Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-08
1NERARY oADMH.
RspvIpENGE, sATTRpAY. sEfr -

many Of our distant readers may not bs se-
q,ainted with a Rhgde-Island Commenc cement
Or in other words. With the nature Of tho do
Dfys OF that day, in which the annual Com
'ne1comenf Of Brown University 10 celebrated,
We viii ;or their cspecial benefit and BEHALF"
a.a-.e. 10 aiofd them q slight sketch, which
a.lall not be exaggerated, falsely coloured, or
siinnci LincolR Fairfield is pleased TO call"
ftcl." This annual Nstisaf, gala. OF by what
c,es yaric >ai may be pleased 10 dali It. con-
Grte as IL Is at present, and producing the
vy .;ilicnl that il dues, is 20 our mind destitute
oi nIQral Instruction, ami is calculated to de-
nSt h!zc, and 10 introduce pcTnieions and bale
fISS,isii:es a,Iaag a yifiuous and Industrious
/, IL nht 10 tlie creaS;or, that we take
<y"tE0Es, but IT is TO tie manuer in which il
). iiaa ged, that we iiow enter our candid pro-
tgSi Ilat The Anniversary Of Literary In
SiIXto1, slionl1 be celebrated, in order that
'ho'o Who arc attached TO IFS interests, may
have i'm opportunity of mingling. and Of renew
inalogair associations. and that they who are
aDdni To Leave its walls, should have an op-
poa.unity Of making display of their talents,
aud Of th.ir advances towards tho foun,s Of
iH:fautg, are propositions, 10 which We yield
olt coydial assent; but in the name Of oil mer-
c.''s, we would ask, is il nc ccssary 10 the ac-
coi02!ishmeat Of such ends, that whole
Community, and nearly a whole state, should
DO throyu in:o state of utter confusion! Ger
family not; and rs we cannot conceive any
,boI reason Tor the present management Of our
ClArnencenacnts. we hope, that the present
uasard and ridiculous plan, will be abolished,
a5rG,cdi!y as Practicable.
The ANIMAL Anniversary Of the Commence
,anat al B1own University. begins 10 make its
pppe ,rfncc in visible effects. about the first
AL,adly in September. and they remain indol-
lily imprinted on the feelingsof The community.
T?ar!iins like fortngh;;-and there are
s.:nr, that scnsibly feel It's effects, for much
.IArcr pofiol. 40 the carly part Of the week,
1lrrlrgcs, steamboats,, sloops and schoon-
c.', are PIT in feqnistion, and thus in a little
p'r,gl, " coaf!ision douby confused" is intro
q iccl api,og ns, aud before the day Of cele-
hl.aiio3 arrives, the town is throngcd with
:ln!s-s, whose professed Object in coming
ai1n., us. is 10 witness the performances ofth
ny. Wlrn arrived here, not one half ofthem
ave m Opportunity ofgratifyng their curiosi-
',-ail ten chances TO one, ifall are not sadly
d;3.pg )u:Gl in tbeig expectations.
lie nifty Sf making public display Of the
f!,..l.s ani requirements OF the graduates Of
b''vl ra!ycts;,y, is freely admitted, but then
in.is. he apparent to every rejecting mind,
hit Improper. As things arc now managed, a
lg,rcs s'nl is formed at the University Halls,
al! to tic sounds Of martial music, march to
t}1 lis, baptist Church, where amid vast
,iy,l qt stnntatioas parade, the young gcntle-
iuen are introduced to tho public, and are al
t,Nyi 20 give specimens of their rhetorical and
de2timttory powers.
Tho pro ccssion thus formed, is composed Of
,ha respectable classes of the community, and
II fs,rlnsers, arranged according to their rank,
wealth and condition, and are thus placed be-
fjrb the world to receive its gaze, and to listen
II ihs plaudits Of tho million. Arrived at the
CHURCH, after q deal Of useless ceremony and
pu'ada, their respective stations are assigned,
4,al afcr prayer TO the Throne Of Grace is
offered, Latin Salutatory is delivered, by
,m. forward and talented young man, which
perhaps is understood by half dozen Of the
AZ !ienco, and those who cannot understand it,
i'.iu,l il must of course, be very good, simply
t5causc they DO not comprehend one sentence
Gf the sneaker. The orders Of the day, be-
s4ccn Latin and ndstinct English are carried
i5.o execution. and whcn all is closed, we have
aI.a,in Valcdicto.y, and the conferring Of de-
rcccs. which is also executed in Latin, and
I1ea the proccssnn is again formed and retires
10 tic College.
We 10 not object 10 the introduction ofLatin
cssays and addresses on occasions like these,
rgl, mere aiIcctation, but because we think,
ti,,, whon n vast multitude is assembled, It is
vcry proper 70 address them in Language
which ;l,ey can understand, and at the same
Sim, imp,rt 20 tlem, some idea of the merit:
and ,aien.s offhc aspirant for literary hon
or.
." tho visit conroursc who visit the town OF
{, ,rl !fsnccn ,nt diy bat very small proper
.lioo caro- a favthing about the literary exercis
~; tbey come only to see and to be seen-tt
in:lrlge in harity, fun and trolic to visit thci
relatives, tho Theatre and the Circus; ant
then return 10 their homes without deriving tn
least bcJicGt.
TIE lower and disorierly classes Of society
r,,ke the whole an affair Of amuscmen,
d,ink 10 ax cess, quarrel and fight, neglect the
,(sofal cmployrnen nts, get bloody noses, ana
r.-rat's lodging at the bridcwcll. In the mid
al the scenes OF 6ustlc and confusion, picI
uockets IRE busily employed al their vocation
inram,us yome throng the town. counterfeit
era. thieves and swindlcrs are on the s!er
AMI the whole town is infested with visit fro
OF the drGcs Of creation, who come among
only to dehrcdate and destroy.
All the evils which are engcndcred by Il
Celebration of Commcncement. could DO ve
easily obViated,i if the Thing were managed IN
arssen, mannrr; if the Trustees of the Cole:
would cause the COMMENCEMENT to be col
brated in SOME Chapel or convenient place .
fGifed TO the Univctsty buildings; aud then q
day woalA pass of in soberness and propre'
10 tile infinite. advantage Of TIE STUDENT q
70 tire credit Of tho town.
Reside the Immoral effects, produced by
celebration, the immense sum IN money, q
iaboar, ii costs. would De saved, and might
oppled to better purposes than those OF VI
and Dissipation. The Toss in laIour aiol
may be safely computed at twenty ,hoosa
dollars: in money almost double q
amount; -and yet all this is squandered aw