Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-14
A FEAST OF REASON.
CHARMING BANQUET or THE UNI.
vERslTY ALUMNI LAST NIGHT.
senator Stewart (of Ncvada,, Professor
smith. Colonel Marshali, and Others
spsak-Featsres and Guests.


Chapter Of the Alumni Association OF
the University OF Virginia was given at
the Commonwealth Club last night.
distinguished company. brilliant dinner,
delightful and entertaining speeches. and
beautiful decorations were the features OF
the occasion.
The dinner was served In the spacious
apartments that the Commonwealth pro-
vidcs on its second floor for just such
purposes. The tables had been beaui-
fully and tastefully decorated by Harvey
and menu thoroughly faultless' ana
ranging from clans on the half-sheli 10
shcrbert and coffee. was served by Mana
ger J. ". Smith. of the Commonwealth.
A BRILLIANT ASSEMBLAGE.
Those who were so fortunate as to be
present were Senator w. NJ Stewart OF
Nevada; Colonel Charles Marshall. OF
Baltimore: Professor Francis III. Smith.
of the University OF Virginia; professor
Parkinson. Judges Hunter ii. Marshall
George l.. Christian. Il. c. Minor. James
c. Lamb, William Il. Fentress of Ports
mouth, Mayor J. Taylor Ellyson, Joseph
Bryan. Dr. c. w. l.. Brock, DIR. George
Ben. Johnston Jackson Guy. Wyndham
X Meredith. f. H. Mcclure. John L.
williams. Captain George Wayne Ander-
son. Thomas y. Carter, II. Il. Iassiter
of Petersburg y. Il. Thompson, John
SHELTON Williams, Reid Hobson. Joseph
Anderson. Matthew f. Maury. John Is.
Minor Jr. W. Jordan Leake +. L. pa
wilson, A. l.. Boulware, Frank W. Chtis-
tian, Roosevelt Page. w. i. McRae 81
Petersburg. Dr. John Dunn, Richard '.
Gaines. George Lee II. l.. Hobson, Joha-
than Bryant. Eddie Willis. Stewart BY
ant Hugh Antrim, Alexander cameron
James Valentine, Kirkwood PARRISH hu-
win T. Cox, l.. NJ. Williams W. ~
rownes. T.. ID. Christian, Levin Joyncs'
Daniel Grinnan. Beverly 4. Crump James
L. Anderson, Major John Howard, III
George Ross. James Pleasant, Powhatah
Ellis. DR.. Virginius Harris. Dr.. stuart
Mcclure. Kirkwood Mitchell, A. r. Chal-
lners. j. NJ. B Lewis. il. .. Wehueh-
burg. A. b. Dickinson. Eugene {. MassiI'
DIR. W. T.. Palmer. S. J. boswell, Dr. D.
PAGE Massie, j. II. V. Daniel WalhCe
II. Brown. Archer Anderson Jr.' Irolcs-
sor Mcclure Professor John II. lo"Vn'
Major Robert Stiles, Judge John n. IN
cram. John Pickrell, J. Randolph tucker
Ir Iobr Hunter Jr., A. u. Guigon, X
q Southall Of Amelia, +. G. Smith, ;. H.
Puniam. j. Spotswood Crenshaw' Dr W.
J.. VIM. II. 6. Cannon. Colohel H. H.
Maury. and Alfred T. Harris.
BEGINNING OF THE SPEECHES.
When full justice had been done to the
dainty meal. President Meredith called
the asseublage TO order. and read letters
If regret from the following gentlemen
who could not be present: NJ. r. IN
gram. Charles J. Faulkner, William NJ
Ivlo 4. q. II. Cain. w. Gordon McCaDe'
and w. c. n. Randolph.
MIR Meredith made few remarks before
Introducing the first speaker. lie con-
,.rntulateI the society on the increaSed
interest and strength manifested upon
this occasion. lie spoke of the actuatlng
principles OF the organization. when were
high living and correct thought through
out life (Applause) After speaking OIL
the university in terms eloquent ana APP
propriate, he announced as the ltst to's'
the patron. saint. and founder OF the uni
versity-"Thomas Jefferson'-which was
responded TO by Colonel Charles Mar
shall. of Baltimore. Colonel Marshall
smoke at sone length about the late war |
and Of it's chief commander. Robert II. |
go and paid gracious tribute TO TINS |
eminent soldier. He then took up the |
M. and character of jefferson. and spoke
touchjnely OF the great doctrines enun-
ciated by him.
TIE UNIVERSITY.
The next toast was "The University OF |
VIRGINIA" to which Professor smith, OF |
that honored Institution, responded. Pro-
fsssor Smith was VOciferously checred. |
lie said the body before his eyes appeared
70 him to be one big family. lie spoke |
of the great family of the university. 1t
was REPRESENTED in China and in lndia |
as well as here. Those within the sound
of his voice knew the university better |
than those who were stu there. 1Hose
who lived In the Blue Ridge could not
see its beauty and grandeur; ohly we
who lived a short distance away could
rronerIv appreciate them. Professor
Smith spoke of the past present, ana
future of the institution. and was en-
Enthusiastically applauded as he recalled |
the names Nof Schelc dc We're and Minor. |
and referred 10 the principles that still |
obtain at the university. Professor |
Smith touched briefly upon the question |
of admitting young ladies to the uniVer-
slty. lie pointed to the great number OF |
young women in the South who, from
necessity. had to go out into the world |
and battle for living.
The Professor paid glowing comph-
mcnt TO the alumni OF the university |
Its great success had been largely que 10
the fact that southern manhood annually |
coi,rsed through the halls of the institu- |
lion. Professor Smiths closing was espe- |
cially eloquent. and was tremendously |
cheered.
SENATOR STEWART SPEAKS.
The third toast was university Edu-
cation and Business Life and to this the
silver-senatOr, Mr.. Stewart,
made a most delightful and entertaining
response Mr.. Meredith, in introducing
the honored guest, spoke of him as the
silver -tongued orator OF the senate.
Senator Stewart was vociferously APP
plauded when he arose and showed the
vast company his intelligent brow and
his long white beard. He felt at home
when he stood where the principles oil
liberty were born. although he was not a
Virginian. He fel. at home when he stood
upon the spot where was born the founder
of the true principles of a republican gov
eminent He had had In his time four
partners in Colorado and Nevada who
were Virginians. He was partner OF
Henry S. Forte. Benjamin Watkins Lee.
Henry Meredith, and Judge Baldwin. and
he had been at the bar with many Vir-
ginians. Virginians, those who had i'm
bibed the principles % this favored land,
then stood high among men: they stood
high among men still. Applause)
Mr.. Stewart spoke of the work of JEFF
ferson. who must be first In this great
movement. He was the only man who
fully came up to the question that the
people should govern themselves. Even
Franklin was not as broad; he came next.
Jefferson was the only man who never ex-
pressed a doubt that the people were
capable OF governing themselves. When
the Senator came into the midst OF the
alumni Of the institution which was
founded by Jefferson he could not feel
stranger.
COLLEGES DO NOT EDUCATE.
Senator Stewart then touched upon the
real subject OF his toast He said IL was
mistake TO suppose that ours is an age
OF greater opportunity than was that
in which jefferson lived. 1t was a mis-
take that a man received an education at
college. The college simply equipped him
for an education.
He spoke OF the government OF old and
of the government to-day. Senator Stew
art referred to the hard times through
out this country and urged his hearers
to study out the trouble and the remedy.
Something was wrong. 1t was not the
Jefersonian doctrine. 1t was violation of
the principles OF this great man.
In conclusion the Nevada Senator plead
ed eloquently with his hearers to stand up
for self-goyernment, for the South, and
for liberty. We of the South were sub
hitting TO too many things that were not
States rights He stood nm for Jefferson.