Tuesday
“While the reception Monday night at the Woman’s College may be said to have opened the exercises of the Randolph-Macon joint commencement, yet Tuesday morning the first regular programme was carried out in the auditorium at Moorman’s Warehouse, which, long before the time announced for the first number, was crowded with a happy, well-dressed and interested audience.
“In the bright sunlight of the pleasant morning the scene presented in the auditorium was indeed good to look upon. The draping of the entire edifice was most skillfully carried out; the ceiling covered with blue and white cloth, while the sides of the building were hidden by artistic folds of lemon and black.
“A well-built stage, extending the entire width of the spacious auditorium, and decorated with potted plants and flowers, afforded plenty of room for the speakers, visitors, and contestants for honors. Arrangements were made to comfortably seat some two or three thousand people, fully that many chairs being placed in regular rows, divided by two aisles extending the length of the hall.
“The pupils of the different schools and colleges being among the first to arrive, the spare time was utilized for a rehearsal of college songs, interspersed with the different college yells of the system, some of which occasioned hearty laughter.
“Upon the arrival of Chancellor Smith, the representatives of the various schools of the system took their places upon the stage, as well as those pupils who were to contest for the elocution and declaimer’s medals. After music by the band and prayer by Rev. Oscar Littleton, the first number was announced, it being a contest for the declaimer’s medal of Randolph-Macon Academy, of Bedford City. Mr. J. K. Holman opened with a humorous selection entitled ‘Uncle Peter and the Trolly Car.’ He was followed by Mr. W. E. Wood, who declaimed an historical poem of the revolutionary period, ‘The Black Horse and His Rider.’ Between this contest and the next the pupils of the Bedford school, accompanied by the band, rendered with much spirit an ‘Academy’ song, the words of which were composed by Wirt Holloway, a pupil.
“A contest for the recitation medal of the Randolph-Macon Institute, of Danville, followed, the first being Miss Janie Howard, who had chosen a dialect story, ‘Rubaiyat of Doc Sifers.’ ‘The Set of Turquoise’ was delivered by Miss Sue Bethel. The young ladies of the Danville Institute then closed their part of the programme with their favorite song, ‘The Lemon and Black,’ in the course of which they were assisted by the young men of the system.
“J. William Kight came forward as a representative of the Academy at Front Royal, and with a humorous description of a New England debating society, in which he gave practical illustrations of the different classes of village oratory.
“Mr. J. L. Humphrey, also of the Front Royal Academy, gave a declamation entitled ‘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 ‘Parnassius 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 Noble Example’ was the subject of Mr. Wise’s oration.
“Mr. Odell followed in an oration entitled, ‘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.