The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-19

The address of William Castor. at the
University of North Carolina mt the
commencement of 1882, was an event in
the literary history of North Carolina.
siaSton's address ut the University
Choat's eulogy on Daniel Webster at
Dartmouth College, and Grady's address
at Boston, were the three greatest roS-
trum addresses of the Nineteenth Cen
tury, so far as we have heard or read.
sGaSton's address was the grandeSt of
them all, and no other of them would
have won from their audience Il rapture
that rose above demonstratiye applause.
as Gaston's did
" hen CASTOR came to the University
to deliver the Annual Address before the
l,laletic and Philanthropic Societies. by
invitation Of the latter society, of which
he was an honorary member. he was on
the high middle ground of life, being %
years old. He had won fame in Con-
gross. in the General Assembly of North
Carolina. He had State and National
reputation. and when the Ihis were en-
abled blythe ahrogation of an agreement
which had existed, TO invite only regular
members of the two societies to deliver
the Annual address. it was regarded as Il
great triumph over the Dis as it was
thought they did not have an equal to
CASTOR on their roll of membership. and
he was already regarded as the com
mencement honor.
The appointment of CASTOR drew a
large concourse Of visitors from all parts
of the State, the largest, it was said, that
had ever attended Il commencement be-
fore. especially of the prominent and dis
tinguished men of the State. CASTOR
came during the commencement eXer-
cises. Il day or two before the delivering
of the address. He was the guest Of DR..
Caldwell. the president of the University.
He became at once the cynosure of all
eyes. His manner was grave. courteous
and transformations. He was affable with
dignity and companionable without fam
iliarity. He visited the libraries occa-
sionally and sometimes walked with DIR.
Caldwell to his Astronomical observatory.
and we once saw him with the austere
and dignifed president who was Il man
somewhat in stature like him who CLIMB
cd the sycamore tree to see Christ, and
Castor of large and imposing person
and the thought fitted through our mind
that 'Bolus' looked smaller by the com
parison.
But the big day of the commencement
was then fast drawing near, and
expectation grew at the time approach
ed The June day was suspicious. The
students We're arfayed in their best. Al
the arrangements had been made. Tom
Ashe, of Wilmington, had been selected
by the Phi Society TO walk on one side OF
CASTOR in the procession to Person Hall
where he was to speak, and Thomas l.,
Clingmaf. selected by the hi Society
on the other With some difficulty we
procured II scholars black silk gown
large enough for CASTOR to wear.
The procession was formed at the old
South building. The Richmond cornet
band was in the front. Next came Gas
ton. the orator, costumed in black silk
gown On one side Of him was Tom
Ashe, with the trained step Of an Eng
lish grenadier, with the proud and grand
visage that bespoke his lineage. On the
other side was Clingman. awkward and
gawky as a plowmans prentice boy, but
with brain that Webster and Culver
might have envied. Next to them came
the Trustees Of the University. marching
two by. two Next the Faculty. then the
student body, and last, the concourse of
visitors