The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-21

1 AetNSi "Ao revolution the exception,
when obedience became lRproaicQble, and nation
arose at once 10 remodel, not To infringe, its laws
The third, resistance, whether active or passive,
was never tenable, IN any extreme whatever.
The practical corollary which he drew from these
premises you can easily infer. Quere-How Is
revolution ever 10 be effected without resistance
and where Is the boundary line II does not be-
come me to criticise the arguments Of the learned
essayist, further than to say that they failed 10
convince at least one Of his attentiVely listening
auditory.
The theme Of the poem which followed seemed,
at hrst mention, prophetic Of warmer truer sen.
nments-"T The Pilgrim Spirit"-not merely as
limited to Onn pilgrim Fathersp but a spirit
in the words Of the author-speaker-
Brave and true
And trading with bold steps from Old 70 ns,oin
Was il not promising prelude7 But listened
10 vain for clarion blast to the Pilgrim Spirit
OF the nineteenth century, though the heroism Of
ages past was brought in fair review before US
almost piued the poet as he arose, though proba-
bly, my pity was as unnecessary as its expression
would have been unacceptable for his department
bore the self-possessed stamp Of a gentleman and
asoholar. Bu~itzkss always seemed TO me as
though the true sons Of genius" must instinc-
lively shrink from bazoning as il were, their
Thoroughbred crystals upon their own fore
| ~ Nucu IOTWAru ~ tno Cali
Of duty to the ordeal, they would, to quote Mrs
Browning, Never read their own true verses to
their worth, for the chariot wheels would jar
IN the gates through which they drive them
FORTH
The poem, mainly descriptive, was lighted up
oy hne CLEANS Of true poesy but, as q whole, ii
Is not the 6rmest fabric Of his fancy upon which
Alfred B. Street may found his hope Of fame
Commencement-day dRwned cool and clear
contrary to the fears Of many. More than one
pulse beat with fever-haste, as the long process
sion OF fathers, sons, brothers and friends dehled
into the church, and distributed itself until the
whole body Of the lower pews was submerged in
sea OF black coats and buoyant faces The veE-
cradle corporation Of long and weII-rrIed men
headed by its calm and classic President took its
FA'i Dnnp the stage ~ the sKereises Of DE dAS
counnenUoo. - - y -
do not intend to inhict upon you dfsserta-
ton Of my contemporaries, the heroes Of the day
and stage for your ediheation or their amusf-
ment, bat must refer you to the " schedule which
any Of your country exchanges will offer you,
for introduction to the dTGRatis personal They
seemed sturdy, sterling set--many In thought
as in form-save one degenerate son Of PENIS
Woodland, who, in expatiating with most grace
full gestures upon the theme, 4" Americans, the
keepers Of their own liberty took occasion to
eulogize them rather as the keepers Of their own
SldU>Ty; for, will il not soon be only aud truly
their own 80 far as il exists in the civilized world
At the close Of his sophigtical grafton, q triple
bolt of bouquets was hurled at his devoted head
from some fair hand Tor hands, in the gallery
above us, saucy enough to defy the expressed
wish Of the grave President, that the audience
would abstain from ell tokens Of appreciation or
disapprobation.p Verify, che had his reward"
An Essay on Scottish Songn was most worthy
Of its theme, and warmed the weary listener into
attention and admiration The "poem Of the
afternoon was a simple legend, simply and smooth
ly recited, and the valedctory y unimpeschabe
for correctness Of style and sentiment as a vale.
dictory should be- None Of the orstions or dis
sertations could take rank below mediocrity, and
none scared on pinions strong enough to far out
strip its fellow. One remarkable feature was,
the almost total absence Of U in its most restrict
ed sense | was told that it's flashes had been
sedulously restrained, in some instances. IL this
was so, the Commencement exercises certainly
lost in liveliness what they gained in wisdom
The most taking, IL not the most elaborated per-
formsnce of the occasion, was upon "Hugh Mil
One strain q music BY the aftSnan saHhuS,n i
must not neglect TO notice. The morning per-
formances Of this "band" had been 80 tame"
that had ceased 10 listen eagerly, when, at one
interval il struck up wild, supernatural melody,
do not know the technical name Of the, Il can
ont call II air. y nor do | care to know it. IL
seemed the bewildering, hslf-woful half-pleading,
oul-gushing Of peri at the portal Of Paradise-a
spirit at the gate Of Heaven At times II hushed
away, and the strange, soft, unearthly harmony
of seraph-harps from "within the veil melted
into the hearts ear anon, il burst forth into
loud, wild, but still sweet sobbings, oonvulsing
all the haunted air with its heart-thrilling ebb
and flow At last it ceased, abruptly the cadence
changed; the strains Of joy and revelry, melodi-
GUS, but mortal, rang onihe magic strlngs' Inc
charm was broken6
The procession of incipient A. BPS and A. M's,
TO receive their scrolls Of honor, delivered with
the high-toned aHaOrtaie mihi eOmmisSd," &c,
which completely their several transmutations,
followed, and the curtain fell"
We rode out to n look at New Haven" early
on the following mTpipg The sky was sad and
gloomy as some he'd son which it frowned-ths
husband -rain-wrinfsd college halls looked as II
meditating lugubrious odes over their absentees.
Yet the city aud the sound lay still and lovely
the cemetery sweetly and greenly guarded its
dead of centuries, and the giant castle Of East
Rock calmly overlooked the pigmies at its foot
What monument to Him who measurs6ss the
hills in the hollow Of His hand" Is that high,
bald precipice fronting the waves that, perchance
once dashed IL with their sea-Weed and their
spray.
A amerrie company" emerged from the de-
pot-denn that day, and glanced farewell to the
hospitable Getty Of the Elms,p and Of the scien-
ces my only secret disappointment being, that
had not, after all, seen ak Marvep am sure
you are heartily relieved to find that my pen has
not another days doings and seengs TO run over
and in this agreeable posture Of mind it will be
highly polite for me 10 leave you and your for
bearing readers. Yours, most truly,
MARY Irvine.