Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-07-28
commencement at Harvard College Vsrginia COLLEGES

PdPcl' anu hS aHoluIS dill Illustration OF idea
1t would seem though, that even here at Old Harvard
commencement times amt now as thew used to was
But perhaps that is rather owing to the decided fact that
JoSSs 0ont do now, as they used did" 1t is said that
aoretme was usual to the grounds of Harvard COM
pleey filled with the wagons and the "be.ss which
had brought up to commencement from all the region
round about the fathers with their wives and little
ana all the country cousins OF the students And under
all the broad elms on the College ground and Harvard
square, were countless booths up for doing out spruce
peer ana ggerpop to the thirsty thousands assembled
lhe whole scene being, from what can learn slight
exaggeration OF Virginia general muster"
sea tenapora mutantur Ell nos, etc. now though the
scene is less vulgar, 1t is not less interesting On
mencement day. the custom house and all the banks of
Boston and Cambridge were closed according to custom
from the time when the memory of man runneth not to
the contrary Thus many business men awaited them
selves OF what they esteem the privilege to attend COM
mencement Early In the day. moving in state from Bos-
tom came the Governor and Lieutenant Governor Of the
Commonwealth, attended by aids in full uniform and es-
coed by the military and brass bands discoursng most
eloquenty the wild music Of the brave" The car
rages and busses kept pouring fourth continual streams
Of fair sex, arrayed in all their glory which streams
glory and all condensed by the police into the
galleries and side pews of the large Unitarian Church.
Then the long procession of thousand sons of Harvard
with the dgnaries of church and state was uoaad up
very mgenlously into the church. On the platform
were many known to tame--the scholar statesman"
Edward Everett Chief Justice Shaw of Mass Chief
Justice Eustis OF Louisiana Prof Parker late Chief JUS
tlce OF New Hampshire, Hons. R. C. Winthrop, Abbott
Lawrence, josiah Quincy, President Jared Sparks Prof
Longiellow, and host Of other only lesser lights
The graduation speeches were good enough In addi-
ton to the honorary degrees, and the A Ms course
the degree OF NJ D. conferred on fory-on Young
gentlemen that of l.. l.. B. on lortyive; and A. B on
seventy eight; making together hundred and sixty
six graduates, which Old Harvard again let's loose upon
the world
The next day. after commencement was "Phi Beta
day. The anniversary meeting Of the Phi Beta Societies.
This, too, is an old custom. The Phi Beta Kappa Soeie-
ty was originally literary club of Harvard College IL
was soon extended raternse with similar societies al
Yale and other Colleges. This general association had
lor while, masonic like signs and symbols and "he
grip, TO distinguish its members This machinery is lost
bul the association connues-literatue and science be-
ing the links OF the golden chain which holds them to-
getler 1t exhibits in its catalogue some Of 'the few the
immortal names. This being the tavore day with the
efe OF literature, and fashion, TOO crowd was early as
senbled The fair bellies Of Boston and Cambridge ar
ranged along The side pews and galleries OF the Church.
made the appearance of green house ofrare flowers And
the long line oil Alumni and Phi Betas continuously poured
like bees from Gore Hall the Church "lo gather honey
all the day, either from the mellifuous Grafton Of their
Nestor, or In some way from the aforesaid "openne
flowers along the walls
Inc Grafton was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Bethune of
Philadelphia, and was emanently excellent. OF course it
cannot be sketched in letter. and must be published
nor y IA one OF the lew really good t., be
lost Its subject was, 'e1he claims Of our counrv unon
It's literary men, which treated in manner ngen-
ously anu successfully combining argument huinor phi
losophy ana eloquence. Although its full delivery re-
CURED more than two hours, yet the only Impotence mani
tested by the audience was, to hearit ALL Like delight
Jul book which you will leave till YOU have read all
ana tnen almost wee-Alexander lke--that there is no
| more to read
Inc poem was delivered by Mr. B. Felton, but seemed
~ oeo generally appreciated, perhaps generally un-
derstood.
LII e afternoon OF commencement day and OF this day the
remnants oil the various graduating classes former years
held respectively their social reunions takino their world
y shoes from otheir feet to stand once more tooeor on
this haowed spot and hold converse with the shirt Of the
past-to hang up fresh votve garlands to their Alma
Maer--to give tear to class mates whom the grave with
Aeld, ana interchange with the living memories of DAVIS
when lie was luxury, and friendship truth"
Is the anticipation the enjoyment and the recollection
Oh such dehghtul annual recreaons these that keeps
alive the interest for their Alma Mater in the hearts of her
Aumnl and unless this interest is felt by the Alumni the
Alma Mater is left without moral influence whose mower
silapprecable Her sons should come from affair."" and
all her children should rise up to call her blessed" tits
is vital influence which Is wanting to Virginia col
ees ana winch leaves you and all of us to complain of
comparative indifference their ceremonies or success
In Virginia we have in fact such literary and social
festivals as retreshen Harvard and Yale Why so2 Our
cOlleoeS nOtin rinb
atoms. Old William and Mary can tell of Alumni whose
locks whitened in the same winters Of Har,ard,s
oldest sons; and Hapden Sdneys very name is redont
OF republican virtue; and Washington College, hallowed
by tavorng choice during the lifetime and remembered in
the last will OF him, the BEST the greatest of mankndp
and all OF them can point upon goys page to names of
unrvaed brillancy, and say, these are mig ewes'
You have already published abstract of the proceed
ngs on class day at Harvard-he ceremony of plant
ing the tree Of the class of 849"of going in procession
to, and cheering successfully, the college buildings and
the tavote proessors-of dancing to music on the coeoe
green-of locking hands and singing "Aud Lang Syne'
around rebellion tree-and then, again. with all the m-
der classes, to form the outer circle, etc etc And then
there are other incidents the class book record by him
sell OF whatever each classate chooses to nscrbe the
class supper the jackkne given the "uglies man in
the class the class cradle given to - etc. ETC. etc
ly Virgnian In themselves they may be o but in their
effects and consequences they do much to impress upon
the hearts OF the class interest the class and the col
lege, which each recedEg year will magnify even until il
happen that the latest thoughts Of the last survivor of his
class will be of his Alma Mater
Hence, we believe, IS secret OF the manifest differ
ences between New England and Virginia Commence
ment There is injection in affection let but the Alumni
oil any OF Vrgnas colleges truly exhibit their affection
by forming associations and directing the sufficient talent
they possess towards making their anniversaries attractive
festivals, and soon the popuace will look with longing for
commencement day; and the very phrase will become
household term, familiar as in New England
The University OF Virginia and the M ilitary Inslme
being directly under the care of the State surely miob,
claim share OF such "pomp, pride and circumstance as
the State OF Massachusetts lends 10 Harvard to mako
her commandments attractive. And let the Alumni of
these, and all the Virginia colleges, accumulate "nainu
incidents" and then the parting words at each com
mencement, would be
80 soci antiquam exqure matrem"
DANE.