The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-06-06
COMMENCEMENT 80 YEARS
AGO.
By A. J. Bowers.


It was memorable occasion. VI
all similar seasons which I have en-
joyed and survived at Newberry it
was in some respects for me the best,
and now I must write about it, be-
cause my friend wants me to write
for his commencement issue of The
Herald and News in. 1910.
What stretch of time it seems from
June days in 1880! It reminds me
Of the mighty stride of Prof. Dan.
Arlington across the recitation room
when he had finished with a flourish
some dreadful problem in geometry
or algebra and flung the chalk and
book afar and with lowering brow
and reproachful eye shamed the class
into something akin to awe. He was
a giant amongst us and a clean man.
We loved to teaze him now and
then, but it will take many more de-
cades than three to take away from
US the dear memory of his honest
faithfulness, his mastery Of mathe-
mates in all it's devious ways, his
hearty laugh, his soldierly stature,
and his rapid step, with the little
lady, his wife, clinging desperately to
his army. But he was not here In
1886; he had been gone a year. And
now he has passed over the river and
restS ander the shade of the trees.
No history of Newberry college
will ever BE complete without the
story of his self-sacrifcing service.
That was a beautiful day, my
friend, when you and I listened with
rapt wonder and attention in old
Luther. Chapel to the baccalaureate
sermon to our class Of seven by Rev.
J. B.. Riemensnyder, then pastor in
Savannah, Ga.
What a sea of faces turned to us
on every side from chancel to gal
bleries! How large with fair promise
loomed the far horizon for US seven,
Jones, the two Ramages, Kreps
Sheppard and you and me!
We did not see the clouds, we
would not see them, though the
young preacher warned us well, the
clouds that lurked just out of sight,
mo bigger than mans hand, per-
haps, but full of chastening storms:t
Monday night of that commence
ment three Of US, (or seven, forget
which it was) struggled for the ora
tors medal. Didn't you take it? Or
was it Burr James Ramage. AS did
not take it, I am excusable maybe for
having lost my interest in it. Imagina-
ton plays strange havoc with men,
6Ey, and fancy supplies the past
sometimes at a distance Of 80 years.
But fond recollection is all-gilded
with the radiant light Of a disinterest-
ed college friendship. The faces Of
friends and familiar forms COME Mis-
tily forth out Of the dim vista of past
years. The voices long silent speak
again, and we seem to hear once
more the kindly tones we thought we
had forgot.
Who is there of us even now but
recalls the brusque wordse and ways
of the Hon. Chris. ,Suber? He was a
figure then in Newberry to be marked
and reckoned with, and he took part
in our commencement When he
awarded the essay medal for the best
essay on Jack Galstaff," he said, 81
love Jack; 1 always loved Jack, y
and brought down the house on Jacks
lucky head.
But no mans face and form and
voice made so deep and fine a mark
upon US as those of the master of
manners and ceremonies on that
Wednesday morning. DR.. Holland
led our little company of graduates
up that rickety platform in the old
court house and introduced us to that
crowded court of Newberry's people.
There was a young professor of
Latin, Cromer by name, in those days
who stood much beside the president
and waited for him.
There were few men to teach us
then, but they taught as none have
taught us since.
They had to make bricks without
straw, so to speak, and sometimes
they were scourged for not complet-
ing the tale. That godly man, that
modest gentleman, who led them all,
had found the secret of the true life,
and, divinely clothed with it today,
looks down from on high and re-