The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08
CITADEL COMMENCEM ENT'
SUMTER'S OPERA HOUSE CROWDED
BY HOSPlTABLE ADMIRERS.

HOIC
Col. Cowards Touching Remarks-Coh-
rressman McLauren Delivers an Flo
auent Address-First Honor Men-Twen-
ty-seven Graduates.
SUMTER. June 30.-Before an audi
ence that filled TO overlooking the
prettiest opera house in South Caroll.
ma. the commencement exercises of
the South Carolina Military Academy
were success fully brought to a
close today. The exercises OF COM
mencement week began Sunday morn
ing with the preaching of the bacca-
laureate sermon by Rev. Lucius Cuth-
bert of Charleston in the Sumter
opera house. Mondays exercises con.
sisted of the review and inspection of
the cadet battalion by the board OF
visitors.
Last week the meeting of the board
of visitors was held at the JerVey
House. There were present Gen.
johnson Hagood, chairman; Col. D;
P. Thomas, Col. G. S. Gadsden and
Gen. Edward Anderson. All of the
.officio members of the board-G Gov
Evans, Gen. Watts, Mr.. Mayfield, MIR.
McSweeney and Gen. Dennls-Were
absent. Not much business other
than the usual routine of hearing re-
uorts was transacted. Maj. Reese, the
professor of physics and chemistry,
rendered his resignation, which was
accepted with regret. The board Will
elect his successor at their annual
August meeting.
The entire first class was passed by
the board, all of them being allowed
to receive their diplomas. ,
An hour before the time appointed
for the exercises to begin this morn
ing. the interested people of Sumter
began filing into the opera house.
When the superintendent arose to
make the first announcement, stand
ing room was in demand and contin-
ued so throughout the exercises, de-
spite the very warm weather.
The people of Sumter have been de'
lighted to have the Citadel boys with
them and have exerted themselves to
give the cadets a delightful time.
That they have succeeded will be tes
titled to tomorrow by the many cadets
who will board the homeward-bound
trains with regrets at leaving the Sum.
ter girls behind them. I have heard
of one, and there may be others, who
has decided to remain a few days
longer, not being able to tear himself
away from certain popular belle.
The music IN the opera house this
morning, as on all such occasions,
was furnished by the Bavarian band.
On the stage were Gems. johnson Ha-
good and Edward Anderson, Coils. 9.
S. Gadsden and J. P. Thomas OF the
board of visitors; ex-Judge T. b. Fra,
ser. Judge O. w. Buchanan, Col.
Coward, Lieut.. Bond, Maj. Reese,
Mai. Mazyck, Lieut.. Stokes, DR.. }. l..
Heyson, DIR. j. H. Furman, Mayor }.
J. Bozzard, Hon. j. H. McLaurin, the
first and second honor graduates, 5.
P. J. Garris and B. j. Murphy and
others.
The exercises were opened with
prayer by Rev. DR.. N. W. Edmunds
of the Presbyterian Church.
Col. Coward then stepped forward
and spoke briefly. He said that on
three separate occasions the people OF
Sumter had invited the corps of cadets
to their town; but on two OF these oc
casions, previous engagements pre-
vented acceptance. The third ivita
ton was accepted and the Colonel said
that since their arrival here the treat
ment they had received made them
regret that they had not been here all
three years, not that other counties
had not entertained them Hospitality,
too, but that the pleasures of the past
are generally dimmed or forgotten in
the enjoyment of those of the present
The Citadel always was and always
will be an institution for the entire
State. Col. Coward said this is not
able time.
On this very day in the capital OF tha'
nation that sprang into such sudden
existence and whose short life was
marked by so many deeds of heroism
thousands of veterans of that bloody
war are now gathered together ano
listening to the rehearsing OF those
deeds of heroism. 1t is fitting thai
such an occasion should be linked II
memory with this commencement
and therefore, at the suggestion of s
member of the board of visitors. ht
presented for that member a Confed
crate pin to each of the two graduate
seated on the stage. The pins repre-
sented the battletlag Of the Confeder
acy.
The band here struck up 'Dixie,
and like all other southern audiences
this one was unable TO keep still unde
its inspiring strains. Long may 1t b.
before a southern born man or wo
man can hear Dixie" without th'
blood tingling through and through
the body. Col. Coward tnen intro
duced as the orator of the day, Con
gresham John l.. McLauren, VIII
spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, and Gentlemen Of tn
Board of Visitors:.
am fully sensible of the high com
pliment, you have paid me in selectin!
one, not graduate of the Citadel, T.
deliver your annual address. | cal
claim, however, a lineal descent. TO
if l am not son of the Citadel, l am
son of her the @. M. l.
am afraid, however, that my ver
Grated Preceptor, Col. Thomas, (wh
sits over there) will tell you that wa
a 'prodigal son." but if he di
l would tell him that he nev
er killed any fatted calve
for me, fall on my neck and do an.
weeping, nor put any rings on my I'm