Michigan University

Anx Arbok, Fob. lOth, 1861. ■ i EmTor. OK Ar.or : - Deah Sir:- It ia nol our purposo to racily nárrate the varioua prooess though whieh tho Jnuior must pass befcre "that marvuluus composition that shall set the town agog" ü prepared; nor would i!, be oar aitn to draw graphical pictura of long visageds dolorous tailors and eboc maters wbo, as they survey ihe aDovc moutionod "Junior resplendent in a new Buit, a gorgeous oravat and shining boo's" - wonder w!ten the boya will cali aal"settle." But witb all candor and free froin party or fraternal prrjudkes wc would tuko the "Ai.eier.t Orator" of Rome aa our model and criticise all with eqnal justiceThe Junior Exhibition was keld on the eo'iig of Feb. 15. li, 18G1, and we regret [to sound in the public car, tho trite fact that again we used a "borroteed hall." The crowded seats, benches, aisles, galleries, windows and lobby of the Methodist Church, we urged upon every one the necessity of an ampie building for holding College exhibitions and commencements. The law of the University requires each undergraduate to attend daily prajers, our present chapel is too tmill lo inforce the law. - and, it is nigli time that "we lengthened our corda and strengthened our atakes;" But that bcautiful chnpel, with its Corinthian columns and maible front ia only dreamed of in future, for the "noble sons of noble sires. - After an appropriate prayer b}' tbc President, and music from the band; the well knowu 'ancendat' brought before ua as the first speaker, Albeet J. Chapman, who treated upon "Garibaldi, the type of the Age" The niain idea was - a raan'a greatnets consista in "his relation to the spirit of his times, and to hia times, and to his people; what makes hiro a man is his individuality; but sparate these tvro elements, consider the man in the great man, and the greatest of men appeara small enough." The world pronounces Garibaldi a great man, a Htro. Mr. C's. style waa chas te, but his delivery was somewhat defective and painful to an ear of tasle, He has a habit of what Cicero denominatea - "diat'ncti et interpuncta intervalla, morae respiration_ esque," and would do well to rid himself of what we cali "that Ypsilanti tone." G, ' Active doer, noble Uver Strong to l ibor, sure to conquer" was the subject of H. Austix Buet, of Detroit. The speaker begnn by stating that " We are all creatures of circumstances," nature impresses upon us its stamp, and as Byron says, " I live not in myself but am a pavt of what is around me." The main idea advanced was: - we must all be stimulated to action by a love for the dissemination of truth, and must not wait for circumstances. His delivery waa agreeable and persuasiv and his manner was graceful 3. Olivee h F. BitowyE, of Skaneateles, ÍJ". Y , with the thoughts presentedon the subject '' Compensation," fulTy compensatcd all for their close attention. The reward equal to effort ii the great equation of all labor. Increaae of strength is in proportion to healthful action, Hiftory haa shown us the making of this law of compensation. The Crusades had their recompense in the advunce of civilization. He must give who would receive, kindnes for kiudneas, love for love. One true, earnest, working christian is productivo of more good than all the infernal machines of evil that have ever been invented. Mr. B. thew his soul into hia piece, and spoke in an impreesive and re markably earnest manner. Universal judgment pronounces this crationthe mastereffort of the occasion. The next two orations, " Mohammed a messenger of Evil" and "Mohammed a messenger of Good," by Wit. E Ambei'Steb, and T, Maeshaix Baxiee, were diacursory. We would o justice to Mr A. by saying that he had another oration prepared lor the occasion which would have given the audience a higher opinión of his tálente asa writer. As it was, he evinoed much talent - earntst and vivacious - pointcd and sound in thought - he ioipressed ua with what he might produce upon a more abtsract theme Our judgmeut would extend the palm of excellence in subject -matter to tho foroier, and that of delivery to tho latter. 6. " Hearl Heroism,'' - by W. Eugene üíslbon, of Poniiac, carae next, but the illnea3 of the au. hor deprived us of a treat, 7. " G'id in Hïstory," by Albeut Nïe, of Romeo, A strong subjeot by a strong man. Mr Nye dwolt at length, bj' au array oí cboice historical facts in overthrowing ihe idea so universally prevalent in thia age oi practicality, - that there is no God aud Divino power permeating all History. J3y this practical Injidetity, the whole history of the past, aud all the experimenta that have been made for six thousaud year losa all their ritalitj. liad Cicero bten preseut he wuuld have classed Mr A among those who speak in a lufty 6tyle - and who -with plenitude and weight of thought - impetuous, versificó, flu ent and iinpressive are educated and irained to conviueo minds and move them to action. 8. " Auihorship as a Pro fesskm, "y Chas. ï. Park[ek]3, of Wyandutte. Like Cicero, we have been liuDtirg for that ideal of eluquence which Antonius nor any other man nevcr saw. The speaker 's Status erectus et celsus ; rarus ncessus ; nulla mollitia cervieum, and the argutiae of his dtgiis and the gentle bwayixo of hB " trunca" brouglit to mind the unheard of and invisible orator of Cicero. 9. " Demosthenes the type of an Orator," by Wm. V. 1UCHARD8. We were really pleased ■wi'.h the speaker-s trsatmant of his subject, and would make only one suggestiou, that he ought to bear in mind that, in the attainment of the highest excellence in oratory, where one is overpowered by tha magnitude of hia owa abilities, ana is possessed of an overweening confidence in himself- ihe highest art is " Ars celare arttm." 10. " The Radical and the C cmervative," by Edwin F. Uhl, of Ypsilanti. Space forbids, or we would quote from thisexoellent speech, ilr. Uhl is a cultitated writer and speaker, and haB the faculty of opening an oration with an appropriato exordium - then of clearly narrating the circuinstances - then of arguing to the understanding.and lastly of ap pealing to the feeling3. He knows how to speak of common things with mpli c ity ; uf great things impressively, while he treats of things neither insiguificant, nor yet of the gravest moment, iri a style equally removed from the plainest and the grandest. With the " Annie Laurie Quickstep," and Benediction, this plsasant concourse digpersod, fully agreed that the young gentlemen did credit to themselvea and thoso who have trained tliem. Tho Secoud Exhibition will occur at the tima of the Law and Medical Commencements, about Marcli 26th or 29th. Yours, truly, jj ■ III 11 H