Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-06

rary society 0he Phiioma thean) to whose
l-convcning, once n month. ] think, the
students OF Richmond College were In
yitcd Besides the articles read from
the Glow-worm the exercises were va
ried by music instrunental and vocal.
We had a missionary kociety, also, which
was conducive OF much good 10 the mem
bers. our pastor. dear Dr. Burrows,
sometimes addressed us. encouraging and
strengthening our purpose TO help SEND
the glad ;ldings forth. Had i time ~
would give me pleasure TO mention the
brilliant scholars who Mere graduated
from this school--thc beautiful and ac-
compllshed women who are ornaments
20 eociety-bu, must be brief. OF the
dear friends ia class many have married.
and others have passed Into the
beyond"
While tho mind was educated. the
moral and religious training was excei-
lent. fitting the students for usefui nVes'
and the iafuence OF our Christian teach-
ers will be felt by the generations OF
future days, and the honor Oh pelng one
OF the alumnae OF the Richmond Female
Institute and Woman's College VIII ever
be appreciated, as 1t deserves.
Our Alma Matcr-Her Future.
The president next introduced Miss
ess ofsthe occasion, and with this toast
was coupled the appropriate sentiment
al Ambitions Upward Tending
Miss Whitfield said:
There are always in every life some
days which stand out In bold relief
making an epoch. one OF the first when
comes TO my mind Is the day / was taken
to the bosom Of our beloved Alma Mater.
That day was full OF anxieties and fears,
and the terrors i endured while await
ing the inquisitorial ordeal of catechism,
examination. and rclegation by Queen
Bcss." as we called her, would have
paralyzed less bold spirit.
We youngsters were very respectful
in those days: we didn't dare do so
material n thing as eat lunch in ths
chapel in the presence Of such musicians
as Cofer. Hammer; distinguished sa-
wants as Briggs. Graham. and Mathews;
and poets! who seemed to become most
inspired about IL =. NJ. when sleeping
three-a-bed. Genius burned, so thu
midnight taller must also be kindled.
bureau-drawers converted into tables.
while frut-cake. peanuts. and water
served as choice refreshments.
LOOKED OVER THE WALL.
But. in the mean time, we were see
books! There used to be a wall. over
which we occasionally looked-some o.
us. at least-I don't know whether any o.
you ever looked over there, and we just
looked.
In due time 1 made the acquaintance
Of the mediums and their planchette-
that instrument communicating mes
sages from the unseen world TO us. One
day. while gathered round II. the mys-
terious thing wrote my name and sum-
moned me that very night to the pre-
sence OF the College Ghost. who dwels
in that dark. spooky fourth-hoor. Mid
night came, alone l crept up the
steps, hair streaming and my long white
robes trailing around my bare feet. This
mystical, uncanny hall is weird In day.
lighted by its one small window; but
then darkness. doubly thick through fear
obscured my sight. Gradually this dark
ness took on shape:
IF shape it might be called that shape
had none.
Distinguishable in member. Joint. o.
limb,
Or substance might be called that
shadow seem'd-
For each seemd either"
near. In pity for my awesomeness, he
charged me to lay aside fear and 10
receive the message with which he saw
fit to entrust me.
His was a mission of probation and
expiatlon for foul crimes done while in
the flesh. TO him the story of the fG-
ture was n written chapter. and for him
coming events had cast their spiendors
before" Knowing from sad experience.
the futile regret of wasted opportunities
and neglected chances, he wished TO post
me as n living guide-post to my fellow
students and comrades. sharers and pro-
moters in the glorious future foreseen for
us and for our college.
MISSIONS OF THE FUTURE.
Bidding me be still, he caused to pass
before me visions of the future, that
future so mysterious to us all. The
first seemed dark and anxious. Our
much-loved principal lay on a bed Of
sickness. and few pupils gathered in the
school, but tho kindly ghost spoke en-
couragingly as he waved this away for
one more pleasing A scene Of hope and
prosperty--new life was in everything.
new president tireless in his exertions,
phenomenal in his successes. some of
which the ghost whispered to me. He
foretold that the building would be i'm
proved, painted. heated. and new
furnishings. Many young women from
far South, as well as nearby, crowded
the rooms. an airaof hustle and earnest
work filed the college.
AS this faded I caught a glimpse OF
one only half revealed. I must tell you
about IL, also. 4 room of twenty good.
yes. very good. demure maidens, seated
around a timid young professor. who was
standing innocently under a sprig Of mis-
tletoe. suspended from the ceiling. On
questioning my Interpreter. he simply
shuddered muttering TO himself, Poor
fellow. they viii Harris him to DEATH"
Further on came a portrait. which
proved TO be one Of our Alma Matters own
daughters, mngllng our coiors with those
Of Vassar. Here his shadowy eyes burned
with pride. as he told how she would in
troduce new ideas and customs learned
in the far North-class-day exercises and
other innovations heretofore unknown.
She would raise the standard OF the
school, impress upon the students her
own noble ideas of advancement and high
education.
MESSAGE FOR THE FUTURE.
What Is this next? A sunny vision OF
many sisters gathered round a festal
board-some who blush with joy as they
feel for the first time the magic sheep
skin in their hands; others budding from
girlhood into womanhood; others in whose
hair silver thread is found here and
there. The shadow whispers TO me this
snail be the brilliant class Of 81 gathered
with the sisters ar the first alumnae BAN
quet.
And think. said he. what a power lies
with these women. Charge them 10
-. 4. st...,
is fast approaching when enlargement
is the word.