Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-06-27
For the SPECTATOR.
Va. Agricultural and Mechanical College.

Blacksburg, situated on the summit of tht
Allegheny in Montgomery county sur
rounded by fertile fields covered with lux
uriant crops and bathed in an atmosphere
as pure and healthful as this or any othe'
continent affords, is, as yonr readers know
the seat of the v. A. NJ. College, an insti
tuition of which Virginia may well be proud
This college has just celebrated its if
teenth commencement. DR.. Smith, Of
Lynchburg, preached the Baccalaureate
sermon Sunday, the 10th instant His text
is found in Phil. 8: 13-He exhorted the
graduates, of whom there were nine, to for
get those things which were behind and
press forward DIR. Smith is an accomplish
ed speaker and never uses his eloquence,
but to put Christ and his mission to the
front. In the evening of the same day,
DR.. Denny, of Salem, preached to the I.
M. G. A. He took for his text the first
clause of Phil. 8: 1O,-"That I may know
him." His effort was worthy of his reputa-
ton, and gave perfect satisfaction to all
but few, who thought he was little too
| severe on the votaries of Terpsichore. The
evening of June 18th, the Many Literary
Society had their annual celebration. The
orators medal was awarded G. T. Peck, of
Lynchburg, Va, and the debater's medal
to R. q. Price, of Montgomery, Va. The
following Maurys were awarded improve
ment medals: Debate, J. e. Parrish, Lu-
nenburg, Va; Oratory, W. W. Couch. APP
pomattox Co., Va; Defamation, W. B..
HAIRLESS, Pulaski Co., Va; Reading, G. w.
Thompson, Bedford Co., Va. The race for
the medals was an energetic contest between
the young gentlemen.
Tuesday, June 18th, Mr. Il. st. George
Tucker, of your city, delivered carefully
prepared address to the Literary Societies.
He opened his remarks by giving an &C.
count of the origin, development and pres
ent standing of the College. Then stated
that education is of great value to the farm
er-treated under three heads.
LIST. Mental improvement.
End. Financial Standing.
3rd. Political Standing.
The closing remarks embodied the speak
er's opinion of the great future opening up
before the advance of industry coupled lUith
education, and the speaker closed with an
exhortation to the young men of Virginia
to hold up the standard of their native
state and to advance, her interests. Mr..
Tucker did not say word on party politics,
but let all present know where he stood by
furnishing an occasion to gracefully waue
his ba1dana.
The Lee Society had their celebration the
evening of the 18th. The Lees were at
home on the rostrum, so much so that we
entirely forgot that we were listening to
their maiden effort. J. Fl. Cox, of Man
chester, carried off the orators, and J. R.
Sheffield, of Farmville, Va, the debater's
medal.
improvement medals were awarded to B.
G. Howard, of Floyd county, for debate;
H. W. Olcott, of Richmond, for declama-
ton; II. W. Turner, of Buckingham, for
oratory. Mr.. Flggatt, of Fincastle, address,
ed the students on the 18th in an energetic
and earnest manner, arousing their interest
in agricultural and mechanical pursuits,
and melting them to love their Virginia.
The commencement exercises were con-
cluded by the German, which all pronounced
a perfect success and many were the COM
pliments lavished upon the leader.
Col. Knight. is the popular commandant
at the V. A. N. G. One feature of the dis
cipline here will recommend itself to all.
Any student who Is convicted of intemper-
ance is expelled from the college. Augusta
was represented by the following young
gentlemen, Messrs. M. B. Whitmore, -
McNulty and T. A Turk.
Mr.. w. FL. Mcdowell, the architect, is
pushing the work on the new barracks,
which is to accommodate about two hun
dred students. Now if the State would
build a nice little chapel for the Y. M. G.
A., to hold their services in as we'll as 9th
er religious exercises, we think good and
necessary work would be done. At present
the chapel is dark, dingy-looking room ON
the ground floor, altitude about seven feet.
The chapel contrasts sadly with the hand
some exterior of the building, the lovely
lawn, the magnificent landscape.
Every thing that we have seen save this
room is pleasing. The girls are pretty, the
students gallant, and the Professors erudite.
A young man wishing military agricul-
tural, mechanical or classical education can
find it all here on more reasonable terms
than any other place in the State.