The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-12
THE State UNIVERSITY.
The Annual Commencement
Week at Morgantown.
ADDRESS BY HON. S. B. ELKINS
Before the Literary societics-Amcri'
can CiviIIzatIon-The Race Prob
lem aud the Industrial Ques-
don Ably Discussed.

Special Dispdieh II he IateliOaer.
MoRdASTowN, W. Va, June H.
Commencement week has come and
the hospitality of Morgantown citizens
will soon be taxed to the utmost ca
pacity. Strangers are coming in from
the various parts OF the State, and re-
ports are favorable for one of the
largest gatherings yet experienced at
the Athens during the gala week.
A gOodly number came down from
Fairmont yesterday morning to listen to
the Baccalaurcate sermon, which was
delivered by DR.. swope, Of Wheeling.
The sermon was
a PRACTICAL DISCOURSE
on "True Greatness-Its Nature and
Motive" The text from which the
Doctor delivered his able production
was taken from Matt. 20-27: "Whosoever
shall be chief among you let him be
your servant"
For one hour and five minutes he
was listened to with the greatest inter-
est, his discourse being earnest and
impressive.
REGENTS PRIZE CONTEST.
Saturday night the exercises OF the
week were formally opened with the
Regents Prize Contest The prize OF
S25 for the best essay written by any
regular member OF the University
schools was awarded to A. j. Hare, OF
Grafton.
For excellence in defamation the
prize OF $lj was awarded to j. W.
knight, of Greenbrier county,
The judges making the awards were
]. L. Moreland, n. W. Waters and ]. NJ.
Hagans on essay, and Regents Sommer-
Vile, Johnson and Schilling on decla-
nation.
ADDRESS BY HON. s. Il. ELElSs.
This evening an immense crowd gath
cred to hear the address Of Hon. S. B.
Elkins, on American Civilization"
before the Literary Societies. The au-
dience was one OF the most fashionable
and intellectual that ever assembled in
NIorgantown, and the reception accorded
the distinguished guest Of the occasion
was OF very gratifying nature. The
address was scholarly and eloquent, and
was regarded by the large audience Us
rare treat. Mr.. Elkins spoke about forty
minutes and held the closest attention
OF the hearers. Following are few OF
his leading thoughts:
After six thousand years OF recorded
effort, he said, civilization, in its jour
ney with the sum-" has encircled the
globe. Its metes and bounds are fixed
The future holds for it nore territorial
conqucsts. It cannot find relief, us in
times past, from the dangers that grow
with its growth and constantly threatens
its existence, by the discovery OF new
worlds. In America, civilization, to in
sure its own progress and preservation,
must meet these dangers and confront
the oncoming problems face TO face with
out chance OF retreat.
American civilization is the heir OF all
the ages. 1t draws its forces from the
whole mighty past. Appropriating and
absorbing the best elements Of Europe,
possessing unrivaled physical and in
dustrial advantages, ii should be dis
tinctive in character, aggressive and yig-
orous, enabled to understand and solve
the problems which thus far have baitled
society and overcome the dangers that
have wrecked all former civilizations.
Already Western civilization is divided
into European and American civiliza-
ton, between which there is silent con-
test going on for supremacy in the affairs
OF the world.
After referring to the progress Of civili-
zation in Europe, and showing that the
prospects there are not encouraging, Mr..
Elkins said: