Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-23

menI week clO5tu Win tlt anniversary Vi
the Delta Phi Literary Society. The
decorations were exquisite in design, the
star of the society worked in roses,
beautifully shaded from deep crimson to
pure white. occupying prominent place.
Mr.. r. II. Richardson acted as chair
man of the evening. He first introduced
Mr.. R, II. Wright, Jr., who made the
society address. His subject was
"Ancient and Modern Patriotism
He opened by quoting the Rev. c. c.
Colton's remark that patriots once
prided themselves on their own povertyand
the States riches. They did not cry "For-
ward /" and hide like cravens in the hour
of battle. Cincinnatus in his retirement
was greater than Napoleon in the zenith
of his power.
Having mentioned notable examples of
ancient patriotism Mr.. Wright turned to
discuss the second part of his subject.
Modern patriots cry treason, rebellion, long
wave the Stars and Stripes and then vote
themselves an extra salary. They vote
early and often. They vote against edu-
cational appropriations and then vote
money to improve the Kiskiminitas or
Indian river. They are down on the
press and expel the representatives from
their body, that their blunders may not
be exposed. The modern patriots watch
represents the value of forest and the
ring on his finger would buy whole
estate. Away with such patriotism no
real progress, no enduring prosperity, no
enlightened liberty can be enjoyed while
such men are at the helm of state.
Rev. John Atkinson of Accomac
county, Va, was what is technically
called "the orator of the evening"" His
subject was, "The relations which an
educated man bears to society" He de-
fined an educated man as one of large
attainments, cultivated powers and right
morals. We look too much to the material
nd too little to the mental too much to
the present and too little to the future.
Man here has but time to find out that
he has being. Mans life is in the great
future. Only few inhabit earth. The
great mass of man is in another world,
and We know but the stragglers passing
into the gates. Man leaves earth and
hands it over to successors. His story is
but the record of mans progress to his
great end. The tendency of mind is the
tendency of man its condition is his
condition. The position of an educated
man is, therefore, peculiarly important.
He must teach those about him that the
man is the mind, not the body. Matter
is but the embodiment of an infinite di-
versity of ideas. The universe is but the
idea of the Divine mind bodied forth by
His power.
In this country we have peculiar
| phase of society. Man is here
singularly free and happy. Man has
| advanced step further than in other
lands by the means of enlarged educa-
ton. Here, the position of an educated
man is peculiar. The speaker mourned
the habit that many educated men have
of forming exclusive coteries. A man oi
| high intellectual qualities is not his OWE
man; he belongs to the world. Intel
lectual wealth is public property. There
can be no intellectual miser. There is nj
recalling our influences, they are immor
tai for good or evil. Society may as wei
throw open its doors to notorious liber
tine as to some of the novels Of the day
They are poison and death. We are her,
to prepare the way for mans marcel
onward. We in America bear in our in
stitutions the ark of universal covenant
Mr.. Atkinson's address was extremely
thoughtful and his main idea was care
FULLY followed out through the whole.
Mr.. j. s. NJ. Neill in rising to deliver
the farewell address spoke of the elm
barrassment he felt from the fact that hi.
theme was so trite. Entering upon hi
theme he devoted considerable time t,
tribute to society life, touching in par
ticular upon the intellectual training
gained in such associations and the clos
friendships formed. Applying his re
marks more particularly to the Delta Phi
Society he urged the remaining member
to appreciate and cherish the institution
He hoped the friendships of college day
might endure, and if temporarily brokei
in this world might be renewed in TIL
next. Mr.. Neill closed with the quota
ton:
''I never spoke the word farewell,
But with an utterance faint and broken,
A heartsick yearning for the time
When it should never more be spoken"
At the close of Mr.. Neills speec
several gentlemen responded with brit
speeches upon being called by tn
audience, and the benediotion was pre-
nounced by the Rev. DR.. Vallandigham
After the adjournment of the meeting
the young people gathered at the Exchang
building and danced till "some short hou
ayont the twal."