The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-01
For the National Era.
TWO DAYS AT DARTMOUTH.

4WO Dhlo NJ
No wonder, that nearly one hundred years
ago, the founders of the now Furnishing college
chose this lovely valley for the cradle of the
infant Dartmouth. A more charming SPOT
with the whole continent before them, they
could not have found Surrounded by gently
rising hills, then crowned to their submits with
the giant primeval forests, now by rich fields
of waving, green, pasture lands and orchards,
with here and there the heavy second growth
of noble trees, sheltering the wales below, and
taking, like the generations of man, the places
| OF their ioreiathers, long since returned to the
| mother earth.
The lofty and tme-defying Ascutneg, stand
ing, untiring sentinel, on the Western horizon,
watching the softly swelling hills kneeling at
his feet. The beautiful river winds around
and about them ALL rejecting at times in its
pure mirror hilltop and forest ragged rocks
and graceful wild flower, trembling in the sum.
mer breeze and scarce curling the rose leaves
floating with gentle motion on its placid waters
Not thus calm when the winters snow has
changed into rushing streams, when the sound
of the water is heard afar of, and, swollen by
| its tributary torrents, rushing along like i'm
| petuous youth, it gains new strength and ener-
gy. On it PUSHES, heavng in its wild career
The fragments of an earlier world the
works of man. the heavy bridge, solid masonry
as human hands can build, but as straw in
its path and on, till its wild waters find repose
in the bosom of the mighty ocean.
Such is it now, and 80 it was when the In
dian built his wigwam and planted corn by
its fruitful banks tished for the scaly treasures
| in its waters, and chased the moose and red
deer on the mountain side and through the for
| est. The war-ho0p and yell of the wild beast
was heard, where now the sweet tones Of the
Sabbath bell float on the morning breeze, till
every hill side echoes back the holy music.
And here this Seminary was established and
endowed to instruct the red men in the arts of
peace, science and the everlasting Gospel, that
the same fold might enclose, under the true
| Shepherd, the wild wanderer of the forest and
| the usurper of his domain.
Beautiful, but delusive dream The Indians
have long since departed and only occasional
| ly descendant of some once mighty tribe
comes TO share with the SONS of the white man.
and to claim the education for which this Col
lege was endowed.
| And here, in this tranquil spot, undsturbed
Tor years by assaults from without OF foes with
in, reposes our Alma Mater. And hundreds of
her sons, from the sunny South, tho distant
West from the isles of the sea, from the noise
of the crowded city, the quiet repose of the
country, have left sacred desk, courts of Justice
Legislative halls, patient watchings by the bed
side Of the sick, scientific pursuits, and the re.
tirement of domestic life, have come here once
more to renew old friendships and visit the
home OF childhood or beloved friends, to listen
to the welcome voices of old instructors, and
gather again under the hosptable walls of old
Dartmouth, and hear again the never forgotten
| chime of the chapel bell.
| And more than these draw willing footsteps
here. Strangers are among the pilgrims to the
shrines. They have come to hear the funeral
! eulogy upon the great Webster. For the last
| time we look upon the outward marks of grief
in the shrouded walls and on sacred desk
The last homage to his memory is paid here,
| amid the shades of Dartmouth
And the orator, Rufus Choate, was well fitted
| to pronounce the eulogy over one he loved and
honored. Here they both had drawn from
the fountains of science, here they both laid the
foundations of their success in life and we'll
| earned fame both an honor to the institution,
| and of one can no son Of Dartmouth think but
| with gratitude and pride-ber noble defender
And while that charter exists, which secured
to the College a name and title indisputable
| name Of Webster must be halowed there.
And there, almost under the shadow OF the
very trees which waved in solemn beauty over
the head of the boy-student he told of the early
struggles and lifetime efforts of him they all
| mourned How well he fulfilled the task, let
the listening thousands attest And when the
shades of evening warned the orator to close
though much which he desired to say remained
unspoken, disappointment was deep and sincere
This eulogy was pronounced, at the request
Of the students Of Dartmouth, originally intend
cd to have been given on the Fourth of July
but deferred till commencement week, AZ one
Of its most interesting attractions which wond
crafty larger number Of graduates and friends
| than could assemble at any other time.
Mr. Hoffman, in his Grafton before the Phi
Beta Society, nobly defended tho cause Of elias.
| sical education, giving due praise To all other
branches of collegiate education, bat refutiDg,
with serious argument and physical satire, the
objections brought against classical studies by
those whose utilitsrian views are no object in
the pursuit OF those studies, excepting I'd those
who intend 10 enter the learned professions.
II was not our good fortune 10 hear the bril-
liant address of DR.. Storrs, but those thus fa-
vorcd, spoke Of its merits in such glowing terms,
| rs added new regrets that wc could not have
been present and partaken of the intellectual
banquet
Thursday morning, the rain which had fall
en- in plentiful showers all the night previous
ceased, and the beautiful day, free from dust
and heat, fully justified the faith all placed IN
the answer TO the oft-captous inquiries about
the weather, ooh, it never rains here on Com
mcnocment day."
All houses Of public and private hospitality
we're crowded. The usual booths were erected
on the common, organ grinders, ballad-singers
| anctioneers, retailers Of books and stationery
| and the ever-prescnt "soap man." assembled
| the evening before. making night hideous.
Young applicants for admission were under
going the fearful ordeal Of examination and
hopes and fears agitated the hearts Of those
about TO bid farewell to halls which had shell
tered them 80 long. To-day they leave the boy
and must step forward into tho world ready
to take their share in all LIES struggles alas
to some how soon they come)-a man.
Such days are always somewhat sad. The
last time Hope, with her brightest oolored
veil, can only hide the future, not the past and
though We may have suffered till our souls have
almost died within uS still, with feeling Of
sadness, we leave the scene Of our sorrows "for
the last time"
But the happy faces Of hundreds again
gathered in that old church, (echoing TO some
with loved voices long since hushed,) seemed
fitted to dispsl saddenng thoughts a. the OK
ercises commenced.