Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-21
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
The Debate Between the Literary
SOcIetfes-The Junior OratOrs-The
sophomore Medals.

ATHENS, July 19.-The exercises Of the com.
mencement were continued last night with a
champion debate between three members
each from the Demosthenean and Phi Kappa
Societies do not remember to have ever
heard more interesting and enjoyable discus
sion. The speakers were exceedingly witty
and sharp at retort They did not confine
themselves closely to their manuscript, but
with the utmost ease would at times speak
wholly extemporaneously.
Resolved, the South is more prosperous
now than before the war" was the question
which these intellectual giants wrestled with,
and occasionally they let go and wrestled with
each other.
The President OF the debate was Judge Alex.
s. Erwin, of this circuit. The following men,
bers of the Demosthenean Soc ETY. represented
the Affirmative NJ. G.. Pops, Washington
ia; G. II. Nixon, Augusta, Ga W. w Hardy
Senoia, Ga. Those who represented the mega
tive were these, from the Phi Kappa: w T.
Bennett, jefferson, Ga /; H. G. Tuck, Athens,
Ca; d. w. Meadow, Madison county Ga.
l do not know whether the rules as
read were a burlesque, but they were most
certainly violated with unblushing effrontery,
l refer to those two which limited the time Of
each speaker to fifteen minutes and prohibited
personal remarks After a debate of three
hours, the President awarded rightly the
perhaps the wittiest was that of Mr.. Meadows.
Mr.. Pope's the most statistical Mr.. Tuck's the
most logical and unanswerable, Mr.. Hardy
the most "bluffish, - Mr.. Nixon's the most diff
cult TO commit to memory.
This morning at IL O'Clock, the further ex-
ercises OF the commencement, being the
speeches by the juniors, the chapel was well
filed. After prayer the first speaker of the
occasion, P. H. Bell, OF Atlanta, stepped to the
front and delivered in a forcible manner a
most excellent Grafton upon The Ballot" He
arraigned the present corrup ion of the bal
lot box"
The next speaker. A H. Frazer, of Colum.
bus. chose for his subject, Through Struggles
to Victory It need hardly be said this Is a
trite theme; nothing new can be said upon H.,
The average student, male and female, one
time or another. uses this theme Sometimes
they word 1t differently; for instance, the
sweet girl graduate puts it, 1T is night brings
could be expected
The next piece In the programme was a
colloquy on female suffrage by Messrs NJ. A
Chandler, G. f. Fannin, II. II. Phinizy. This
innovation in the regulation college com.
mencement was mucn enjoyed. It would be
well if others would initiate.
w. Dunson spoke upon the words of Lord
Chatham, America, the Poor Mans Heaven
and the Rich Mans He'll" The speaker
agreed with his Lordshfp as regards the first
and disagreed with him as regards the second
part Of his statement. For, said he, however
much the rich may dislike this, "hell" he
greatly preferred il to fleeing q others he
knows not Of"
The last speaker, J. D. Pore, of Dougherty
county, condemned, in an eloquent style, Dime
Novels" The following young gentlemen
were excused but received places: T. l. Groo-
yer, D. j. Gaffney. c. NJ. Strahan, A. w. Van
Hoose, j. B. Alexander.
At the close of the speeches the Sophomore
medals were awarded to the two successful de-
chalmers in yesterdays contest BY Senator j.
r. Brown. He made only q plain, practical
speech of fifteen minutes in length. AS wired
to you, Mr. Davis Freeman received the first
and E. j. Jacobs the second medal.
The closing exercises of the commencement
are tomorrow, at which time the seniors de-
liver original addresses, degrees are conferred
and diplomas delivered. p w. Meldrim, Esq,
and bride are in toan, attending the com
mencoment. T. r Fl