Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-06-17
A VISIT TO HAMPpEN-sIDNEY.

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familiar long ago, but especially so when
they are the scenes of our college days
the happiest time of life. This pleasure
was enjoyed. when after the lapse Of
seventeen years went back to Hampden-
Sidney, Va.
The Hill, "as it has always been called,
has seen many changes in that time, and
of all the families that lived there in my
student days only two are now left. 1t
seemed like a dream to see familiar
places filled with unfamiliar faces. If
unfamiliar, however, it was soon found
they were not strangers, for the hoSpi-
tally of 'the Hill" has always been pro
verbal. During the five days of my visit
friendships of other days were renewed,
and many new and pleasant acquaint-
ances were formed.
The commencement exercises began
Sunday morning, June 9th, with the bac-
calaureate sermon in the College Church,
which was filed with Il large congrega-
ton. The sermon was preached by your
correspondent, and the subject was,
Daniels Fidelity TO Noble Purpose. >
At night DR.. Stricken, Professor of The
ology in Union Seminary, Va, preached
in the chapel of Memorial Hall to the
College y. NJ. c. \. on the Influence Of
Christian Character-Silent,b but Strong. y
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings were
taken up with the final celebrations of
the Union and Philanthropic literary So
cieties. Wednesday morning the adj
dresses before the literary societies and
the Society of Alumni were delivered.
DR.. Francis II. Smith, Professor of Natu-
raj Science in the University Of Virgin
ia, made a charming address on THE
End of a Thing is Better than the Begin
ming" developing his subject along the
lines of material civilization, literature
and the discoveries of physical science.
Judge W. 5. Stuart, of Bristol, Tenn,
made fine address on the Duties Of
Citizenship" DR.. Smiths address will
be published in the Hampden-Sidney
Magazine for June.
Thursday was commencement day,
and in the presence of large audience
the degrees were announced and the dis
tinctionS and scholarships awarded At
ter speeches by six of the twelve gradu-
ateS, the diplomas were presented, and
DR.. Moses d. Hoge, of Richmond, who
is a member of the Board of Trustees,
made an address to the graduates. The
exercises were concluded that night with
a humorous entertainment given by the
senior class.
a number of valuable Improvements
have been made since my college days.
A large and well-equipped gymnasium
provides for the physical development of
the students A system of waterworks
supplies good pure water, and the bath
ing facilities are excellent. On the cam
pus, not far from the old college build
ing, stands a large, handsome, new Me-
mortal Hall, with light, airy, convenient
~ arranged recitation rooms, fine halls
for the literary societies, and beautiful
modern square audience room for the
| chapel.
The Board of Trustees is composed of
about two dozen prominent men of vari-
Gus callings in life, from different sec
tons of Virginia, West Virginia and
MARYLAND, and from Washington City.
| There was fuller meeting of the board
this year than usual; large number OF
old alumni were present-about thirty;
and a great many pretty girls graced the
occasion.
The Faculty, with Rev. Richard Nc
nwaine, d. d., at its head, is an able one.
The social and religious advantages af-
forded the students on 1.-The Hill are
unsurpassed anywhere. The roll of
presidents of Hampden-Sidney College
includes the names of some of the great
est and best men of the Presbyterian
Church in the past: Samuel Stanhope
Smith. John Blair Smith, Drury Lacy,
Archibald Alexander, Moses Hoge, Will
lam Maxwell, Lewis w Green-men
whose labors and prayers have hallowed
the place, and still call down Gods bless
ing on the students there.
During the session just closed one hun
dred and twelve students were enrolled,
from eleven States in the Union with one
from China. 1t was pleasing to note that
ten of these were from West Virginia.
One of the honor men and the valedicto-
ran of his class was West Virginian-
Mr.. C. f. Lewis, of Savannah, w. Va.
The average age of the twelve students
in the graduating class was twenty-three
years. The students are intelligent,
moral and refined, gathered principally
from the best families of our two Virgin
ians.
Altogether, the influences of Hampden-
Sidney are Of the very best kind to give
young men a thorough training in Eng
fish, the Classics, Mathematics, Modern
Languages and the Sciences, and at the
same time to develop in them strong
Christian character.
Other institutions with larger means
offer more material advantages, but. af-
ter all, Mr.. Editor, thorough classical
education and a strong Christian char
acter are the foundation of truly sue
cessful life both here and hereafter.
Yours, sincerely,
CHARLES GHIsELIS.
Norfoll- Ta limo II 1907