The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-21
BLAoKsBuRe comMENoEMENT.

BLAuKsBURa CoMMENoEMENT.
Tho Sham Battle and q Society Meeting Mt
the Virginia a. and M. O.
BLACkspURa, June 20.-The exercises
were opened yesterday morning with
prayer by Rev. G. T. Gray. In few
appropriate remarks Frank M. Payne, Of
| Charleston, w. Va, introduced Il. w.
| Musgrave, who delivered the alumni
address. Mr.. Musgrave paid high trib-
ute to the corps Of professors who guided
the minds of the students during his
collegiate years. He also complimented
DR.. McBryde and referred to him as the
Moses who had been selected by the
board to bring this college out of the
political mire Into which 1t had been
dragged" aud had raised it to plane
that 1t could compete with many and go
far above the majority of colleges.
He also referred to the school as "Vir.
ginia's brightest STAR" and called on all
the alumni present to join hands and
the highest standard and make 1t Vir-
ginia's brightest jewel and the pride OF
the South.
At a p. m. the sham battle took place.
The battalion was divided, one half of
which was taken to q hill about half q
mile away from the campus, where the
firing began with the cannon and mus
kerry. Skirmish lines were thrown out
by both sides, charges, counter charges,
flank movements and retreats were all
made, and for about one hour and half
the regular boom of the cannon, mixed
with the rattle Of musketry, made the
old hills OF Montgomery quake as they
have never quaked before. Old soldiers
were reminded of what they experienced
during the civil war and many were
sounded like old times. About 5000
shots by small arms and over 800 by
cannon were fired.
Colonel Harmon Is to be congratu-
lated upon she showing the cadets made.
He is very popular with the cadets, and
the universal opinion Is that he, like
the old Duke of Wellington, could drill
the boys go "they would 60 anywhere"
and come out victorious.
At $50 p. m. the exercises of the
Maury Literary Society were opened
with prayer by the college chaplain,
Rev. Gray, which was followed by the
president, s. Vance Lovenstine, Of
Richmond, Va, In a neat and we'll
written Statutory. The first orator for
the occasion was Geo. S. Surface, OF
Montgomery county; subject, God in
Nature Mr.. Surface handled his SUBJ
ject in graceful manner, and i'm
pressed his hearers so that he received
prolonged cheer. Mr.. Surface won
the medal for the best orator.
The second orator was T. W. Simpson,
of Glasgow, Scotland, his subject being,
"Should war as method of arbitration
be discarded" Mr.. Simpson, like Wal
lace OF old, pushed his opponent close
and WAS only beaten little.
Then followed the debate upon the
subject, THAT the electoral college
should be abolished" The speakers
were: Affirmative, John C. Dabney,
Pittsylvania county; negative, R. 1.
Roop. Montgomery county. Both gentle
men handled the subject in mastery
manner. Mr.. Dabney came off victorious
A. l. Hairless, one OF Montgomery's
most eloquent takers, delivered the
medals to the victors: also one to Law
renee Priddy for the most improve
ment in defamation.
Company G, Captain Lovenstine, won
the medal for the best drilled company,
which will be delivered to that company
to day at the closing exercises.
Judge Waller R. Staples is here. Hon.
Jno. Massey has also arrived and is
attending the exercises.
Colonel Nash, Of the First Virginia
Regiment, is also here. He has q son
at college.
About four thousand persons wit
messed the sham battle, the largest mum.
Der in Blacksburg since the late war.
The town is full to overlooking and
cannot accommodate all who would like
to stay over,
The Closing Exercises.
To'day's exercises opened as usual
with music by the college band. The
following essays were then read by mem
bers OF the graduating class: "The In
candescent Electric Light" by A. H
Apperson; THE Fertilizer Control Sys-
tenn" by w. B. Elicit; 1.-The Progress of
Chemistry" by A. T. Eskridge; THE
Formation and Utilization of Minerals"
byS v. Lovenstein; "Bridge Building"
by W. B. Pratt; Primary Batteries, "by
r. P White; Chemistry as Applied to
Modern Life" by f. D. Wilson.
The various certificates and degrees
were then issued, and an address before
the graduating class delivered