Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-20
UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT.
Delights OF the Olden Eime-DIHsIn.
eutahed VIsltOrs-SOphOmOre Ora
tOrs-JuntOr ExhIbftiOn-A Gifted
Georgian HOnOTsd.


tOrs-JunEOr ExhibItiOn-A Gifted
Georgian HOnOred.
ATHENS, July 17.--Your correspondent in his
first communication said Of Professor Eustace
W. speer. that he entered the ministry at the
age OF nineteen, and had labored in the Metho-
dist Church ever since. ] his was the informa-
ton received from his brother, Judge Speer.
subsequently the Judge told the writer that
the Professor had been first educated for the
bar, which he afterwards renounced for the
graver and more responsible duties of the
sacred desk. He is considered one of the most
eloquent ministers of his denomination.
In the sketches Of the present faculty, too
the name of
W. L. MITCHELL. IL. D.,
Professor of Law clGr1is ct UeRefdoattS' was
inadvertently omitted as not Appearing on the
list of the literary instructors of the institu-
ton.
Dr. Mitchell was graduated at the Univer
sity in the class of 1926 and as teacher, trustee
and treasurer, has perhaps been more identi |
fled with iJ than any other living man. His |
present law class give evidences of thorough |
training, and are young men of much promise. |
The venerable Professor still retains all of his
mental powers, and is as active as ever in ad- |
vancing the interests of his Alma Mater.
THE CROWD IN ATTENDANCE.
To the eye Of the stranger the number of |
those who have come up TO this annual literary |
feast does not appear very large, and the no |
tells are not uncomfortaby filed. But the hos |
pitality Of Athens is proverbal ana the doors |
IF her citizens are thrown open for the recep- |
ton of hundreds of welcome guests. That |
many of the representative people OF Georgia |
ara bara ha column o. nRFSOnalS in the /
| Banner Wdtchmdn give evidence Making |
due allowance, however, for the exaggerations |
of youth, to the writer the multitude is not
nearly so imposing as in the oden ttme-when
| the large area around the Town Spring" was
| one imDacted mass of country wagons, and the
whole community for many miles turned out
| en- ndSse to 90 10 commencement" In those
| days this was the rendezvous of the officials
and public men Of both part, S, and here it was
that the
POLITICAL SLATE
was fixed, and Governors and Congressman
/ under the general ticket made and unmade
| In the absence of the present let work Of rail
| roe DIS the nObIeSse and wealthy planters of the
commonwealth made long journeys in state in
| their splendid equipages, to visit this Mecca
| of fashion, and brilliant indeed was the array
/ of wealth. aristocracy and beauty which was
| wont to assemble on these occasions and then
| dispense to the springs and falls. Many were
| the matrimonial engagements then contracted,
| and Athens was noted as the trysting place for
| sweeth, arts and lovers. Perhaps it Is owicg
| safe and fatigue the average pleasure seeker;
| the plebian mode of locomotion; or, m re
| probable still, the sad fate which the war en-
| tailed upon these plantation lords who kept |
| open house and lived in baronial magnihcence;
but all is now greatly changed, and not alto
| gether for the better, in the opinion OF those
| who witnessed the scenes described. But a
| goodly number have assembled. however, TO
| honor the advent Of the noble cOterte OF youths
| upon the great worlds stage. Among the
| most noted visitors are:
GOVERNOR A H. CoLQUITT,
looking serene and contented, and not hut
worth a cent by the invidious shafts of his
| enemies He viii retire with advanced banner
| and untarnished laures
| The central figure of Senator Brown also ap
| pears moving easily around and dispensing
| wisdom with his every utterance. just now
his munifcent gift to the state Z University has
| made him the lion of the hour.
| Senator T0OmbS, shrunken in person, but
still full of he fire of youth, is also here The
| General retains all the powers of his gigantic
intellect, and is still waging war against what
/ he calls railroad mOnopolies.
Next we find the historian, statesman, philan-
thropist,
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS,
sitting in his chair and looking younger
| stronger and more feshy than for twenty
| years past. Long may he live to serve and
| bless the State he loves SO well
| Bishop Pierce is also here, than whom no citi
zen has rendered more signal service to God
and country The great Christian advoc te is
/ not as vigorous as formerly, which will carry
! grief to the whole community When he
passes off the stage there will be uni
/ versal mourning. General A. r. Lawton
and Colonel John Screven are in attend
| ance likewise. Georgia can boast no two
| nobler and truer sons than they. Either Of
| them would grace any Office in the gift Of the
| people Then we have Samuel Hall. the
! f'walking library of the State, and the
| peer in legal requirements of any man
! A. T McInty re, David VascD. D. w. Lewis
Black of Aug sta ]. A: Billups, Joseph
Ganahl and DR. II V. NJ. Miller. TO the last
| named gentleman albeit hybrid IN politics,
| the State owes an eternal debt Of gratitude for
his transcendent services in the fir Conc THU
! tional Convention after the war, which was
| largely composed Of ignorant negroes. But
| for his adroit management and patriotic coun-
/ sells it is impossible to calculate the numitia-
| ton TO which our people must nave beeh SID
/ iec;ed under the new fundamental law, The
| doctor is perfect gentleman and ripe scholar.
| To the above list last, but not least, should be
! added the name of that noble Christian Jurist,
Chief Justice James Jackson, and his asso-
| ciates Judges Speer and Crawford, j. J.
| Gresham, Evan Howell, Major wilkins and
many other distinguished gentlemen and fair
| ladies' whom the writer cannot pause to emu
merate. Indeed, the Chancellor says the at
| tendance has not been larger at this stage of q
| commencement week Tor several years. The
Board OF Trustees, too, is unusually full. and
| every M inter seems animated with the desire
to serve the University to the utmost Of his
ability There seems to be no disturbing cause
among them.
The SOPHOMORE PRIZE DEFAMATION
was the first order of the day at 1880 a m. on
Monday The weather was c ear and delight
| full and large and fashionable audience
| greeted the young orators. The programme
| Of exercises was as follows:
w Carswen D. s., Irwinton, Ga, Verres
| Denounced-Ci Cicero.
G. H. Cochran, D. S. Rome, Ca Southern
R. A. Crawford, P K, Athens, Ga. Liberty
| -DelCy.
- NIX
J. E. Pottle. D. S., Warrenton, Ca, The PO
| lygamous Chinese Vest
E. A. Grover, D s Quitman. Ga, Franklin
| the Printer Compilation.
A. F Bishop 2. K, Athens, Ga, Adams and
| Jefferson-Evere't.
| W. A. Reaves, ?. K Athens Ga, Statue of
| Stonewall Jackson Kemper.
| J. W. Stone, K, Washington, Ga, The
| Rum Maniae-NOtt.
John Phinizy, D s.. Augusta Ca. Denuncia-
| ton of the Harper's Ferry Raid-Er6rett.
Henry Freeman, D. s., Savannah, Ca, Court
| ing-.JoSh Billings
n. Marks, r K. Athens, Ga, Centennial
j. G. Walker, P. K, Atlanta, Ca, Reform
J. D. Nell, P. K, Athens, Ca, Rotation of
| the Sun-HeU John Jasper coli
| H. r. Dunwody, Darien, Ga, Heroes of the
/ Northumberland
The exhibition of the Sophomores was credit
| able 10 the youths who appeared for the first
| time in public, and some Of them did exceed
| ingly we'll Among these may be mentioned
Messrs. Pottle, Ripley, Bishop, Stone, Nell,
| Freeman and Dunwody. The articulation of
| all too was distinct and clear, but in many in
| stances the gestures, emphasis and accent were
| more or less faulty. There was also too much
| of a monotone in the voices Of some of the
speakers Still they gave evidence, under care
! full training, of great excellence in the future,
| and, We doubt not. will improve as they ad
vance in their college course.
JUNIOR ExH BITIoN.
The chapel was again well filed at night with
| the beauty and fashion OF the State, who had
turned out in force to listen to the original ora
| tions OF the Junior Glass Many of the speak
ers. for good and sufficient reasons, had been
| excused, some to conduct the schools upon
| whose revenues their future continuance at
| the University depended. Noble young men!
| such efforts and self-denial deserve the sympa-
| thy and support Of all the patrons of the Uni
| versity Those who responded sustained them
selves admirably, and fully upheld the dignity
| and honor of the University.
Mr.. ]. p. Hunnicut, p K, OF Senoia, was the
| first speaker, and his theme,
| THE SOUTH AS SEE IT. D"
He drew vivid picture Of the average farm
| with its barren and quilted hill sides, noxious
| grapes and slovenly cultivation. Once those
| Gafds had teamed with fertility. produced large