Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-25
HAMPTON INSTITUTES.
The Closing Exercises--rbe speeches.
Governor Lee.
TspecIsl teIegram o the Dispatch.l

FORTRESS MONRoE, VA, May 24.-rhe an
niversary exercises OF the Hampton lnsti-
tute took place to-day. The morning was
devoted 10 battalion exercises, recitations in
the schoolroOm, and exhibitions oi skill In
the workshops. A fine exhibit OF the pro-
ducts Of the students labor was displayed
IN the " Stone buildinz."
The afternoon exercises, held In the gym
nasium, opened with singing by the stu
dents. Prayer was offered by Rev. DR.. VIII
liams, or :. Louis.
The following was the order Of exercises
SalutatOry, From Beginning to End" by
Mamie VI. Cox, Of Newbern, Va. "What Is
Expected OF q Hampton Graduate" by
Frederick ID. Wbee'ocS, of Augusta. Ga;
Hampton Girls" by Margaret q. Taylor,
OF Lynchburg, Va; "Our Trust" by Cor
nelins B. BaylOp, OF Gloucester, Va;
mission Work IN Tennessee" by Sarah
A. Collins, OF Baltimore (Class OF 1882;
progress Of the Oneidas." by Richard
:. PoTless. Of the Oue.da Reserve. WiscOn-
sin: :" Nv Field OF Work." by George Il.
stephens, OF Lynchburg. Va. (Class OF 1879;
Z" way Down in Georgia" by Jane \. Por-
ter, OF Macon, Ga. (ClaSs OF 1889. Debate on
the resolution That Goyernmen, aid to
CdlcatioD. az provided In tue Blair bill, u
unneeded. unconstitutional, aud uudesira-
ble." Atlirmatiye-Charles :. Mitchell, OF
Gatesville, y. c.; negative, with yledic-
tOry-Taylor b. Williams, OF Mllwood. Va.
The general tone OF the addresses by the
students was high. Il was evident that they
have absorbed belief I'm the principles OF
the school-intellectual labor combined with
manual training.
The girls gave histories Of their efforts TO
secure an education, and the young men
advised their fcllOW-studcnts 70 study the
questions OF temperance and political science
and to teach the coored race "t0 reverence
the sacredness II the ballot and not TO sell 1t
for any price,
The accounts Of the experiences OF those
who have hem ont teaching were spe-
citlly interesting. These teachers are 10 be
found IN nearly every state OF the Union, but
by far the largest number are 80 work In
Virginia. They report that IN Virginia the
general feeling OF The white people Is IN
favor OF educating and cleyating
the c0l0red race. The cOlOred ministry Is
also slowly but surely rising in power ard
importance. One Of the speakers, G.. f.
stephens, OF the Glass OF 1874, has been prin-
cipal OF large colored school with six AS
slstauts. Ieis now teaching in Lynchburg,
where the white citizens are taxed for the
higher education OF both blacks and whites.
There are 400 c0lored children enrolled In
the Lynchburg schools, with better attend
ancc than In the white schools.
Il il the custom OF Hampton to issue a
prIZe yearly 10 the senior who at graduating
passes the highest examination in elementary
studies. This year c. :. Mitchell and 4. +.
Williams stood exactly alike, ana therefore
received the same prize -acopy Of webster 5
TffaffGnrrV fin4.A me-
sented by Rey. Or. McNickar, OF
Phisdelph.a. who iokngly said that
be VA, chosen because General Aim
.trong saw something unabridged in
HIM referring to his gigantic stature).
lie paid very high compliment TO the instl-
tutc, and closed as follows: "li to inspire
ideas Is q good thing to give, the power OF
expression Is certainly the next best thing,
and It gives NE the greatest pleasure to pre-
sent 10 YOU something when VIII aid you at
least I'm the EXPRESSION OF the inspiration
which Hampton has SO well given you. Tue
STORES in tie dictionary are short, II Is said,
bnt they are very true and very good"
In the debate on the Blair 0ill the Sympa-
thios OF the school were evidently IN favor
Of the passage Of that bill a. evidenced by
the applause that greeted the speaker who
supported that side.
The tableiux Of " The Great Father and
Ills Children" given by the Indians in cos
tune was very effective.
The diplomas were distributed by The
president OF the Board OF Trustees, Ebert
| Il. Monroe. u New York.
The exercises were closed by brief adj
| dresses ffom Rev. Dr. Parkhurst, Governor
/ Lee. and senator Dawes. The Governor
expressed hearty sympathy with the work
| oi the institution, as did Senator Dawes
| who said that it WAS one OF the most memo
| rable days OF his lie.
Among the many guests and trustees
! present were Or. rlrkhulst OF NoW York
| Dr. McNlckar Of Philadelphia, Senator h. /,
! Dawes. Governor Lee Of Virginia, General
| Page oi Virginia, Rev. Dr. StreDy, Rev
| Mr. Bragg of Norfolk, Rev. DR.. Mckenzie
OF CAMBRIDGE, Rev. Mr. Holmes Of Rich
moad, Colonel WoOddn, General TidDall,
Rev. Me,srs. Bush and Allen Of Boston,
| Miss Alice G. Fletcher. Srs. YoumaDs. and
| Mis-. Jenny smith OF the llemenway school,
! Norfolk.
The members Of the "Second Baptist
train were present to the number OF seye
raj hundreds. The weather WAS all thai
| could be asked
Hampton is living up to It's tradition Of
always furnishing a pleasant day for the an
niVeTsarY.