Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-23
"THE PLAYS THE THING"
An Interesting Reminiscence OF
Early Hnmpden-Sidney.

Hampden-Sidney. Va, August z, 1886
To the Editor OF the Dispatch.
I have before me a paper headed,
"Order OF Exercises for the Public Per-
Torrance at Hampden-silney College,
April IS. 1875" Among the speakers on
that occasion are the following we'll
known gentlemen: William a. Daniel.
, who delivered the Latin Grafton: Theo-
dorick Pryor, whose subject was THE
Influence Of the Feudal System on Lite
rature"; Thomas Atkinson. who spoke on
The French Revolution; and Isaac
Read. whose subject was THE Influence
OF Foreign Literature" After an inter-
mission OF half an hour. w. W. Hudson
delivered the Greek Grafton on THE In
fuence OF Pericies's Administration on
the Political Character OF Greece; a
dialogue was recited by Freshmen
Charles Irving and Beverly Crump;
poem on Liberia" was rendered by
Junior Andrew Hart; an grafton on THE
Love OF Fame" was delivered by Senior
Hugh A. Garland. and "A Satlrical ora
ton on Objurgatory Remarks" by Senior
]. J. Royal. Perhaps. however the most
notable thing IN the whole programme
was a forensic-"Is the Tendency Of
Theatrical Representations Injurious 10
Society?"-by Sophomores Charles l..
Mosby and W. b. Tnsley. This discus
sion is worthy OF special remark. be-
cause It led perhaps TO such further in
quiry as finally resulted in the settle
ment OF the question so far as Hampden-
Sidney is concerned in the negative, for
in a few years We find such representa-
tons" substantial part OF the annual
spring exhibitions. The earliest OF these
shown by accessible records occurred IN
the year 1879. when both a tragedy and
comedy-each written by a student Of the
colege-was acted on the chapel stage.
The programme Of these is copied exact
ly. and is as follows:
A TRAGEDY.
By p. E. Bishop. Of Philanthropic So
ciety)
DRAMATIS PERSONAL.
Herbudo de Averbelle-Foster Father OF
the Duke OF Lorrain w. B. Almond.
Egbert-Fayorite Officer Of Duke Of Lor-
lain. .......... ....... IT. W. Lyon.
Hugo-Baron OF Piedmont IN. ]. Barnet
Palzo--A Friend OF Herbudo IS. j. Price.
Henriques-A Friend 10 Palzo....A. Scott.
A Jesuit-secret Minister OF Louis to
France ........ .........S. A. Thornton.
Bevis-A Leader Of Banditti IA. Wood.
Unknown ..... -. ......H. p. kirkpatrick.
Anselm-Priest OF Underlak.
p. e. Bishop.
Conrad-Hls Nephew ......N. A. Venabie.
Bonfoy-An Influential Citizen of Swift
erland .... .......... w. c. Flournoy.
Son Of Hugo. -. ........H. w. Watkins.
Servant OF Hugo ....... ......P. ii. Elcan.
Scene: Lorrain, Switzerland, and Pied
mont.
EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.
Comedy
(By p. NJ. Smith, OF Union Society.)
Gockenloock. Schoolmaster; Fancifui.
Lawyer-Counterfeiter
!. c. Darlington. w. d. Christian.
Baub-A Farmer ....... w. B. Almond.
misunderstanding ........ ..........G. Blow.
Hon. Obadiah Testy -. ....B. NJ. Smith.
Tobias Testy-Merchant up. H. Elcan.
Grip All-Printer Nv. &. Flournoy.
Peter Pinch-Sailor .......S. a. thornton.
Keepweli-Innkeeper .. IF. ". watkins.
Ralph NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Womack.
Gabriel Gaofl-Post-Boy N. A. venable.
Scene: Brooke county. Va, and Wash
ington City.
These PLAYS were written and acted
Ave years after Union Theological Semi
nary. and four years after the University
OF Virginia were opened for students.
DR.. Jonathan =. Gushing was then presi-
dent OF the college. The question
naturally presents itself whether the dis
continuance OF such exercises does not
mark rather retrogradation than advance
In educational methods. The late Profess
sor s. o. Southall, Rev. j. NJ. +. Atkin-
son. ID. D.. and Rev. b. NJ. Smith, ID.
Dali OF them eminent men ard educa-
tors-always spoke OF these exercises,
which were common in their days at
college. with delight. and insisted that
their educational effect was In the
highest degree valuable There Is.
perhaps, too much tendency In col
leges at present 10 dwell on dry
detail and distractions and to
substitute cram for living, and sympa-