The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-26
commencement
At FORK onion
Stirring Days Full Of Military
and Academic
Events.
INSPECTION &c Il b Of BATTALION
Richmond Boy Receives Medal
for Superior Soldicr1y
( Bearing.
INSPECTION OF BATTALION

Especial to The Times. Dispatch,
FORK UNION, VA, May 25.--The Fork
Union Academy. according TO the verdict
of the multitude. has crowned It's most
successful session with the most brilliant
commencement which It has ever had.
The ideal weather, the throngs Of visitors
from distance, the superb report OF the
sesslon's work and the highly gratifying
entertainments given by the military and
8 musical departments have filled tho COM
munity with delicious excitement.
The commencement sermon was preach-
ed Sunday morning by Dr. NJ. L. Wood,
Of staunton, Va. q vigorous and stirring
discourse heard by an ovcrflowng con-,
Il grcgation. 8
Monday night was given up to the Lit
i erary society. Lieutenant Terry. Of Prince
Edward county presided, and interpersed
tho exercises With apt and telling words,
his historic sketch OF tho society being
very fine. All Fong Young, OF Canton,
y China. BY reason OF thc.fnct that he was
the defamation medalist. was final ora
tor His theme was "The Attitude OF the
United States Towards Chinese 1mmigra-
ton. BY his grace OF manner, his tribute
}to his own country and his delicate
touches OF humor, he won great APP
plausc. Ri, X
Cadet Harry Hatcher, OF Bedford coun-
~, was the Society Prophet and his
quaint and surprising forcshadowings OF
the future OF many OF HIS fellows brought
roars OF laughter and applause.
Miss Willie Bryant, OF Bucking CHAM.
gave great pleasure by a charming reci-.
ta4on. 3 81 NJ IN,
Cadet W. r. d. Moncurc. OF Richmond,
delivered an exceedingly fine valedictory.
entirely out OF the common rut. y This
young man is9a born orator. and having
been one#of the pages in the Constitu-5
tional Convention, he seems a student OF
statecraft to{a degree that gives promise
OF great future ,; 3s3
Tuesday night came the final recital
OF the students In the musical dcpart-
s. ment OF the Academy. This departmen
is quite large, having between thirty and
forty students a large majority being
young ladies. The standards OF musical
instruction are among the highest and
much Of the music rendered was OF the
classic order, difficult. and yet most
sklllfully rendered. Miss America seay.
OF Shores. Va, won the medal for ex-
cellence in piano music This final con-
cert draws n vast audience. rs
The battalion OF cadets had several
very busy days. Monday afternoon was
lcln tUe contest TIC cQlOrS, the
z Judge WAS Captain Hazen, Of the& ri CHI
nlond Blues. and the honors Of the occa-
sion went to Company%B. Captain Iiazen
was exceedingly faithful and efficient In
his examination, and the people OF the
community were most favorably Impress
ed by his solderly bearing.
Captain Brown. OF the United States
4 army, was detailed TO make the annual
Inspection OF tho military department Of
Ir.,, fcHEt Il Ton
day 22d. He spokesin the highest terms
OF the battalion and of he results which
have been accomplished by Captain T..
r. Winston, the commandment, and his as
sistant. Captain Askew, during tho ses-
sion. SS
On Tuesday the individual drill of
the battalion took place, and the medal
offered was Won by Sergeant Charles
Simpson of Eansemond county. The final
dress parade OF the cadets was held
Wednesday morning. Mt the close OF which
the cadets surrendered their guns The
campus looked exceedingly brilliant Dur
Ing this parade hundreds Of people
thronged the campus and enjoyed the
sight.
Possibly the most exciting Of all the
military episodes was the sham battle
with3its nanocuvers, charges, rapid FIR
ing and stormy shouts OF victory.
"
is the misfortune OF tbs Academy that II
has no hall ample enough to hold the
eagcr crowds, put by jamming close to-
gether, bringing in chairs. multitudes
standing and others crowdng around the
windows, the actual audience was very
great, Dr. W. T. Derieux, Of Richmond,
# preached during the morning, and DR..
Nv. NJ. Wins, Of Norfolk Va, mdde what
was considered by many the most rin-
tshed and captivating address ever heard
In this community
The report OF Headmaster. j. B. Martin,
OF the sessions work was Inspiring It
looked as II three-fourths of the entire
school won distinctions. It was conceded
be BY all odds the finest report the
school has ever made Tho enrolment
for the session was 176.
The Academy believes in giving medals,
Two military medals were givcn--one to
Sergeant Simpson, for the best drilled
cadet, and the record for \. iilitary Bea r.
ing and this was given to Cadet William
T..sDerIeux, of Richmond-n signal honor
inasmuch as 4 t was given as a testimonial
to his superior bearing rs a soldier and a
gentleman. Mr. Dereux was the color
sergeant Of the battalion.
The: medal for spelling was awarded to
Miss Bessie Williams, Of Buckingham,
and was presented by Mr.. Hayden. OF
Palmyra, II
The defamation medal was presented
to All Fony Young, the presentation dd-
dress being made by Hon. A. a. Gray.
The writer's medal went to Captain
David Davidson, Of Buckingham county,
and was presented by DR., Derieux. The
Improvement medal went to Mr. Aubrey