Birmingham State Herald

GALA DAY AT THE ATHENEUM
The Inauguration of the Water Works System
AND RAISING OF THE FLAG
Appropriate Ceremonies Incident to the Important Events—Able Addresses, Beautiful Verses, Etc.

Yesterday afternoon was a gala occasion at the beautiful Atheneum. The magnificent system of water works had been completed, the young ladies of the institution had presented the school with a very handsome flag, and in honor of the occasion quite a number of friends from the city and suburbs had gathered to see the water turned on and the flag raised. There were first appropriate exercises in the college Chapel, the young ladies rendering several beautiful, soul-stirring and patriotic choruses. Then ex-Mayor VanHoose delivered a chaste and elegant address, in which he most eloquently eulogized our country's flag and paid a noble and deserved tribute to the patriotism of our American womanhood. He sat down amid hearty applause, and was followed by Robert Jemison, Esq., president of the board of trustees, who spoke encouragingly and enthusiastically of the future of the school. Prof. S. L. Robertson, Jefferson's gifted poet, read the following beautiful poem in honor of the occasion:

Lift high—and over all our walls,
And citadels and classic halls.
The starry banner of our land,
Its folds to float—its staff to stand
For peace 'till time's remotest day;
And as we give it to the winds,
Whose free wings only Heaven binds,
Pray we, that only God shall stay
The freedom which it typifies:
And as we flaunt it, toward the skies
He'll show the light, the truth, the way.
That star bespangled banner nail—
Where spreads the ship of her sail—
Upon her highest, strongest mast,
And give her to the sun and blast;
Blown by a free-born people's breath
Which steals its power from on high,
Our mighty ship of state shall fly
In peace and pride her Shibboleth.
Her countersign wherene'er she goes
In all the world—'freedom or death.'
Shall be, alike to friends and foes,
Lift high the banner, not in vain,
We spread it to the sun and rain,
The glamor of the Christ-world shines
Upon it, and for freedom's shrines
Doth concentrate it, and it hints
With its blue folds and starry eyes
A message from the very skies—
Peace and good will to men. The prince
Of peace foretelling erst, and we—
As the sweet Shibboleth of the free—
Pronounce that utterance of long since.
Then hoist your banner where our eyes
Must keep uplifted tow'rds the skies,
To see it floating gloriously there;
And while our hearts leap glad—a prayer
To Him who counts its stars as His
And teach us then, what should be taught
To all where true dominion is:
That all in vain we flaunt its folds
Unless His hand the staff upholds,
His breath those folds propitious kiss.

Amidst the huzzas of friends and pupils the water was turned on and thrown completely over the college, while the flag of our country was seen climbing to its resting place high above the central tower of the building. In the front the lovely new fountain played, and altogether the scene was one of exquisite beauty.

The water works are owned and operated entirely by the college, furnishing an abundant supply of pure mountain water for drinking, bathing and irrigating purposes. There is no lovelier drive around Birmingham than that to East Lake and by the Atheneum, and its beauty is much enhanced by the playing of the fountains on the lovely college campus.