The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-04-18
IN HONOR OF JEFFERSON.
ANNUAL CELEBRATION AT THE
DAVIS SCHOOL.
An Edffying and Classic Programme
Rendered by the Jefferson Literary
society-Mr. Andrews Grafton.

Those Who were so fortunate as t.
! be present Monday evening at til,
/ annual celebration of the Jefferson
Literary Society of Davis Military
School were highly entertained ant
delighted with most interesting an(
edifying as well as classic programme
For years this excellent institution,
whose fame and usefulness extends
across the borders of many States, as
we'll as to foreign countries, has main,
tanned two li0urishing literary organ
iZations, the jefferson and Washing
ton Societies. On the anniversary of
the birthdays Of each Of the states.
men for whom these societies are
named it has been the custom of the
respective organizations TO give a pub
lie entertainment, at which pro-
gramme appropriate to the name Of
the society is rendered.
Monday evening the Jefferson Hall
had been rendered most beautiful and
attractive by the tasteful decorations
and Shone with beautiful effect under
the glow Of numerous lights. But
more attractive still was the brilliant
audience which crowded the spacious
hall in response to the Invitations
which had been issued. The gather
ing was composed of an array of the
fairest beauties of the TWin-City, as
well as neighbOring cities, and num-
Der of cur most prominent and dis
tinguished citizens, making an elite
and cultured audience The hall was
crowded to its utmost capacity and
the audience was one calculated to
inspire el0quence from any tongue.
At the proper time the officers of
the society took their official positions
and President E S Duiin, of Ken
ttcky, called the society to order and
presided with grace and dignity
Secretary w {. Harper PROCEEDED to
the first being Serg't. MAJ. w. Il. Lee,
of South Carolina, who delivered an
original grafton on Thomas Jefferson.
The subject matter was exceptionally
fine and the delivery Of the speaker
was admirable. Cadet E. NJ Allison
showed fine powers of defamation in
the rendition Of "a Little Pilgrim"
Cadet S. L. Sinnott, of Tennessee,
showed the true fire of OratOry in
that masterpiece of forensic compost
tion, 'Spartacus to the GladiaUorS, ''as
did also Cadet f. ii. Walker, of Ala
bama, in 1.-The Curse of Regulus."
Cadet Z. Lyerly, of North Carolina,
rendered In most happy vein an orig
inal production, entitled ''Thurmo-
pyiae." In this defamation the
speaker showed true conception Of
genuine wit, which will one day
doubtless make him famous. Cadet
O. e. Ellis, Of Pennsylvania, de-
claimed 1.-THE Unknown Speaker" and
showed fine flashes Of oratorial fire
and Cadet O. ID. Dalton, of North
Carolina, spoke d defamation II live
not to Myself" with splendid effect.
That familiar and popular selection
The Vagabonds," was touchingly
rendered by Color Serg't. w. NJ.
Simpkins, of Florida, and the glories
of North Carolina were made to re-
sound eloquence in mastery grafton
by Lieut.. j. Ii. Pritchard, of North
Carolina.
Capt. A. G. Page, of North Carolina,
then, in graceful terms, introduced
Mr.. Greek o. Andrews, the orator of
the occasion. 1t is the custom of the
society at each anniversary to invite
some gentleman, not member of the
society, to address it upon the life,
character and services of Thomas
Jefferson. Capt. Page referred to Mr..
Andrews as one of the most gifted
young journalists which this State has
produced.
Mr.. Andrews grafton was indeed a
splendid effort. portraying the life and
character Of the father of the Declare
ton Of Independence, as student,
patriot, diplomat, phildntrophist,
Secretary of State and President. He
declared that it was as Secretary OF
State in the Washington Cabinet that
the great ability of Jefferson Shone
brightest. That it was in the struggle
with Alexander Hamilton, Secretary
of the Treasury, during the same ad-
ministration, when Hamilton, who
believed in the Capitalization of
power, was making every effort to
undo what the revolution had just ac-
that Jefferson, with his
fiance to monarchy, opposed the
of Hamilton and
thwarted his schemes. The speaker
referred to the lamented Vance as
Thomas Jefferson of North Carolina
in that he loved and labored in the
interest of the masses.
The grafton was one of elegant
dictiOn and was alike. an honor to the
memory Of the illustrious Jefferson
and to the reputation of the brilliant
Journalist who delivered it
In closing his address Mr.. Andrews
said:
1t is a pleasure to me to have re-
sponded to the call of your honored
organization to be with you on this
occasion. 1t is pleasure to me to
witness the great and progressive
work of wholesome education and
manly training which this distiuished
Institution is so successfully carrying
forward. 1t is pleasure to me to see
standing at the head of such splen-
did institution as this one whose
pleasant companionship have known
andTalued in other days. One who
bears the name of the great states
man of whom | have spoken tonight,
and knowing as do his high qualities
Of head and heart and character l can
testify that he bears it worthily.
Under his leadership l predict for
this institution that continued meas
ure of success which has always at
tended it in the past.
] thank you for your kind attention
and wish your organization God
speed, and many years of prosperous,
harmonious and pleasant existence.
At intervals the string band of the
Davis School rendered sweet and in
spring selections which greatly added
to the charm of the programme.
OThe marshals were: Cadets Berkley,
of West Virginia, chief; Woods, of
Pennsylvania, Nevin, of Pennsylvania,
Walker, of Alabama, and Serg't.
Smelling, of New York. The enter
tainment throughout was thoroughly
high-toned and edifying, showing a fine
degree of literary excellence and re-
fectiDg the highest credit upon the
Jefferson Society and upon the Davis
Military School, and upon Col. Jeffer-
son Davis, its distinguished head.
We are pleased to note the excellent
work and progress of this noble insti-