The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-14
SHAM BATTLE.
The Greatest Crowd That Ever
Attended v. P. T. Finals.

Hsss4 especial to The IiIneS-D pal Cll. J Ht5
s4,.IACKSBURG, VA, June 13-The
commencement programme at the Y. p
I. to-day, and the occasion drew six or
seven thousand visitors to tbs institute,
who enjoyed everything to the full
,ances from carly morning until late in
the afternoon. There was an cxcur-
sion of five hundred from Radford and
about LOO from Roanoke. who Cana on
NAMED until Six in the evening. The
crowd was about three times ms large,
as any ever seen at commencement be-
fore, the Virginia Anthracite Coal and
cal parlance '"rhe Hucklcbcrry." furnish
Ing the opportunity for this unusual influx
or visitors.
In tho presence OF thousands OF en-
thusastic spectators. the Board Of Visit
tors at 3 O'Clock inspected the battalion,
under the command Of Colonel J. S. a.
johnson, the commnndant Of cad.ats. They
made brave showing, and called forth
the unstinted praise of the most critical
(. who witnessed the parade.
Sham Battle.
Then came the sham battle. and the,
heat, great numbers following hard on
the heels Of tho pursuing lines as thay
drove the enemy before them over a bat
tlcneld three-quarters of mile long.
II WAS a SDlenQlu SlSnt, aIUlS 4Ce1llStlC
mimic warfare, with the roar of can
non from the neighborng heights, the
fire Of musketry and the lines or khaki
uniforms stretched .iupon the meadow
grass, or sweeping up hlllsides In hot
pursuit
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute has
reason to be proud Of her boys, and Of
her modest young commandant, Colonel
johnson, who has accomplished such fino
results.
The order Of battle was IS follows: Of
fnnsive battalion-C Colonel j. S: A:aJohn-;
son, commanding; Major Gilbert Wood:
chief of staff: Captain e. *. Hiledbrand,
adjutant: Companies T.. T and one pla-
tenant-Colonel William 3: Brodia, com
handing; Major D. NJ. Cloyd, chief Of
staff; Lieutenant 3, G: Lyles, adjutant.
Both battalions to conform to prescribed
ladies, Miss Bessie Elicit, Christinnsburg;
the Misses Priddy, OF Keysvile; Miss
Warrington, Of Richmond. and Miss
Louise Bowman Lynchburs, friends OF
Alumni Day.
II, It being alumni nn day meeting Of Of
o'clock. in the Y. M. g. A. auditorium!
and again at 1890 Tho march Of the
cadets from the dining hall to the audi
torlum took place at 10:45. after which
Digs, Of Richmond before large gath
ering, composed Of alumni students, the
faculty, Board of Visitors, town people
and visitors.
full citizenship" His speech was n fine
effort and made most favorable i'm
preston, mingllng as It did, nobla senti-
ment and light shafts Of humor that went
straight to the mark. In opening, Mr..
Dlggs made happy illusions to tho
changes In the college and town since
his gra duntion in 1880. lie said that there
We're less than hundred students at
that time, this year 72S had marcu-
lated, He cited I'tzhlggh, Les as TIE
said that only few could achieve great
ness, but that all could he useful citizens!
He declared that honor and devotion
TO duty were the things to keen ever
in view He contrasted Cardinal WolseY
and Lord Coke, chief justices of England,
who decided vary important case con-
trary to the Kings known wish, and thus
forfeited position. rather than make an
unjust decision.
lie pronounced the code of Napoleon,
which he wrote In less than four months,
the grentest work of his life. This was
n lasting benefaction; all else he dds
had made humanity no better or hap-
pier. The sentiment: likewise the hln1or-
Of tho address touched n popular key
ard the sneaker was warmly anplandnd,
From ten TIL four, there was display
oc tho fne thoroughbred cattle owned
by the institute Mt their barns, farm wa-
gops heng placed at the disposal OF yisl-
tors that they might drive out to the
barns and grass plots
Literary Exercises.
,rhe final celebration of tho Maury
Literary Society was held Monday night.
President w. l.. Cowles made a grace
flil speech of welcome and introduced
The speakers. This declalmr's medal was
won by S. s. simmerman. of Wythe; the
orators medal by John Houston squires.
of North Carolina, anl tile debater's
medal by v. G.. Barker, of Washington
county. This question for debate Was,
,fReso!vcd. That MI international dis
Bu,es should he settled by compulsory
arbi.ration." Mr.. Harker, OF the affirm