The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1895-06-14
KISSED BY GIRLS.
A SENSATION AT THE GEORGIA
STATE NORMAL COLLEGE.
Governor Atkinson Crltlcises the Col.
lege Faculty.

took place at the commencement exc
ercises Of the Georgia Normal and In.
dustrial college at Milledgeyillo Tues
day, being tho elimination Of what
tho people Of that city regard as one
Of the grossest outrages ever perpo-
trated in the history Of Georgia.
The sensational spectacle was pre-
sented 10 an audience Of nearly o thou
sand people Of Georgia's chief exocu-
tive roundly abusing tho faculty Of the
: institution.
THE GOVERNOR KISSED.
Scarcely were the words Of villifca-
ton out Of Governor Athnson's mouth
when the audience room resounded
with Kisses, the audience rising from
their seats and proceeding from the
/ building, leaving the governor stand.
ing alone on the rostrum.
The story back of this scene is most
interesting. 1t seems that Miss EN-
ME Spence, of Camilla, has been
member Of the senior class the past
/ year. She is very attractive young
lady, being a special favorite with the
wife of President Chappell Her
/ scholarship was not very remarkable,
however, and she experienced some
difficulty in keeping up with her
classes. In the final examination in
Latin. she was detected by one of the
teachers in cheating The rules Of the
college are very strict concerning this
offense, the penalty being expulsion.
The faculty took the matter under
: the most careful advisement. A half
dozen meetings were held and what
they regarded as the most indisputa-
bic evidence was produced of Miss
Spence's guilt She herself confessed
her offense aud was expelled and
quietly sent home last week. On Sun
day however, she returned with her
brother. This gentleman visited the
faculty and earnestly begged them to
give his sister her diploma privately
for the sake of mercy. The faculty
regretfully refused. Then the trus-
tees were visited, Governor Atkinson
among the number.
THE GOVERNOR INTERPRETERS.
The same afternoon the governor
left, intending to go to Savannah. At
Macon he telegraphed the faculty to
restore Miss Spence for his sake
Again the faculty refused. Tuesday
morning the governor arrived and
held conference with Professor Chap
pell. He Immediately called a meet
ing of the board of trustees, Patrick
Walsh, Fleming duBignon, Dupree,
Lamar and Newell being present. The
proceedings of the meeting were not
made known until the commencement
exercises, which began at 10 o'clock,
were well under way. Everything
proceeded smoothly enough until the
:ime came for Mr.. Nat Harris, of Ma
con, to deliver the diplomas; Governor
Atkinson arose to introduce him.
His first words created startling
sensation: young ladies" he said,
"the board of trustees, and not the
faculty, confer these diplomas. That
is their right under the law"
The governor said only a few words,
but he said enough to cause President
Chappell, who was sitting just by, to
look up sharply with strange express
sion of surprise.
During the few moments that inter
vened between the introduction by the
governor and the speech of Colonel
Harris, the silence about the big hall
was awful for those who were familiar
with the preceding circumstances
were aware just what the prelude of
the governor meant.
One by one, after an enjoyable
speech, the diplomas were handed out
by Colonel Harris As he gave each
into the hands of the blushing young
ladies there was happy remark for
each one. He stated that each of the
diplomas was to be revised in accord
Nnce with the action of the board of
trustees.
DECLARED HER A GRADUATE.
Then in calm voice Colonel Harris
read the name of Miss Emmie Spence
as one of the legal graduates. The
name was not off his lips, when Presi-
dent Chappell, who by nature is a man
of great conservatism and modestY.
jumped to his feet and towering with
emotion, walked to the front. His
face was livid.
81 WISH" he announced, Sin the
name of the faculty of this institu-
ton, to earnestly enter a protest
against the action of the board OIL
trustees in giving Miss Emmie Spence
her diploma"
Tumultuous applause greeted this
announcement. Ia the excitement