Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-07
FAIR DECREE GIRLS
Honors Conferred at the Vonans
College Commencement
A SCENE OE RARE BEAUTY
ltans Exercises at the Academy OIL
More Than Usual Interest.
,Nr ADDRESS Ky DIR. PoTEAF.
u,th THE Appeal TO Nature" as Ills
Theme. lie Delivers Finished
ntscourse-Mcdals Presented by DIR.
Dattle-DipIomas and Distinctions.
,nr ADDRESS Ky DIR. roTEAT'

the Woman's College were held at the
Academy of Music last evening in the
presence of "a large gathering of friend'
and patrons OF this increasingly popular
and influential institution.
The occasion was pleasant win Ho-
thing whatever to mar It's interest anu
the impressions Of beauty which no" OUT
from, s,cb occasions. The scene presenter
by the stage. upon when were S'o'
cd in semi-circle the members Oh 'ho
graduating class. all dressed IN soiles'
and purest white; Or. James Nelson ana
r.e members Of the trustees. was GER
,ainly attractive.
The most callous would have enjoyed
.l.ncing from one fresh, happy, and
Snumphant face Of sweet girl graduate
In another and another. The faculty
,e the college occupied the prosenium
r,>e- to the right and left Of the stage.
while the undergraduates, also clad in
ortr were seated in block In the
...r.sfra 10 the left Of the entrance.
Tba rest of the house was thrown open
to the public. The address of DR.. w. l..
p..at OF Wake Forest College. North
raro1na was scholarly and very appro-
rrete. He was listened to, despite the
heat of the meht, very closely, and at
t.. conclusion the appreciation of his
audience manifested itself in spontaneous
and prolonged applause, almost amount
Ing TO an encore.
DIR. NELSON'S WELCOME.
Dr Nelson opened the exercises by
giving the audience a cordial welcome
In behalf OF the trustees OF the college
NV Dr. Garlick offered an earnest
prayer. Dr. Nelson, assisted by DR..
Chandler. dean Of the faculty. at this
IOlat conferred the degrees and delivered
tl. diplomas Of graduation IN the va
rious independent schools OF the college
aa4 The c,r,ihcates of distinction to those
who had Iairly won them, attaining the
M-a standard set by this institution. n
tu list of all pupils receiving hOnors is
appended al the close of this report. II
has a subject OF much comment how
many flowers each young graduate re-
e.lved from friends The stage at their
let was actually carpcted with these
mgrant tributes to beauty and scholar
-.
THE MEDALLISTS.
ur. Nelson announced that several Of
DE- faculty and friends OF the institu-
to. had given medals. which were won
as follows:
Ar, medal, given by Miss Laura Bacon,
teacher art in the college. won by Miss
Wilson shelton, of Richmond.
Eo.uuon medal, given by Mr. J, d.
Cump won 10y Miss Mary Allen, Of
Nartl Carolina.
Writer'S medal, given by Mr.. John Car
land Pollard. Won by Miss Clyde Swift,
o. Manchester.
Music donated by Mr. c. w, Tanner
V.4 ty Miss Hattie Leaven, Of South
Carolina
Scholarship medal. donated by the pres
i.eli o. tle college. won by Miss Kathe-
raa c1rIes. OF Richmond.
EaU Dr II. W. Battle, the brilliant
pastor of The First Baptist church, Of
lHc,tar. PRESENTED the medals in
bright short speech. These medals"
Ae sa.a "mnn honorable rivalry. They
also mean That some one has been de-
ieaied Jet us bear in mind that the
greatest successes in life have been made
after a. defeat. So there are necessarily
those who have failed, but they have no
occasion Oh feel anything but renewed
determination TO spur onward. You who
worth ana hard work, won what YOU de-
srod"
DIR. pOTEATS FINE ADDRESS
After ur Chandler had handed the de-
60 diplomas 20 the young ladies entitled
,9 -tm. Dr Nelson presented Or. Po-
,rtl Wlp delivered the baccalaureate ad-
-ia,s The visiting educator was given
most cordial reception. lie referred hap
i-. tJ The occasion and TO the exercises
I1.l i..ntedly announcing his subject as
Toe Appeal to Nature he plunged d.
ie'' and deeply into a discussion OF H.
Hr SAID .n part:
Know. uniformly refuse TO be tucked
Shlsr lIru those chronological cOmpari-
Nr-i, which we call centuries. The stream
w mems ne and thoughts shows no
Ual.f.ne lines cutting II into sections
orN.e length and distinctive lea-
it. And yet there may be general
-rlle between time divisions ana
s,' FOL. progress Certainly there is be-
a 1, now M the end OF the present
NA.+iE. Il clearly marked development
winch logan In its earlier years and has
S.ltr0uuy reached It's elimination as
lawn OF the twentieth century
glHs on The horizon.
J' course It Is in the interplay and
struggle Of intellectual opinions ana
AI-a continents that we shall find the
esaag1ishing features Of this particular
Stage NJ civilization. as indeed. of any
Cr.g For example, IN the Roman world
i 'ao second century, StOicism, Judaism,
s'. Christianity were the only organized
oNra-, ions Of The higher life and thought
'. mau. The salt of Christianity was not
tlhccntly peryasiye at that time 10
ono nae tendency 10 dissolution already
h.. under way in the Roman system;
li I was the interaction of these forces
Nai determined the type OF contemporary
F'niN. and. moreover, gave direction TO
ue q .stinv Of western civilization"
CRITICISM TRUTHS STANDARD.
DI Potcai spoke at some length on the
Interplay OF opinions and moral senu-
"tNit and finally Of the new renaissance
'1M'h ihis century has seen. He declared
4, Ihe appeal 20 nature was expressed
" !ndustrlaiiSm, realism, and the criti-
~ spirit lie showed that criticism
"es Lew standard and test Of truth and
Si'F and that beauty was only the finer
sIsh " truth. lie spoke lastly OF re
alluding TO the culture abroad m
,e land. and the faith OF man and the
g. upon IL which science has had and
~, THIS com cctiOn. the speaker said:
c"r are Witnessing al the close of the
,r"tliy the cpnyergence OF isolated lines
INJURY into a harmonious culture, a
",td gfaWiatiOn among the element
a. 'Ne Intellectual hfe-industry, science
- philosophy. religion. The first symp-
go, 80 of convergencS are jealousy % tres
- 80 A