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14
conveyed in vehicles of great variety of style a short
half mile to
UNIVERSITY PLACE.
The scene, upon arrival at this point, is difficult to
describe; what with the thousands of people scattered
in groups in every direction; the continued arrival and
departure of the coaches; hurrying to and fro of porters
and servants; mountain peasantry run wild by the mu-
sic of the band, who struck up Dixie's Land as soon as
they reached the spot; and the tents and cottages all
over the plateau, which spreads out before the eye an
area with just enough undulation to be picturesque,
covered with large timber, and a rich underbrush of
grass, and with springs of freestone water yielding their
hundreds of gallons of pure water per hour. Refresh-
ment booths were everywhere almost, and fruit venders
and tobacconists had already commenced a thriving
trade, when the visitors from Nashville arrived. The
hotel arrangements and accommodations were admira-
ble, and we must say that the Executive Committee
made a most excellent move, when they placed the su-
perintendence of that department in the hands of Dr. D.
T. Scott, late of the St. Cloud Hotel. The Doctor, though
still a cripple from the sprain he received in the recent
railroad collision at LaVergne, and though unable to get
about without the aid of a crutch, yet gave his undivided
attention to the cuisine department, while his son, our
affable and attentive young friend, Hugh T. Scott, former
proprietor of the St. Cloud, was indefatigable in his en-
deavors to make every visitor comfortable. We need
not state that his praiseworthy efforts were crowned
with success, for his landlord-accomplishments are al-
ready somewhat proverbial. A large frame building
had been erected, which was denominated the hotel
proper, and here visitors registered their names and
were assigned rooms upon arrival; their baggage was
taken in charge and checked by ready porters, and
they were then piloted to the barber shop, to be dusted,
polished, and burnished up generally.
LAYING THE CORNER-STONE--THE PROCESSION.
About 11 o'clock, a procession, consisting of the Board
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of Trustees of the University, persons specially invited
to take part in the ceremonies, clergymen and citizens,
was formed, under the command of Chief Marshl, Maj
A. M. Rutledge, and proceeded, to the music of the
band, from the Executive office to the site of the princi-
pal building, in the following order:
1st--Horn's Silver Band.
2d--Citizens of Franklin, and counties adjacent.
3d--Invited Guests.
4th--Architects.
5th--Ministers of the Gospel.
6th--Presidents of Colleges and Professors.
7th--The Ladies.
8th--The Trustees.
9th--The Orator of the. Day, and other speakers.
10th--Bishops, in order of seniority.
The procession moved off through the forest, four
abreast, and on arriving at the site, the visitors and cit-
izens opened ranks, and the Bishops and clergymen,
clad in white surplices, the Architects, choir and band
passed through into the pallisaded enclosure, where the
corner-stone was to be laid, and formed a circle round
it. The ladies were then all invited within the en-
closure, and the band struck up "Hail Columbia," after
which the Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, Bishop of Tennessee,
began the services by giving out the Psalm: "With one
consent, etc.," which was sung by the choir, with instru-
mental accompaniment by the band. The following sen-
tences from the scriptures were then recited by Bishop
Rutledge, of Florida:
"It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early,
and so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness,"
Ps. cxxvii. 3.
"Except the Lord build the house, the labour is but
lost that build it," verse 1.
"Except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman
waketh but in vain," verse 2.
"Thou shall remember the Lord thy God, for it is he
that giveth power to get wealth." Deut. viii. 1S.
"Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the
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