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


solve and return to dust, but at last, in
spite of the prejudice of race and the
ambition of demagogues, it will be settled
upon the broad foundation of co-equal
human rights and obligations"
Mr.. r. II. Richardson of Delaware
addressed the audience upon "Classical
Learning" He proceeded to answer some
of the popular objections to classical
studies. st is often alleged that classi-
cal learning is dangerous to good MORALS
This, indeed is the most serious charge
that has been or ever can be brought
against it. Admitting the full force of
this objection it may he observed in the
first place that whatever views were held
by the ancients on the important subjects
of divine government and mans duty
under it, a judicious instruction may
make their darkest superstition subser-
Went to the best purpose of culture.
"For which is the more reasonable-t0
seal the great intellectual storehouse of
the ancients, or to teach our youth to
separate the good from the bad, the gold
from the dross, and so to inculcate those
lessons of practical morality which the
mind draws from contemplating the errors
and vices, the follies and crimes of an ul-
enlightened aget And if in the present
state of society, with its high principles,
and Christian institutions, we cannot
admit the student to the treasures of
classical books, and at the same time
fortify him against their corrupting in
luences, we might almost question the
wisdom of mans intellectual gifts, and
deplore the destiny of the human race"
The speaker then showed that many of
the modern poets and novelists in their
writings were guilty of sensualism and
sometimes of indecency. He closed with
an enthusiastic tribute to the classics.
emusic of the Old and New World"
was the subject of the address of Robert
II. Wright, Jr., of Wilmington, Delaware.
He proceeded to show the superiority of
the music of the old world to that which
is every day thrown upon the market
in our own country. Speaking of
| Mendelssohn's "Elijah," the Rev. H. Il.
IIawies says "The conclusion is like the
| splendor and the peace at sunset. The
day star is indeed gone, but all things ARD
still impregnated with his glory and not
until every graduation of color has been
traversed are we suffered to rest from our
contemplations and drink deep, as it
were, from the cool cistern of silent
night" The speaker lamented the
fact that America as yet had not
produced one great master in music
and deplored the taste which could ad-
mre "Yankee Doodle" or "Shoo Fly"
| The lack of good taste and the desire
simply to be amused among Americans is
the great cause of the want of develop
ment Of musical talent. He then drew
rather humorous picture of an American
audience at concert, giving faint ap-
plause to superb rendering of beauti-
ful production of Shubert or Mendelssohn,
and then going wild when the pianist
played "The Swanee River.' The same
want of taste, too, is displayed in refer
ence to sacred music. "Hold the Fort,
and "The Ninety and Nine" are pre-
ferred to the grand old tunes of the old
world which our ancestors sung.
"America," Mr.. Wright said, sis not a
musical country at present" He would
suggest remedy: The formation of a
musical school, which will take for its
standard the old masters and make their
grand compositions just as popular as the
worthless and silly songs of the day.
William IL. Purnell, who had the vale
dictory, chose as his theme the Latin
expression, "Clarior ETenebris." The
test of genius is work accomplished. lie
said this is utiltarian age. We judge a
man, not by what he thinks of himself,
or even what his friends think of him,
but by the amount and quality of the
work he accomplishes. The speaker then
went on to show that, whether Just or not,
in this world success was the test OF
merit. Themistocles may have possessed
more of the qualities of great general
than Alexander, the meanest soldier in
Napoleon's ranks than the great chieftain
himself, Gates than Washington,
Mcclellan than Grant, but who knows it
or how could it be proved. "By their
deeds ye shall know them" But whilst
, success is the gauge which the world
: applies to the actions of men, yet it is
ever ready to accord measure of glory
, to those who have accomplished some
great and noble work in spite of adverse
circumstances. "a star is all the
, brighter when it shines alone in the
heavens shrouded with darkness"
The speaker then in behalf of tho class
/ of 1881, in appropriate and feeling lam
guage, performed the office of taking
: formal leave of the Alma Mater, He paid
a tribute to the wise liberality of the
Congress of 1862, which with a penetra-
tion and foresight rarely found in these
, latter days dedicated a portion of the
public domain to the good cause of popu
t lar education. He addressed the Board
of Trustees and the faculty of the colleg,
} in fitting terms, giving both bodies tn,
) credit they deserved for fidelity to til,
1 interests placed in their charge, ant
g faithful discharge of duty. He also bad,
5 farewell in pleasant language to his class
| mates.
+ The young men having made thei
t speeches and received thunders o
= applause and showers of bouquets, Presi
:. dent Purnell proceeded to confer the FOL
r lowing degrees upon the graduates
y Thomas R Mcdowell, Fair Hill, Md.
5 A. B.
t John $. NJ. Neill, Minneapolis, Mimi.
c A. b.
n William IL. Purnell, Jr., Newark, Del.
5 A. b.
i Robert H. Wright, Jr., Wilmington
II Del, A. b.
+ Peter +. Meredith, Petersburg, Del.
e PHI. b.
i Samuel Harrington Messick, Bridge
e vile, Del, PHI. B.
y John +. pearce, Wilmington, Del.
t Phi. B.
If Rodney II. Richardson, Lewes, Del.
J. Phi. B.
o When the degrees We're conferre
It Henry C. Conrad, ESD, presented in
it very happy manner the prizes to tn
5 successful competitors in the under
Il graduates contest of Monday night
Is The prize of SIS, for defamation, wa
Of awarded to Mr.. j. Bernard Cush of S
x Georges, and that for reading to Mis-
1t Mamie w. Polk of Newark. Mr. Conrad
d in the name of the judges of the contes
ir made honorable mention of Willis G
Ii Hazard, Harvey w. Ewing, Miss Lizz
IN NJ. Ray, Lewis W. Mustard, John c
s. Gray, Alex. NJ. Polk, Miss Sue Ferris an
he Daniel Hirsch.
5 Professor w. d. Mackey conferred upo
re w II. Purnell Jr., of the graduatin
'e class, Prof. Soules prize, six months
I'd scholarship in Bryant & Stratton's Bus
in ness College. in Philadelphia, availab
within five years and valued at $50, f
$, the best average of scholarship in Il
81 senior year.
IL President Purnell dismissed the a.
=" dience with short tcongratulatory speecl
is and the Rev. w. j.. Frost pronounce
ed the benediction.
~ MEETING OF THE ALUMNI.
te The Alumni Association of the collei
u, ~ held its annual meeting yesterday afte
IN IN noon. DR.. g. W. Marshall was elect,
~. president, Thomas Davis, Esq, and '
" J. Ferris, vice presidents and A.
hu Williamson sppraIarv and trpasurpr III