The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-20
RICHMOND COLLEGE.
FORMAL OPENING OF THE SEES
SION OF l889-'eO.

]
with a formal opening-as assemDlage
Of friends and students, welcoming
speeches by the professors and others,
and pleasant time generally.
This interesting ceremony occurred
/ last evening in the chapel. a large
audience was present. and on the plat
form sat the professors and members
of the faculty. the Governor. the
Mayor, and others.
The exercises were opened with pray
er by the Rev. DR.. Broaddus. IN when
ne asked Almighty protection ior inc
students. and begged that they might
all be taught to place their trust IN the
Divinity.
PROFESSOR PURYEAR.
Professor Puryear then made brief
statement. Lightweight students have
matricuated to-day, and there are
many others waiting to, he said. lie
believed that the attendance TIN,
season would be quite up 10 the average.
he used the OCCASION to welcome the
pupils heartily TO the college. and hoped
The session would be both pleasant and
profitable. Horace had said: Who
has begun well has half accomplished
his undertaking. - and Professor Pur-
wear said he wanted all TO begin well
and succeed in their object. Well
known and competent teachers had
been engaged. and the Professor pad
neatly turned tribute to Professor Hsr-
ris. who he introduced as the next
speaker.
PROFESSOR HARRIS.
Professor Harris was loudly applaud
cd as he arose. He began his remarks
bv saving that the last time he stood on
the platform Of the chapel it was to
make his farewell address. without be-
ing able 10 name his successor. 1t was,
therefore. with much pleasure that
ne stood where he did. Par
enthetically he then alluded to
as a base statement that he wished to
denouuce-that the war was fought
for African slavery. This thought
found no place IN the brave Southern
hearts. The Northern soldier fought
for the Union. and the Southern soldier
fought for his home. and for what he
believed to be right. lie could remem /
Der when twenty-three years ago nc
came in the college. On the floor was
warm blood. and from a severed limb |
was slowly oOziDg the vitality of man /
who had done battle lost limb. and |
perhaps since died. What changes had /
occurred since then. All these build +
ings around here have risen up and all /
the surroundings have changed.
The students, too. have changed.
When the college started in October,
1865. less than half the present number
had entered. and during the session the
Attendance got up TO only ninety. Three
aud twenty years ago it was necessary
for youth came then entirely uEpre-
plred for college lifel. for the NOM
bers of the faculty to divide the duties
# ped0gogue. and each had to take his
share IN old school teacher fashion.
The faculty, too. had doubled in num-
Der and few Of the older ones still re-
maincd. One of them who was the
Youngest then was the oldest now. APP
plause.
When | came into Richmond from
my home then it took four hours to get
mere. Now the train makes it in an
hour and forty minutes. In fact. no
century before had ever expedited
thought and action as the present.
PhIlOlOgy has made changes in the
languages. and all seem - be running
race like the witches in Tam o Shan
ter. and all we'll up 10 the front. And
when We contemplate the races Of
everyday life-capital against labor.
trusts against trusts, nation against
we would like to hide our
faces and cover our eyes from the sight
II the impending and disastrous coils
ion but forsthe knowledge that there is
one who sits in the high signal tower,
the train dispat cher who will keep all
things in order and prevent chaos and
c 4lamity.
Hard by the college is rising mighty
pile. and Governor Lee was largely in
strumental in its erection: and the
speaker said he hoped the figure II the
immortal lee would rise in bronze be-
fore the term Of the present Executive
expired. \ nObler. grander man than
General Lee never trod the earth. APP
piause
He narrated an incident that showed
how the General. mighty as he was.
tool. notice OF small things. One day 1
soldier was diving wagon along the ]
road. and the wheels equeaked very
much. lie politely spoke To the man. s
asked HIM who was his captain, and I
" hen the soldier replied. he asked him {
10 tell his captain that he wanted to see
llm. The captain was told. aud soon
arrived at the Generals tent. Then q
he General. i'm his most gracious tones, n
old him that little grease applied 70 I,
he wheels Of the wagon would con- :
ide rably save the wear on the vehicle, :
ND save the muscles OF the mules.
The Professor urged the students to .
0llow the example Of the great chief.
ian IN their lives. but not to forget the
Divine power which gave birth and
olce to all his thoughts and actions. C
When Professor Harris concluded. 0
Professor Puryear. who acted as chair a
nan Of the occasion. said he would next e
Introduce Governor Lee-a man who. n
erhaps, bad made the most successful l.
Governor Virginia ever had; a man
Who, in the few years that he had been
n Office, had gained as wide a reputa-
ion for statesmanship as he had before =
8 a soldier.
GOVERNOR LEE. "a