The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-20
THE ALUMNI.
PROFESSOR REYNOLDS DELIVERS THE
GRAFTON.
Professor Hamseslss Rcads nm Original
peem-A Large and Appreesatsve
Audsence--the BanGuet-
yne Closing Exercises
Io-Ssehs.
Last night the annual reunion Of III

with ferns aud cvergreenS. When inc
hour arrived for the exercises 10 begin
the house was crowded, every availa-
bic seat being occupied, and many were
compelled to stand.
Al $50 o'clock. Rev. r. r. AGREE,
president Of the Alumni; Professor r.
II. REYNOLDS. Of West Virginia. the
orator of the occasion; Professor l.. X.
Hamberlin. OF Louisiana, and Rev.
John w. Ryland. of Middlesex. march
cd M the aisle and took seats upon the
ro-trum. Rev. John w. Ryland offer
ed fervent prayer, after which Messfs.
Watkins and Leftwich sang duet en-
titled The Fisherman which was
well received, and as an encore sang
the latter portion of the same pro
duction.
Rev. r. II. AGREE arose and sand that
IL the opportunity was afforded HIM ne
would make his inaugural address.
He would like 70 give little history OF
the Alumni Society. and enumerate
some Of the contemplated work, but he
had a greater pleasure. aud IN very
beautiful style introduced Professor /.
Il. REYNOLDS. who arose, and alter re-
ferring to the remarks of Mr.. AGREE
delivered in very able manner the ad-
dress before the society.
lie said coming back to Richmond
College and looking into the faces OF
his college mates and professors. and
realizing the great changes which had
taken place. he felt that he was Of the
past 1t is only looking at the present
and studying the present that we can
prepare for the future. He referred 10
the time when Richmond was in sack
cloth and ashes. but she did not mourn
over her fate, but put forth effort and
prepared herself for the future, and
now realized prosperity and happiness.
college days. said he. were the
best and happiest days of life.
The speaker stated that he would en-
deavor TO give an idea OF
THE MODERN COLLEGE MAN.
The modern college man is the child
OF an alma mater. He has been reared
and fed by the food of college. He has
eaten. not crammed y; filled, not
stored away. He has obeyed the law.
He has literally wrestled with problems,
not only mathematical problems, but
with all problems. Possibly he has
struggled with the question, How can
I finish my college course with the
small means | have
He is an exercised man and Is
polished. The roughness and the
greenness is all goneand he Is genteel
man. Some men come out of college
with the idea that they have finished {;
that they have graduated aud have
nothing more to do. They are like a
field which is prepared to bring an
abundant harvest, but allowed TO grow
up IN weeds.
They are just prepared for life, Jsst
starting upon LIES work. He is in
formed and intelligent. These forms
he has studied are live questions and OF
real worth. He must be able to see all
sides of question and prepared to talk
intelligently upon them.
THIS is the typical idea how far have
we come up TO iii How can we i'm
prove itY
In the practical world the college
man Is leader; others are there, but
he can be and ought TO be in the front.
At the front in the church, at the front
in politics, in business OF all kinds, in
all classes Of work he can be, he ought
To be, he must be in the front.
Whom can we trust If we can trust
the polished, the honest college man
HIS ALMA MATER.
How should the college man feel to-.
wards his alma mGter2 How does he
feel towards his own mother-his own
homey There Is nothing to him like
his home; no playmates like his.Own;
nothing like home. So. with his alma
mater. Here is the place of his intel
lectual birth. No professors like his
own, no fellow-students like hls own.
In q very touching manner the
speaker referred IL the lOld professors
of Richmond College, and was exceed
ingIy tender and feeling IN compli-
menting them.
The speaker cOntrasted the declining
age of his own mother with his
mother college. The former he would
meet after a long absence, bowed down
with inhrm age. but not so
with the old Alma Mater. We
see her again after an absence
Of years in the bloom of youth. Stu
dents in the bloom of youth come TO
her from afar. and 90 away fitted for
the duties of life Yes, thank God, she
is still youthful. May she continue
forever in her youth and glory.
The speaker sat down amid great APP
plause, and was warmly congratulated
by those sitting near him.
Mr.. AGREE arose and said many Of
the students of Richmond College had
written poetry, but we have not had
many who have succeeded in writing
poetry everybody liked; but there was
one who had succeeded; one who was
a natural-born poet. one who was rear
ed in the beautiful Southland amid the
orange groves of Louisiana. Professor
l.. X. Hamberlin, who had been re-
quested to deliver an original poem be
fore the alumni alone, but they had
thought il best to let all enjoy it, and
had requested the poet to do SO.
After a few words of introduction
Professor Hamberlin began his poem
i'm a manner which soon secured the
close attention of the entire audience.
He 10 "A born actor. His expressions
and gestures were perfect, and his
voice clear aud audible.
His subject was THE Marble Heart. -
When this poem was finished Professor
Hamberlin delivered another original
poem entitled 'Ad Alumnus," IN which
ne addressed the Alumni Society.
The speaker held his audience spell
bound, and when he took his seat the
applause was deafening. When the
tumult ceased. Professor Hamberlain
came forward and delivered another
amusing poem, which kept his audience
in roar of laughter from beginning 10
end.
The exercises were interpreted with
beautiful solos by Messrs. Lettwich and
Watkins; sccompanist, Mr.. Justis. The
college choir also rendered delightful
music.
The alumni and their invited guests
then proceeded to the Thomas Memorial
Hall. where banquet had been spread,
which was served in bountiful man
ner.
After the COLLATION. several speeches
were made by the distinguished guests,
after which the alumni reunion for
1889 closed.
1t was the opinion of all the mem