felt ourselves grow.
ing old; yea, verify, we lifted nj hat and
felt the back OF our head to zee II we were
yet getting bald. We carefully examined
10 see II our hair was becoming silvsred;
we began 10 have very sad reflections on
the near approach for Us oil spectaCles and
ear. trumpetS, and we came near commit.
ting our ideas Of rheumatism to paper.
We have been in several towns but none
In which the youthful generation advanced
half so rapidly as here.
On walking up the street we could not
help noting the increased number Of stu.
dents In attendance; they were every.
where, OF all sizes and ages. The major.
ity OF them seem to be members oil the
cadet corps, too. In fact, the most mark.
ed Improvement OF the University that
strikes an old student is in the military
department. It is under the charge OF
MRjor james NJ. Lee. Under his charge
the cadet corps has advanced remarkably,
go that at the present time 1t is larger,
better disciplined and drilled, than ever
before. The Major has energized II, given
1t tone and aroused In lite members an en-.
thusiasm and zeal that appears In the very
actions ard bearings Of Ito members. He
conducts 1t on strict military rules and
laws. To the writer, who since his leav.
ing school has been thrown among the
yeomanry ofIhe State, and who so recent
IL as last fall WAS 4 member Of that rash
army Of candidates who were willing and
anxious 10 sECritiCe themselves for theil
country, and who In consequence Of thai
willingness had great love, iriendlinesl
and an excessive cordially for the
"dear people" In general, lind the
"~enlightened voters" In particular, II was
o little embarrassing to be suddenly trans
ported to an atmosphere where military
rules and formalities prevailed. II was
so, nevertheless, that In going to aud from
the University In company with Major
Lee, dozens Of cadets we're being mel
who, On our approach, assuming the posi-
ton o. a soldier, saluted their commander
with all the military bearing and dignity
Of old veterans. Major Lee has brought
about these improvements BY e very
similar to those used by the great DR..
Arnold OF Rugby. In fact, there is much
in bis nature Iuat is similar 10 those traits
which gave that distinguished educator