The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-19

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.f NEW HAVEN, June l6, 1853.
Presentation DayW Yais-Sophomore Celebration
De Frest Medal, &c.
The ceremonies OF Presentation Day-one Of the
most ancient festivals upon the calendar of old
Yale-were performed yesterday, in due form, by
the class about to graduate. will give you brief
account of the observancss, which, with most Of
your readers will perhaps possess at least the inte
rest Of novelty Presentation day is SO called because
upon that day the members of the Senior class who
have, by their conduct and scholarship, approved
themselves to the faculty are presented to the Presi
dent of the college for the first degree
In the morning, the class having assembled in the
chapel, where was gathered also large audience of
spectators the Of the candidates read to
the President in behalf of the senior Professor and
were duly certified to have been found worthy Of
their degrees. With the exception Of two luckless
wights, the whole class numbering about one hun
dred and eight, were thus presented. After short
discourse from the Professor Of Latin, President
Woolsey addressed the members of the faculty,
congratulating them upon having conducted another
class through the appointed course of study, and
prepared its members to go forth with disciplined
mind to the duties of life Then turning to the class,
ne bade them farewell, and added such counsel as
was BETTING the occasion.
The above addresses were all delivered in the
Latin language, according to old scholastic style.
The next exercise was the delivery Of poem, fol-
lowed by an grafton, by two members of the class,
who had been chosen by their comrades to represent
them upon this occasion. Charlton I. Lewis. OF
West Chester Pa, delivered the poem, Of which it
is sufficient praise to say, that it was eminently
honorable to the class which had imposed upon him
this duty. Randall Lee Gibson, of Louisiana pro-
nounced an Grafton upon the subject Of "The Duties
and Responsibilities OF Cultivated Intellect in Amer-
tn, ,otso Evnn and
was delivered with much elegance Of manner. In
conclusion, the orator. in behalf of his classmates,
addressed the President and Faculty Of the College,
thanking them for the instruction received and assur
ing them of the lasting and most enduring remem-
brances of the class of eighteen hundred and fifty
three.
A parting ode was then sung, Of which the follow
ing is the concluding verse;
!" Turn we then TO seek blessing,
Which so long in love hath bound us
Hand TO band, and heart to heart;
Our saddened souls shall cherish well
The memory Of this last farewell"
This closed the literary exercises OF the day. An
entertainment followed, Of different nature, but by
no means less pleasing in the way OF an elegant col
lation, OF which the faculty and class partook to-
gether In the good old days of yore," it is said to
have been the custom to bring forward punch
bowl OF ample dimensions, from which the President
and then each individual present, drank to the pros
pery Of the college and the class about to leave its
walls But modern reform has substituted water for
"The class graduating in eighteen hundred and fifty
three-may their names not be writ in water"
The remainder Of the day was spent by the class
in making sport, according to their own fancy They
assembled together upon the college green under the
shade Of the beautiful elms and there smoked the
pipe of peace, and sang parting songs composed for
the occasion, of which the following may
as specimen
iTis the parting hour, and the friendly hand
Is gratped in long farewell J;
And we bid adieu to the happy days
OF our four years home at Yale.
Oh Yale, kind Yale, dear old Yale,
Now the ems proudly wave DER ths classic home
Of orr long loved mother, Yale.
Among the most interesting Of the exercises of the
afternoon was the planting Of an ivy vine the
library building, by the whole class, that they might
leave with their Alma Mater some token of their
affection, and memorial of themselves.
Everything throughout the day passed off with
great harmony, and to the entire satisfaction Of all
Concerned The performances were closed by the
class forming in procession, and bidding adieu, with
loud cheers to the several college buildings and then
each bidding each other warm hearted farewell.
Upon the evening Of the same day the Freshmen
held celebration, to rejoice their advancement
to Sophomore dignity. They paraded with torches,
altogether splendid appearance. The orderly man
Dcr in which this p0w-wOw as it is termed was con-
Quoted, and the liberalty displayed in the arrange
ments reflect much credit upon the class of fftysx.
The DeForest gold medal, amounting in value to
one hundred dollars, which is annually awarded to
the member of the senior class who writes and pro-
the best oration has this year been assigned
to Andrew d. White, of Syracuse, N. Y. The
appointments for the ensuing commencement which
are given rewards for scholarship, announced
this morning The following are the first upon the
list:-To j. II. Hogan, the valedctory; to J. NJ
Wilton, the salutatory; to F. Davies, G. G. McCuy
and b. g. Billings, phosophic orati0ns.
Yours, j. W. C.