The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-23
ROBERT TooMDs AS ORATOR.
He was Expelled b ythe Faculty, but His Eloquence Broke up
 the Exercises.

the Exercises. Continent Magazine, July, 1895.
 He had no right to be commencement orator. save the right of genius. and it was not intended that he should be commencement orator; yet he was and without a rival.
 On an afternoon in early spritig the faculty met in secret council. Sud. denly. as ir a deep silence they awaited the accused, one of their number who during the entire conference had sat mute, hands stuffed nervously in his pockets, feet stretched out as far ae nature woul1 permit, using his whole anatomy to sit on. jerks one hand free, dashed 1t throug his hair and elected witt passion: It's q mess of a thing you've done! If Bob has uined the boys, he's done done it!' The faculty looked aghast at the mathe- ma atlcian's lapse into localisms. Let the boy stay" he continued, his anger melting into tenderness, take his diploma and make his speech There is more good in him than there Is bad. The worst he does is known. In yoIT college are hundred far worse. No: I'm not upholding him. It's a -!"
 Those nervous twitches of eyesI. nose and mouth. ever this professors safety valve, pronounced the word etiquette denied his tongue.
 It's only too true he Is had, but don't shake him from your fingers as . thing too vile for touch and leave the rest of them here to rot in your midst!" The hand went back to the pocket the spine reasSumed functions never in. tended, while from beneath his shaggy brows the mathematician watched the graceful boyish figure standing easily before his judges, no feature save the eye betraylng any emotion.
 The trial over Robert Toombs stood condemned by his own confession. He bowed low :"Good evening, gentlemen! We will meet again on more equal foot ing!" His hand lay q moment on the knob; he turned half around: "Sirs, may I ask if the wife or daughter of one of you gentlemen has ever seen me when was not a gentleman" For the first time the proud underlip quivered. Another low bow. T thank you deeply for this kind assurance. I thought 1t might help my mother to know this. |"
 The door had but closed on the ex- pelled by when the cratic professor brought his fist down upon his leg with such force as made his colleagues quake for his old bones as he ex- claimed:
 He's got more sense than the whole of us put together! We are a set-"
 The door banged on the rest of the sentence.
 A minute later and those old arms were around Robert. pressing him close to his side, and the old cracked voice trembled and broke through its words: Yes, Bobby you are bad boy-a very bad boy-but, then. love you. Bobby no matter how bad you are, love you" "
 Something giistened In the professors eye and fell on his nose--that nose that seemed in the way of everythinE-and he had to hurry of lest that bright drop would roll on till it reached "Bobby's" face.
 c It was commencement day! The chapel was early filled with eager faces, flying ribbons, fluttering fans and pal. pitating hearts. Seated on the stAee in a semiclrcle were the orators--soTne with faces flushed by the sight of the laurel wreath on the chancellor's desk; others pale with teeth almost chatter ing. A white, trembling one had just advanced and timidly announced him. self to Ladies and gentlemen" when martial strains fell from 8 brAAs band entering the chapel. The youthful declaimer mopped his face In grim sat istaction as the sea of faces tuFned from him to the door through which came the sound that set every foot to