Monday evening the two literary societies of the University held their anniversary exercises. In a debate between representatives of the two societies on the question “Should the State assume the payment of bonds issued in aid of railroads,” their ability to grapple and handle a living subject in a masterful and convincing manner was fully demonstrated.
Tuesday evening the Senior Preparatory exhibition, and Wednesday evening the graduating exercises of the higher normal department and the Alumni Address by John H. Burrus, were attended by large and enthusiastic audiences. Mr. Burrus is a member of the class of ’75. He described the “man for the times” in a way to inspire those preparing for usefulness. Four higher normal graduates received their diplomas, and ten from the Senior Preparatory class enter college.
Thursday, the “day of days,” to the two college graduates, dawned clear and beautiful. The audience assembled promptly at ten o’clock. The exercises opened with a number of distinguished guests on the platform. The music by the Mozart Society elicited much praise, as did the music given on other occasions by the same society. The two young men who were that day to take their degrees delivered their orations in a self-possessed and dignified manner that was a prophecy of future success. The subjects, “True greatness of republics” and “Atheism destructive of man’s nobility,” sufficiently indicate the line of thought.
The commencement address by Dr. Scott, President of the State University Columbus, Ohio, was worthy of the occasion, and crowned the whole with its beauty and grace of diction and the scholarly treatment of the hackneyed subject, Time. Music, sculpture and painting were beautifully shown not only to pay tribute to time, but to have their very existence in it. Words fail to describe the effect of the whole with the exquisite closing in the words of the poem, “I sat alone with my conscience.” It was remarked by one of the hearers, “That is the poetry of science.” After a few remarks by Gov. Hawkins and the Hallelujah Chorus by the Mozart Society, came the alumni dinner. At the table with the President and his wife were seated Gov. Hawkins, Judge Lawrence and wife of Nashville, Dr. Scott, orator of the day, Dr. and Mrs. Phillips of the Nashville Institute and the two new A. Bs. The other guests were seated at tables near the President. The after-dinner speeches by the Governor, Dr. Scott and Mr. Stewart, who is finishing the new custom-house, were evidences that “the world moves.” The Governor spoke of the solicitude he felt at the close of the war in regard to the future of the colored people and his questions as to what would really be the outcome of the struggle. He said, “The question has been answered. It is answered in the exercises of this occasion, in the intelligent faces before me. The tasteful decorations of these halls, these very walls themselves, have answered the question of doubters as to the elevation of the colored people.” His presence and remarks were well calculated to help on the good work of breaking down the walls of caste prejudice in which many minds are still inclosed.