The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-20
Final Celebration Of the Literary SO,
cieties Of Richmond College.

cleuIeS OI nACmHmVnu ~Ohhckes
Commencement week" at Richmond
College opened brilliantly last night with
: the Joint final celebration OF the Mu Sigma
! Rho and Philoogian societies. The chapel
was crowded with such an intelligent and
appreciative audience as these annual cele-
| brations never fail to attract.
After a season Of pleasant chat, during
which the band discoursed sweet music,
Rev. DR.. G.. Tyree, Of Bedford county,
opened the exercises with an appropriate
prayer.
The president Of the Mn Sigma Rho So
ciety. Mr.. Arthur 4. Cox, Of Richmond,
then made the "salutato.y," in which he
cordially welcomed the audience, and in
dulged in some pleasant hits, which seemed
to be appreciated and enjoyed.
.. Mr.. Cox then introduced as the orator Of
the Philologian Society
Mr.. ANDREW J. MONTAGUE, OF MIDDLEsEx
COUNTY, VA.
Mr.. Montague naturally and appropri-
ately introduced as his theme "Our Pro-
gressiye Age" lie repudiated the idea that
all mere change Is progress, or that much
Of the so-called "progress OF America il
real, but showed that the very circum-
stances surrounding the earlier settlers Of
America and the history Of the country
since had conspircd to promote wonderful
progress in all OF the physical sciences.
He earnestly protested against the mate
rialistc tendencies Of the age, and happily
illustrated and enforced his positions.
lie drew vivid picture OF fashion and
her power to bind and enthrall her vota-
rics, and discussed the effect OF the pro-
gress Of our day upon fashion, making
some keen hits at the shallowness OF modern
society and its "swell." whose only claim
to be dcyotee OF the true, the beautiful,
and the good" lies in the fact that he fol-
lows the fashion in his dress even to the
sunflowers and lilies.
Entering Il burning protest against the
popular idea that politics should be BAN
ished from all circles save those OF the
place-seeker and the dcmagogle, he deemed
these classic shades fitting place and this
fitting time to discuss some OF the under
| lying principles OF our Government, and
proceeded to do so with the enthusiasm we
were accustomed to witness in his distin-
guished father Judge Robert l.. Monta-
gue). Quoting Judge Tucker and De
| Tocqueville, he made vigorous protest
against some Of the evil tendencies OF the
so-called progress OF the country. and con-
cluded as follows: "To stay this madden
ing course Of modern progress | shall
expect much Of you. my fellow-students.
During my brief stay here / have been
percbance closer observer OF my class
mates than OF my textbooks. / know that
there are students here who are destined to
roll on the car OF science, to confer honor
upon the society in which they may live,
and to weaye chaplets in unfading laurels
/ fx. f1,. g IL.
such men as these hope, with all the hope
fulness OF youth. that much r:ay he done
in staying the evils TO which have direct
ed your attention.
"Let us bear i'm mind that there are certain
great principles which are immutable and
eternal let us bear i'm mind the distinct
ness OF the two realms OF science; let lis
! bear in mind that that is not true advance
ment which renders society meaningless
and void let us bear in mind that these are
great political truths-such as virtue.
morality, and justice, which progress cam
not pervert nor overlook-in short, let us
ever remember that Times change and
men often change with them. but prnci-
pies never"
Mr.. Montague was frequently interrupted
with applause during the delivery OF his
speech, and was loudly applauded when he
took his seat. lie was also rewarded with
sundry floral tributes.
Mr.. Charles ). Gardner, president OF the
Philologian Society, then introduced as the
orator OF the Mu Sigma Rho Society
MR.. PERCY @. ELsOM, or NELSON COUNTY, VA.
With graceful compliment to his au-
dience, depreciation OF his own powers,
and humorous reason for his travelling
on land rather than soaring on sophor-
moric wings among the stars and clouds,
Mr.. ElsOm announced as his theme "The
Timetable Of Life" He proposed to con-
slider Life rs the track, Man rs The train,
and Duty rs the engineer.
With vivid sketch OF the changing land
scapes along the route, he insisted that in
order to run the train Alright several things
were essential.
|. 1t must be switched on the right track.
2. The machinery must be understood.
8. 1t must have the steam forces-cnergy
and perseverance.
Then, too, he urged the train must be
run on schedule time-neither too slow
nor too fast. lie humorously sketched the
evils aud dangers OF being either too slow
or too fast, and made some good hits at
each class.
which run over the track OF life-the light
ming express train, the mail and passenger
train, the material train, and the freight
train-applying these to different classes OF
men and women.
lie concluded by saying: "And now,
fellow-studentS, we may not be able TO
draw on our boots OF seven leagues and
step after the lightning express; we may
not all WELD the pen Of brilliant writers
nor be able to hold the multitude entranced
by thrilling, burning words OF eloquence:
we may not, as our illustrous trio of states
men, Clay, Calhoun, and Webster, enroll
our names on enduring tablets OF fame,
yet we can, with chivalric spirit and un-
daunted courage, fulfil our life-mission just
as nobly though in an humber sphere.
II at this honored institution-the round
house and machine-shop for heart and
brain-our car is not equipped with oil
and necessary repairs for the journey OF
life, the fault is ours; IL here the great pro-
pelling power-cducation-d not impart
an impetus which, unbounded by time,
will reach the shores OF eternity, this
honored faculty is not TO blame!"
Mr.. Elsoms sallies OF wit and humor
frequently elected roars OF laughter, and
his hits brought down the house and was
loudly applauded when he took his seat.
He. too. was rewarded with floral tributes
from appreciatiye fair ones.
The speeches OF both OF the orators OF
the evening were refreshingly free from
much Of the clap-trap usual on such occa-
sions.
Then followed the valedictory, by Mr..
G. S. Gardner, OF Tennessee. He said that
he had the pleasant duty OF switching off
the train and saying "Good-bye" for 4
season. He gave vivid and witty sketch
of the joys Of the classroom and the stu
dies of the college, and said that TO them he