Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-23
DELAWARE COLLEGE CLOSING.
commencement Competitive Drill
and the Delta Phi.

One Of the Most Interesting Days i'm the
History of the Old CoIiege--The Grndu-
ates and Their orations-- Other Ex-
ercises.
special correspondence Gazette and journal
NEWARK, June 16.-lt was typical
commencement day yesterday, hot, yet
clear, ahd with gentle wind playing
among the crests of the linden trees in the
campus, under which crowds began early
70 wend Their way to the graduating exer-
| cises III the college oratory The new reci-
tation hall east of the "Unter den Linden''
Walk attracted much attention and admira-
uon from the visitors. 1t will likely be
competed enough for occupancy by the
hrst OF the next collegiate year.
Al II O'Clock the graduating exercises
| opened in the oratory., With the open.
ing strains of Oglesby's orchestra the
prominent visitors, trustees, members
OF the faculty and mbers of the senior
class, headed by President Raub, marched
upon the stage and the exercises were
oPe,ned BY a prayer by the Rev. N. II.
Miller. Then. commenced the delivery of
the orations by the graduates. this CON
suming about an hour and half. The
following was the programme:
me Empire of the South" by Fred
he9u ticards; ingenuity, its Triumphs
and its Progress Samuel Kirkwood
Martin; Martin; Orators and oratory," Pierre
Blair Pie; The Bible in the College Cur
riculum, ;. Edwin Grant; True Educa-
1Rion, Ro,,,;n Ben1amin Biggs Smith; america
Jones' Money and its Uses" Thomas
Albert Bedford; American Patriots"
James Walter Lattomns; "Our National
Motivest to intellectual Exertions," Willard
THOMPSON Smith.
Following the orations, which we're of
an unusually good order and which were
heartily appreciated by the audience there
was tiae eonlerring OF degrees and award
ing OF prizes ms stated in THE GAZETTE
last week. After the graduates had been
congratulated by DIR. Raub other felicita-
tlons were in order and the graduates
friends and relatives pressed forward to
give them accompanying them in many
cases with valuable gifts, such as watches,
BOOKS anu sums of money. The two mem
ners Of the class who had the highest
standing were Willard L. Smith, son of
squire W; IL. Smith of this town, and Fred.
erieK II, kicards OF Bridgeville.
ALUMNI MEETING.
This took place at o'clock. with n
rather slim attendance. A resolution was
passed offering, on the part of the alumni
association prize of $50 for the declama-
ton contest, provided elocution is taught.
The following were elected officers for the
year President, DR.. l.. II. Ball; Vice
presidents, Edwin IL. Paynter and n. W.
b!,i Dayisi secretary and Treasurer, John
Filling. Jr.; executive committee, Albert
Springer.
COMPETITIVE DRILL.
This took place at o'clock on the atb-
letic Held, in the presence of three or four
hundred spectators. Companies A and II.
under command Of Captains Bedford and
willard smith, respectively, were pnt
through various military movements for
almost an hour. These were setting nm
exercises, manual, foot movements, COM
pahy iorInation, bayonet exercises, and
school oil the companies in close order.
There was also sham battle between the
two companies in extended order. during
which the air resounded with a roar Of
musketry that sounded uncomfortable
like actual war. The drill was very credit
able indeed, the manual being performed
with a precision and response worthy of
veterans. Dir. George W. Marshall, the
Judge Of the contest, who was selected by
Lieutenant Brooks, awarded the Roberts
gold medal to Company h, it being held
during the past year by Company A, The
winning company's mark was $3.50.
closely followed by Company A, with a
grade of $3.50.
BATTALION PARADE.
The grounds were again thronged with
visitors at the battalion parade, which is a
ceremony gone through with every even
ing at all the military posts in the country.
The Etna Band, in its handsome new uni-
form, was present and made excellent
marching music. Lieutenant Brooks occu-
pied the centre of the field and was in his
full regimentals The cadets were drawn
upin line for inspection of the commander
and then his staff officers. The retreatng
gun burst forth and simultaneously came
down the flag from its high perch. After
this the band gave short open-air concert
on the campus.
DELTA PHI ANNIVERSARY.
The 57th anniversary of the Delta Phi
Society took place at o'clock, the oratory
being crowded. At 7.30 there was an in.
formal reunion of the old members in the
society hall in the west wing. The dress
ing at this event was something unusually
brilliant in anticipation, of course. of the
hop which was to follow in Caskey Hall.
Following an orchestral selection there
was prayer and n short address to the
chairman of the evening, joseph b. Handy,
who introduced the orator of the evening,
the Hon. W. G. p. Breckinrdge of Ken
tucky. The talented southerner spoke for
All hour or more, dwelling upon the effect
OF education upon the history and prog
ress of the nation. II was a very enter
tanning and tlowery address and contained
most valuable advice to the members Of
the Delta Phi Society. lie spoke without
notes of any kind and his address was frc-
qucntly punctuated with the heartiest of
applause,
The society address was delivered by
James w. Lattomus and the farewell adj
dress by Charles w. Jones, both of the
graduating class. At the conclusion of
the regular programme, there were calls
for mn .ft tIa alI q
whom responded in more or less happy
way. This ended the intellectual part of
the commencement exercises which have
been declared very successful.
COMMENCEMENT nor.
This was the fitting finale to the many
events of the day. 1t opened in Cassev
Hall about ii O'Clock and dancing con-
tinued to the strains of Oglesby's orchestra
until o'clock this morning. In point of
attendance, show Of gowns, &C., it was
one of the most successful ever held here
but during the first half of the programme
the hall was uncomtortably crowded and
dancing was attended with considerable
difficulty. The patronesses were Mrs.
Theodore r. Wolf, Mrs. II. g. NJ. Kollock,
Mrs. Charles l.. Penny and Mrs Edward
K. Wilson. At the height of the dance
there were probably, 800 people present,
three-fourths of whom were dancers.
There were visitors present in large num-
bers from Wilmington, Philadelphia,
Smyrna, Elkton, Aiiddletown. Dover,
Harrington, Seaford, Delaware City, Mil
ford and other places.
SOME or THE VISITORS.
Among those present at the exercises
during the day were John S. Grohe, the
Rev. Dr. Liltell the Rev. Mr.. Berghaus,
the Rev. +. u. Short, Squire Frank Smith,
Harlan q. Scott. Thomas Davis. N. W.
DAVIS, Hon, Charles b. Lore, L. b. I.
Springer, Wilmington; John Harrington,
Harrington; Dr. Hugh Martin, Seaford;
r. d. uOifecker John O. Stockley