The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-07-23
Closing Exercises Of the A. a N
College


| College.
IT, the Editor III the Comet
No regular communication has al
peared as yet In your paper, giving Al
account Of the first commencement
exercises of the Mississippi A. Il M
College. AS We recognize in you
warm supporter OF this institution.
Is not doubted that space will be cheer
fully given that an additional recor,
may he made. We will omit, AS mucl
as possible, what may be learned from
the catalogues, as they are within tn,
reach of everybody.
On Saturday, July 3D., the, xcrciset
opened with the commencement ser
mon preached by DR.. j. l. Buriow :
of Louisville, Ky. 1t is not fiattery
to say that this sermon did honor Il
the occasion. 1t was directed mainly
against intidelity, and there was GER
tainly in his discourse, no comfort fol
those who hoped to be saved upon the
sincerity OF their belief, however erro
neous that belief may be. The weak
ness Of Robert Ingersoll's attack Oh
the Bible. as containing the history o.
much that was evil, was significantly
illustrated, in satirical abuse of the
Sun for the many evils which he Is
the author of, urging that when we do
away with the Bible, let us also exter-
inmate the Sun, and thereby rid our
selves of the greatest curse, in many
respects, known to the human race.
On Monday morning was prize dec
lamations by students from the Pre-
paratory Department, in which Mr..
Il. b. Stone was the successful COM
petitor. At s z. NJ. the exercises were
resumed, with similar declarations
by members of the Freshman class,
when the victory was declared won
by Mr.. J. V. Hamilton.
Tuesday morning large audience
was entertained by original addresses
by seven members of the Sophomore
class. A most pleasing fact connect
ed with these speeches was the happy
intermingling of the practical with
the ornate style, proving thereby that
there is necessarily no incompatibility
between the accomplished literary
man and the practical farmers, and
that, from this College, in the near
future, will emanate both, in one and
the same person.
There being no graduating class, the
literary exercises of the students clos
ed with a debate-"Was the career of
Napoleon benefit to France ?" con-
in the affirmative by b. ii.
Lee and J. II. Logan, representing the
Society on the negative,
by H. III. Harrington and J. f. Arnes,
the Dialeclic Society.
The prize of twenty-five dollars,
which had been offered to the success
full side, was won by the affirmative.
1t is proper here to remark, that the
various prizes given, were awarded by
impartial committees. The committee
in the last mentioned case, however.
was not unanimous In its decision.
Early on Wednesday morning, the
crowd began to assume dimensions
wholly out Of proportion with that of
any other day. An hour before the
time announced for the address OF Mr..
Lamar, the seating capacity of the spa
cious chapel was entirely exhausted,
windows, aisles, doors and
IL WINS estimated by some
that as many were on the grounds,
unable to get seats or standing room
In the building.
A review of this speech will not be
attempted. 1t was two hours long
the first part mainly addressed to the
students, the latter a political review
Of our government and country. To
say that this effort was grand sue
cess is but express u fact tamely. 1t
has been my privilege to hear Colonel
Lamar half dozen times or more,
and in my humble judgment, this was
by any former effort. AS
the body grows feebler with him, the
mind seems to increase In strength.
At one time-overcome by physical
axhaustion-he was compelled to sit
down. There was, however, no sus-
pension of his speech. The matchless
fire and passion of the orator seemed
only to intensity as bodily strength de-
creased. When he closed, the feeling
Of the audience was too deep for violent
demonstration. For some moments
there seemed to be no disposition In
The vast audience to talk, but desire
rather to express more effectually by
silence, their emotion.
1t is the province Of the politician
md demagogue to fascinate one por-
ion of an audience at the cost of
attending the rest; but 1t remains alone
or the statesman inspired by