Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-06-07

was to tell the audience what he knew,
or at least what he knew of history, he
was probably the most successful
speaker during the commencement
We think he mentioned all the names
both ancient and modern, that we ever
heard Of. When touching ON Greece
he bewildered US with string of such
sounds as Themistocles, Aristodes,
Demosthones, Perocl6s &c. We felt
relieved when he said he didn't have
time to mention any more names, but
after that be came over to America
and added LongfeIlow, George Wash
ington and several others to the cata-
logue. There was much in Mr. An
derson's speech, however that was not
ameniable to this criticism. He had
some good sentences and good thoughts
and his voice was very fine. He
should learn to let ideas suggest his
historical illusions, and not bend and
comfort his language SO as to produce
opportunities for display of knowl-
edge.
AWARD OF SOCIETY MEDALS.
The next thing in order was the
delivery of the Society medals. These
were given to the member of each
society who had improved most as a
debater and in general oratory during
the term. The Washington Irving
Literary Society medal was awarded
to Mr.. D. M. Hicks, of Shreveport.
La, by DR.. Bryson, of Alabama. Mr..
3. n. Wood, Of Mississippi, received
the Stewart Society Medal which was
presented him by Rev. Mr.. Converse
of Louisville.
TUESDAY NIGHT
the annual contest for the best speak
er's medal took place. Stewart Cabinet
Hall was crowded with a large and
brilliant audience and the greatest in
terest was manifested in the orations
to be made. There were six speakers
on the rostrun, and the first of them
presented to the audience was
VIC. Fits, OF TENNESSEE.
His subject was Westminster Alb
hey and its Occupants and his address
was an elegant and polished discourse,
descriptive of the last resting place of
so many Britain's distinguished dead.
He begun by comparing David's VOW
to build temple to the Lord to the
impulse that moved Edward the Con-
festor when he became the founder of
Westminster Abbey. He dealt very
largely in description, and necessari-
| Nv in historic review Of this great
burial place. The grave of Gratten, he
said, was England's pledge OF justice
to Ireland. The bust of Longfellow,
recently erected in the poets corner,
had given literal meaning to famil-
lar quotation from Washington Irving
Mr.. Fits showed some embarrassment
when he first begun, but soon recover
ed himself and spoke with fine voice
and delivery. A nervousness that
made him move about too much was
the most serious fault to be found
with him as an orator. He had a good
speech and spoke it well.
Ell. HICKS, OF LOUISIANA,
the second speaker, had chosen for his
theme, @The Land we Love-" His
speech would have taken better fifteen
years ago than at the present People
have grown somewhat weary of lachri-
NOSE utterances about the "Lost
Cause" and it has gone out of fashion
to eulogize the heroism of the soldiers
of the late war. We believe as strongly
as ever in their deeds of valor, but we
have become tired of hearing them
recounted. Mr.. Hicks would have
done better to have said less about the
past and more about the present and
the future.
J.F. MARTIN,
of Tennessee, familiarity and affection
ately known to his many friends in
this city where he resides as "Jack"
Martin, was the third speaker to
appear before the audience. His
subject was Changes of Nature" He
begun by asserting that all forms
may be reduced to matter and mind.
From this he proceeded in good
language and good style to speak of
the constant mutation in all things.
A gentleman of considerable reputa-
ton as a scholar, who sat near the
reporter, remarked that Jack had
evidently been studying geology
with purpose" and his speech justi-
fed that conclusion. Jack" has the
blood of the eagle Orator of Tennes-
see" in his veins; he is quite young,
and if he continues to improve as
speaker, he may himself deserve to
bear such designation. 1.-The hadn't
twice violated well known rule
which says speaker must not turn
his back on the audience he might
have captured medal His speech
probably evinced more thought than
any other delivered.
-. H. RICHARDSON OF TENNESSEE
took text from Shakespeare. "There
is a Divinity that Shapes our Ends
Rough Hew Them as We May"
His idea was to show the oyerruling
providence OF God in all things. Some
men, he said, try 20 solve the mystery
of life and declare that it comes from
Safeguarding protoplasm. In so
doing they lower themselves in their
own estimation and that of the world
besides. The sun of revelation dispels
all mystery and doubt. Man was not
cut out by fatalistic law but is the |
child of God. Mr.. Richardson's speech |
was characterized by more evidence of
thought and reflection than some OF
the others delivered. He lacked an
imation and the power to impress his
hearers with what he was saying.