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

used TO play into eacn other haiiN'
The boarders. living near the machinery
Of tire clock always prophes.ed what inc
weather for the day would be, and knew
when TO tell the day pupils to prepare
for action. The day pupils, on the other
hand. were very nice TO the boarceTs' ana
could always tell who the boy was VINO
sat I'm the corner OF the pew. The ddy
pupils acted like veins that went into ITO
outside world, through which tho pulsa-
tiols Of the heart were felt.
THE FEBRUARY CONCERT.
The most thrilling event Of our winter
time life was our February concert. We
did not appear in public as often then as
the college girls do now. We had a con-
cert In February that had TO last until the
finals. There was intense excitement IN
the issuing Of the invitations, and on the
Gay itself the hush of expectancy brooded
over the institute and no one cou!d eat
any supper. Then the flowers began TO
come then the music. thenNih ne people,
and finally we were ushered into me cna-
pei each hoping the other ala not look
nret,ier than she. No grand review or
mernorial-day march ever equalled our
march into the chapel amid admiring
owes. for each one hoped that at least one
pair of eyes would be Interested, and ielt
that the success of the concert depended
on her. The short half hour after the con-
cert has never been equalled We were
,ben allowed to talk to the boys. j re-
member that we were very popular then,
Init since leaving we have learned that
.inaccessibility is a charm, and that II you
take the hedge away the rose Is not
wanted ....,,
THE MEDAL CONTESTS.
After the concert nothing stirred us so
,nuch as the contest for medals. L once
tried 10 win media! for Latin. TO those
who have studied Latin / extend my
CONGRATULATIONS on what they nave at
tanned Those who have not STUDIED H.
| congratulate on what they nave eS-
capped There are some very beautiiu'
lines ascribed TO Victor Hugo, entitled
Faith" They run:
"Faith is like a bird. which, hating IN
its fight.
Rests on a bough too slight
And feeling it give way beneath her'
sings,
Knowing that she hath wings"
I hate to bring such exquisite lines to
such a base usage, but / was very Ike
that bird In some respects. My knowl-
edge of Latin was my slight bough, and
feeling II give way. / could still SING
knowing that I had at least one wing,
my charming little comrade and constant
friend. who sits on my right to-day MISS
Jones). Finally however, when the time
came for the medal TO be awarded, IL
was the verdict OF the principal, and the
class that my dear little right wing was
, declared the winner. ! was like the little
girl whose mother asked her what had
become of the gooseberry tarts, l WASH
telling any one what was In my MIND.
Graduating night was the night Tor
which We existed. One never feels quite
in the same way but once.
THE CLASS OF 'S5.
1t would not be delicate for me 10 tell
YOU what | think of the class OF IS. But
as Tommy Traddles said OF his sweet
heart. "She was not the c!everest girl.
nor the prettiest. nor the wisest. or best
In the world, but simply the dearest
So say OF my class, 1t was not the pref
tiest. nor the cleverest, nor best, but
simply the dearest class that ever gradu-
ated from our Alma Mater.
II / have offended any ears by using
the term institute instead OF college
must remind you that it is a characters
tic OF age to be averse to changes. and
to feel very tenacious Of old fashions and
customs. / appreciate very highly the
honor which has been conferred upon me
in allowing ne to respond TO this toast.
l could not have spoken on ante-bellum
days. and a worthier tongue than mino
has sung the praises OF our Alma Mater
and ! am so glad that was not assigned
TO "The Gentlemen" as l would sooner
talk TO than about them. And while It
Is n gracious honor to place upon those
fair young brows this first garland OF
the laurel they have won. / am glad
little wreath Of sweet forgct-me DOT for
the dear old girls. the old institute. and