The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1904-09-21
South Carolina College.
Centennial of Opening January TO-
19O5--Proqram in Full.

Closed IN 1867, When It's students
were gone to the battlefield and It's
buildings were converted into Con-
federate hospital, the historic South
Carolina College was reopened in
1866, now as the University, by Act
passed December 19. 1855 (snni-
versary of the original charter), and
young soldiers, returned from war,
docked to her halls to take up their
deferred scholastic training. Until
1873 the University did great work,
educating such men as Joseph W.
Barnwell, DIR. Gyll Wylie and Prof.
r. Means Davis.
The dark days of Radicalism pass
ed, it was reopened in 1880, as
College Of Agriculture and Mechanics,
supported by the income OF the
Federal land scrip, and in 1882, the
Legislature having made an. approp-
ration, and the faculty having been
greatly enlarged, it began it's new
life under its distinguished Presi-
dent, DR.. John M. McBryde, who
is now so successful al the head of
the Virginia Polytechnic and has
lately declined the presidency of the
University of Virginia. In the legis-
lation Of 1865, and 1879, and 1881,
for the reopening of the College after
the War, the leader was Charles q.
Simontop, first honor graduate,
and, like DeSaussure, who led in the
founding Of the College, a great
jurist.
The semi-censennia, was celebrated
December 4, 1854, in connection
with The commencement, which be-
fore the war wss always held in
December, the session opening in
January as from the beginning.
Since the Legislature was in session
in December, and there was great
pride of State and devotion to the
State College, most of the Legislators
being alumni, the commencement
was always q great, State function,
the Legislature attending in q body
along with the Judges and other Of
fcers of State. The semi centennial
celebration was thus a great CON-
mencement occasion, at which DR..
James Fl. Thornwell, as President,
addressed the gradutiDg class, and
James L Pettigru was centennial or
ator. How inspiring to every stu
dent whose fortune it was to be in
college at that time!
It go happens that, the time OF
meeting of the Legislature having
been changed by the Constitution of
1885. and the second Tuesday in
January, 1905, falling on the 10Th
day, the actual centennial day of the
opening of the College will witness
very much the same scene character
istic of the, ante bsllum commence
ments of the South Carolina College:
the Legislature will be present in the
capital and can attend the celebration
in a body, with Judges and State
officers, as the days of old. Thus the
ceremonies will be the most impress
sive ever witnessed by this generation
of South Carolinisns. Truly it will
be a privilege to be student of the
South Carolina College in the session
of 1904 S.
The universities and colleges of
the United States, and especially the
colleges and schools within the State,
will be invited to send representatives
and all living alumni will be ex-
pected to be present. From New
York, Hugh Garden, DR.. Wylie, W
A. Barker, l. L. Withers, and others;
from Texas, D. F. Houston, Presi-
dent of the Agricultural College;
from Mississippi, T. P. Bailey, Pro
fessor of Ethology in the State
University; from Alabama, Charles
H. Barnwell. Professor of English in
The State University; from North
Carolina, w. G Coker, Professor Of
Botany in the State University;