The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-07

Account of the Closing Exercises Of
Fayetteville Military Academy.

! Fayetteville, y. c., June 6.-(Special)
The first annual commencement of
the Fayettey lie Military Academy was
held here to-day. and large audiences
were present at both the morning and
night exercises. In the morning the
cadet drill drew large crowd, and
/ the contest showed that in military
tactics and manoeuyres the~young men
were as proficient as veterans in the
service. This school makes a speciality
OF military drill, both for discipline
and for thorough training that would
make efficient officers in case of war.
! The medal was won by Mr.. L. G. Haigh
and was presented by Capt Il. Il.
Huslle Afterwards, in the presence
of an inspiring audience, the contest
for the essayists and elOcutiOnists medal
took place. The elocutiOnist's medal
was won by Mr. l.. w. Mcpherson, of
Fayetteville, who spoke on speech on
Trial of a Murderer" The contest for
the essayist's medal was so close that
the Judges were unable to decide be-
tween l.. l.. Fiers, of Virginia, and c.
q. Rose, of Fayetteville and Rev. /. w.
i Hughes made the presentation speech.
The opening address of welcome was
delivered by President d. II. Jones, Of
the Phi. society, and at night this ser
vice was performed by Mr.. s. r. Horne,
president of the Vance society.
In the evening a large audience as
sembIed to hear the contest for the
DISCLAIMERS medal, which was won by
Mr.. b. b. Nicholson, of Fayetteville,
and to listen to a debate on the query:
Did the demands of civilization justi-
fly the forcible taking possession of the
country of the North American In
dams, with their subsequent subiuga-
tion and gradual eXtinctiOnY' The
affirmative was upheld by Messrs. ii.
l.. Myroyer and Neill MacRae, and the
negative by NJ. II. Brandt and II. y.
Carr. The medal was won by Mr. NJ.
! II. Brandt These medals were pre-
scented by Mr.. A. II. Slocumb in
speech of rare beauty of diction and
grace of delivery. Rev. L. l.. Nash, in
the name of Major Drewry, principal
of the Academy, in words of wise
counsel, presented handsome volume
| to five young men who were absent
from no duty, received no demerit, and
were punctual and faithful in all
things during the entire session. Then
Mr.. j. H. Myroyer, the accomplished
teacher of elocution and Fayetteville's
gifted orator, presented to the princi-
pal of the Academy handsome set of
gold buttons as mark of appreciation
+ of Major Drewry during the session
just ended. Like every effort of Mr..
Mlrover, it was an oratorial gem ''of
purest ray serene" The address was
! delivered by Josephns Daniels, editor
of the News and Observer, on the sub
! ject Young Men: Go Into Politics"
I The chief marshal of the occasion
Mr.. Ia ok of Ilt.
James Mckee, of Raleigh, handsome
and talented young man, whose intro
! duction of the speaker was gracefully
and elegantly done. His assistants were
Messrs. II. II. Dye, w. j. Deloatch, L.
NJ. Green, j. j. CrOswell, Jr, and A. h.
Rountree.
This is the close of the first session
of the Fayetteville Military Academy
under the principalship of Major w. S.
! Drewry, who has had thirteen years
of successful experience. The faculty
! composed of Major Drewry, Prof. w.
Il. Drewry, Phi. b., NJ. A., brother of
/ Mr.. Jno. c. Drewry, of Raleigh; Mr..
: j. II. Myroyer, professor of elocution,
and Prof. S. W. Mckee, A. b., a@gradu-
ate of Davidson College. This makes
a corps of efficient instructors, who are
building this academy up to be the
equal in rank and success with the old
est in the Commonwealth. 1t has
numbered almost one hundred on
its roll the first year, and the outlook
for largely increased Attendance is
most suspicious. The Academy has
come to be the pride of Fayetteville,
and the whole town is interested in
its growth and success.
1t is possible that somewhere else
an audience superior in culture and in
those graces that adorn the best type
| of manhood and womanhood than the
one present at the exercises on Friday
night could be found but if so / have
not found it. Famous for its honor
able history, Fayetteville is to be es-
| teemed also for it's honorable present.
It's traditions enshrine it in all patriotic
| hearts, but Fayetteville is not depend
ent on its past. It's present is full of pro-
| gress, growth and hope. Two large
cotton factories are now in process of
construction. | had the pleasure this
morning of driving out to the new mill
that has been erected by Mr.. Walter /.
Holt, and of talking with his asso.
ciate, Mr.. Williamson, who is in charge
of the work. 1t is one of the largest
and handsomest modern mills in the
State, and is already for the machin-
cry, some of which has already been
shipped. 1t is expected that by early
! September the spindles will be making
merry music. Mr. Holt has purchased
more than hundred agrees of land
lying between tbe 80 Line and
Yadkin Valley r6adss1a1lsaa PAS an ideal
location for factory town that viii
become one of the chief manufacture
| ing centres of the State. More than
! fifty cottages have already been built
and more are in process of construc-
ton. They are neat, attractive. two
stories, and admirably constructed.
VINE HILL ACADEMY.