The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-06-19
OF
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Commencement Exercises Held Last
Week-Grand Old Institution.

Commencement Exercises Held Last
Week-6rand Old Institution.
Columbia, June 1.-THE State uni
versity closed this afternoon at two
o'clock. The University of South
Carolina, as it stands today, is but
the old South Carolina College grown
a little larger. For owe a hundred
years the history of this institution
and that of the State has been well
nigh the same. Back in the sixties,
when the dark war clouds hung heav-
lily over the State, when men gave up
the fields and trades fer the unpleas-
antness of arm-bearing, the old col
lege closed its doors and its young
students went forth to fight for the
southern cause, and the records bear
me out in saying that no soldiers ac-
quilted themselves more like men
than did the gallant Carolina boys.
Whenthe terrible struggle ended, the
college again threw open it's doors to
the youth of the State, and has since
been sending out men who have been
eminently successful in the various
walks of life. It would, indeed, be
pleasant to go on with this bit Of his
tory, but time and space will not
allow.
During all the years Of the colleges
existence, none have been O sue.
cessful than the one just closed. This
year the graduates of the several de-
partments numbered over fifty. The
class of '07 is the largest and, as a
whole, one of the strongest that has
ever gone out from, the university.
The commencement exercises were
all of the highest order and were
largely attended. They began Sun
day, June 9, with the annual sermon
before the 2. M. C. A. This sermon
was preached by Rev. Turnipseed of
Lancaster, s. G. On the same day,
at $3.50 p. M, the baccalaureate SER
mon was delivered by Rev. DR.. Viii
kinson of Augusta, Ga. Both Of
these sermons were good, especially
the one by DR.. Wilkinson, which was
q masterpiece of it's kind.
Monday morning, the 10th, at 1880,
the law department held moot court.
This part Of the exercises, in which
ouryounglawyers are arrayed against
one another, fighting imaginary cases,
is always interesting.
At4:3D the class day exercises were
held. Thishas always been an attrac-
tive feature Of the commencement
program, and the one of yesterday
was no exception.
At $3.50 the two historic literary So
cieties-the Euphradian and the Cla-
riosophic-held their annual celebra.
tien. Here, the work OF literary So
cieties is recognized as being one Of
the most important factors in the
work OF the student: so much so thst
each society gives its graduating
members . diploma, which Is priced
as highly as that from the University
itself. Both societies offer, annually,
two beautiful medals one each to
their best DICTATOR and best declaimer.
The awards this year were as follows:
E~uphradian, debater's medal, to T.
M. Boulware, of Virginia; declaim-
er's, to J. J. Bush, of Aiken. In the
Clariosophic, debater's medal to G. L.
Shealy, of Lexington; declaimer's,
to s. s. Williams, of O%rangeburg.
Tuesday, the 18th, was commence
ment day proper, and fifty-fve de-
grees were conferred upon graduating
students. The chief feature of the
day was the annual commencement
address, which was delivered by Hon.
Edward Ward Carmack, of Tennessee.
This distinguished gentleman and
statesman charmed his large audi
ence for an hour-his simple words of
wisdom flowing as freely as the
spring brook.
Many of the new graduates will re-
turn next session-some to study law;
some to work for the masters degree;
others to do special work.
There is no institution in the State
that offers better courses in the field
of higher education than the State
university. The members of the fac
ulty are all specialists in their respec-
tive departments, and r recognized
as being among the ablest educators
in the south today. This is no place
for children; but the young men and
young women who are prepared for
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