The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-06-28

ialNtNeNES aS laGSe SLuGHNtS MnQ
entered ia 1913; but they came
With a determination born of ne-
/ cessity. The efforts put forth
and the influence felt while in the
University resulted in the deyel-
oPment Of type Of manly char
acter and power which cannot BEL
equalled by the records Of any
other American college. a study
Of the life work Of this group Of
students verifes this strong state
ment. I"
Through all the vicissitudes Of
the reconstruction period the
University experienced the same
good fortune which attended it
during the civil war. There was
a decided disposition among some
VINO then ruled the State to open
the doors Of the University to the
black race, as was done in some
Of the other Southern states.
Several Of the old trustees-H How
ry, Yerger and others-had been
removed, and their places filled
by Ames, four carpet-bag politi-
clans and native Republicans;
but, thanks to a majority Of
these, and especially to Cover
nor Alcorn, the University was
permitted to pursue the even ten
or Of its way. In 1880, the debt
due the University on account Of
the Seminary fund, was stated,
by Legislative act, to be S544, ,06i.-
%. On this the state pays an
annual interest of six per cent
$50, CAB 90. In addition to this
the state has made occasional
appropriations forimprovements;
but it is evident that other build
4 ings are much needed. The law
department, for instance, has no
room for library, to the great
disadvantage Of the students.
The total number Of individual
students enrolled in the Uniyar-
sity from 1S48 to 1898, inclusive,
is 4 ,S01. OF these 500 took the
Bachelor Of Arts degree; 42l the
degree OF Bachelor Of Laws. The
honorary degree Of Doctor of
Laws has been conferred On 36;
Of Doctor Of Divinity on "a. To-
tail number Of Alumni 1887.
The first student enrolled in
the University, and the first Ia
receive a diploma, was Thomas
r. Bugg, now an attorney at
Starke, Florida. The only stu-
dent or the first session f1S481 III
attendance at recent commence
ment, was Lewis b Jones, of
Taylor, Lafayette county. He
matriculated on the first day.
The writer OF these notes having
introduced a friend to Mr.. Jones,
the latter seemed to think it
familiar name, and inquired if he
was not a member Of the class Of
1913. NO, Sir, was the
prompt reply, "my father might
have been a member Of that
class.
The doors Of the University
were opened to young women in
| 1882. The ''first. honor man Of
the class Of 1885 was Miss Sallie
Nick Hill; and others who won
distinctions since are: Bachelor
Of Arts-Misses Sarah Al. Reeves,
Matte j. Smythe, 1887; Estelle
and Lillian Boothe, 1892; LueIla
Barnett, 1894; Sarah e. Giles
| pie, 1896; Carrie B. Gary, Anna
Vineyard, 1897.
The baccalaureate sermon,
commencement 1899, was preach
| ed by Rev. DR.. Charles r.
Hemphill, of Louisville, KY,
from the text, in 18th chapter Of
John; ''The same came there
fore to Phillip, which was of
Bethsaida, Of Galilee, and desir-
ed him, saying, Sir, we would
| see Jesus - He closed a most
eloquent and forceful exposition
of the text, by earnestly counsel
ling the graduating class, and
young people generally, to take
Christ as their great exemplar
and model. The Doctor also
preached a still more edifying
sermon at night before the Young
| Mems Christian Association.
/ The Sophomore Prize Decla-
nation took place Monday morn
ing. The chapel was filled, and
! the young orators proceeded to
render the program:
The Unknown Speaker-L. NJ.
4 Russell, Lafayette county.
/ Lamar's Tribute to Mississippi
IN. b. Leavell Lafayette county.
Eulogy on Jefferson DAVIS.
Young, Lafayette county.