History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Part 42

"Mr. J. L. Humphrey, also of the Front Royal Academy, gave a declamation ent.i.tled 'Laska.'

"The contest for the Woman's College medal was introduced by Miss Nellie Underwood, whose subject was 'The Courtin' of T'Nowhead's Bell.'

"Miss Underwood was followed by Miss Hathryn P. Acree, whose subject was 'Parna.s.sius and the Captive.'

"The rendition of the Woman's College song, 'Merry Girls of R. M. W.

C.,' was followed by the contest for the Woman's College Medal for best address. The contestants were Miss Addie Taylor and Miss Sadie Jacobs.

Miss Taylor was the first speaker. Her subject was 'The Supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon.' Miss Jacobs' subject was 'Demands of Our Civilization.'

"The closing exercise was the contest for the Sutherlin orator's medal of the Randolph-Macon College, Ashland. The contestants were F. Raymond Hill, B. A. Wise, E. K. Odell, and S. M. Janney.

"Mr. Hill opened the contest with an oration on 'The Price of Progress.'

"Mr. Janney's subject was 'What For?'

"'The Power of a n.o.ble Example' was the subject of Mr. Wise's oration.

"Mr. Odell followed in an oration ent.i.tled, 'De Oratoribus.'

The exercises were closed with the singing of the Commencement Chorus.

"A feature of the morning's programme, which was of a decidedly interesting character, was the calisthenic drill, under the direction of Miss Alice Hargrove, of a number of young ladies of the Woman's College.

FIELD-DAY EXERCISES.

"Tuesday afternoon was devoted to field day exercises in the Rivermont base-ball park. A sound mind in a sound body has for a long time been a leading maxim in the Randolph-Macon system. Each inst.i.tution has its well-equipped gymnasium, under the instruction of an efficient instructor, and during the unseasonable days of winter every student of the system is required to go through an hour's drill in the gymnasium three afternoons in the week.

The average man gets his idea of college athletics from the base-ball and foot-ball teams, which generally tour the State annually.

Randolph-Macon recognizes the fact that base-ball and foot-ball are but a small part of college athletics, and consequently every student is encouraged to allot a portion of his time to the general training of his body, and especially to athletic feats requiring more or less skill and grace. In early spring, at each school in the system, a day known as Field-Day is set aside for athletic exercises, for which prizes and medals are offered as a special inducement, to ensure a large number of contestants.

THE CONCERT.

"Tuesday night a concert was given at the Opera-House by the young ladies of the Woman's College and the Danville Female Inst.i.tute. Of the character of the music of the programme the highest praise has been spoken. In the instrumental and the chorus selections the partic.i.p.ants presented music of the highest perfection music that possessed a charm and inspiration for every listener.

WEDNESDAY.

"About half-past nine o'clock Wednesday morning the students of the several schools and colleges, together with the alumni, met at old St.

Paul's Church, on Church street, and there, after forming into a procession and led by the band, marched to the auditorium. Here the graduating cla.s.s, in orthodox cap and gown, ascended the stage, where, with the alumni, they were seated in chairs arranged in semi-circular lines, forming altogether a pleasing and impressive picture.

"A few minutes were spent in rehearsing college songs. In this connection it may be well to note that the Randolph-Macon system is rich with songs suitable for commencement season, and written princ.i.p.ally by those who have studied within its cla.s.sic halls. After prayer by Rev.

Dr. James A. Duncan, of Knoxville, Tenn., Mr. W. S. Bell, president of the Cla.s.s of '98, introduced Miss Blanche E. Cheatham, of Martinsville, who delivered the salutatory address.

"The history of the Cla.s.s of '98 and its twenty-nine members was told by Mr. J. T. Porter, and as each name was called it was greeted with applause, while the historian made a brief comment upon its owner. The Cla.s.s song of '98, composed by Mr. E. T. Adams, Jr., was next sung, after which Miss Lily G. Egbert, of Atlee, Va., read the cla.s.s poem, an original composition ent.i.tled 'The Evolution of a Soul.'

"Mr. J. E. McCulloch, of Roanoke, delivered the cla.s.s oration.

"The Hall song, evidently a favorite with the male students, was sung with considerable spirit, especially the chorus, which eulogizes as 'the very best of all' the two halls of the two rival literary societies, those of Washington and Franklin. The president of the cla.s.s next introduced Miss Eloise Richardson, of Richmond, who read a cla.s.s prophecy, in which she drew vivid pictures of the bright futures awaiting many of this year's cla.s.s.

"Mr. Sydenstricker, of Loudoun, read a paper ent.i.tled 'Recommendations.'

In it he indicated, with a prescient knowledge of seemingly remarkable accuracy, the future employments and professions of the members of the graduating cla.s.ses of Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, and the Woman's College, Lynchburg.

"After singing 'Gaudeamus,' the last will and testament of the graduating cla.s.ses of the two inst.i.tutions was read by Mr. F. C.

Campbell, of Ashland. Again was the audience treated to a series of 'hits' at the expense of certain members of the faculties, pupils, etc., of the two schools.

"The valedictory of Mr. F. R. Hill, of West Virginia, the next feature of the programme, was an eloquent and interesting address, and in its delivery made a deep impression on the large audience. Mr. Hill, unlike the majority of college valedictorians, introduced into his composition much originality of thought and feeling. His manner was marked by that simplicity which always distinguishes the true orator, and which invariably attracts and holds the closest attention of an audience.

MR. TILLETT'S ADDRESS.

"After singing 'The Randolph-Macon Roundelay,'the alumni address was delivered by Hon. Charles W. Tillett, of North Carolina. This eloquent speaker dwelt in feeling terms upon the great Randolph-Macon System. The foundation, he declared, had been laid with enduring material, and to-day all could unite in applauding the distinguished success of the master hand. The occasion was one on which a little glorification was pardonable, and every Randolph-Macon man and woman might well feel proud of his or her alma mater, and particularly of the joint commencement, which they all recognized as the grandest and most successful commencement of Randolph-Macon's career.

"The exercises were brought to a close with the singing of the song, 'Alma Mater, O.'

THE BALL GAME.

"An immense crowd gathered at the park in the afternoon to witness the ball game between the Bedford and the Front Royal Academies. The boys from Bedford had the best of the contest from start to finish, and won out by a score of 13 to 1."

FRANKLIN HALL.

"At night the exercises of the 'Frank' Hall were introduced with prayer by Rev. W. H. Atwill. The declamations were: 'The Fireman's Prayer,' by W. W. Wood, of Bedford; 'The Innocent Drummer,' by Miss Bethel, of Danville, and 'The Village Schoolmaster,' by J. L. Humphrey. W. J.

Gills, of the College, delivered an oration on 'True Patriotism,' and the exercises closed with an essay by Miss Lula B. Woolridge, of the Woman's College, on 'Triumphant Life.' The Society medals were awarded as follows: John Kilby, of Suffolk, for declamation; F. C. Campbell, of Ashland, for debate, and Marvin E. Smithey, of Brunswick, for improvement in debate.

THE ALUMNI BANQUET.

"The annual banquet of the Alumni a.s.sociation was held at the 'Carroll'

Wednesday night from 11 to 2 o'clock. After half an hour's feasting, the remaining time was devoted to speeches of prominent members of the a.s.sociation. The following toasts were responded to: 'Randolph-Macon College,' Dr. J. A. Kern; 'Randolph-Macon Woman's College,' Dr. N.

Knight; 'Randolph-Macon Academy' (Bedford), Princ.i.p.al E. Sumter Smith; 'Randolph-Macon Academy' (Front Royal), Dr. B. W. Arnold; 'Randolph-Macon Inst.i.tute' (Danville), Miss Nellie Blackwell; 'Blackstone Female Inst.i.tute,' Rev. James Cannon, Jr.; 'Board of Trustees,' Dr. E. B. Prettyman; 'Randolph-Macon of 1898,' J. E.

McCulloch; 'The Alumni,' Charles W. Tillett; 'Glories of the Past,'

Captain Richard Irby; 'Randolph-Macon of the Future,' Dr. W. W. Smith."

[Ill.u.s.tration: EDWARD S. BROWN, A. B.]

The oldest alumnus present was Edward S. Brown (Cla.s.s 1843), a prominent and most estimable citizen of Lynchburg, who matriculated in 1837.

Letters were received from the oldest alumnus now living, and one of the members of the graduating Cla.s.s of 1839, who, with Thomas H. Garnett, of Buckingham county, Va., of same cla.s.s, still survives.

The oldest living alumnus, Dr. Theophilus S. Stewart, of Marietta, Ga., graduated in 1836. He accompanied Dr. Olin to Europe, and took his degree of M. D. in Paris in 1839.

The letters of Dr. Stewart and Rev. James F. Smith, of Spartanburg, S.

C., referred in tenderest terms to the College.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DR. THEOPHILUS S. STEWART, A. B., (Cla.s.s, 1836.)]

"Thursday. The opening prayer was made by Rev. Dr. Arnold, of North Carolina, at the conclusion of which the Commencement hymn (No. 1) was sung by the students to the air of 'America,' all standing. Bishop Vincent, of Kansas, the speaker of the occasion, was then introduced by the chancellor. The Bishop, who is a man of fine appearance, with a pleasant voice, launched forth in these words: 'Notable days to the individual, to a.s.sociations, to state and to church, come into all lives. This is an interesting day to the individual, to families, and to the inst.i.tution. It is a day of an ending and a day of a beginning. I see a picture, as I stand in this place to-day, of closing doors and of doors ajar, the end of complete or partial course of study and the beginning of lessons in the great school of life. Here, with the fragrance and flowers, under the spell of music, beneath these glorious skies and amid these mountains of Virginia, we need not only to look backward, but to look forward.'

"He closed his address as follows: 'Above all things, a man wants character; for if you presented yourself at the gate of heaven without the quality that would make you worthy to dwell there, you would find the beauties and glories of the home of G.o.d uncongenial to you. Live, not that you may have your name in Washington with a big pension or something of that kind, but in order that you may contribute to the betterment of the environment of those about you.'

"To the students before him he said he would recommend the whole world and the universe as a university in which to learn and in which to strive to ascend to the university of the most high G.o.d.