Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-07-31
Correspondence of the Spy.
Commencement M Vale.
ASSEMBLY HOUSE,

Z
New Haven, July 20, 1857.
Messrs. EdttorS-From the " City of Elms, -
unrivaled in its natural loyeliness and unsur-
passed in its literary advantages, your cores
pondent has thought a few lines might not be
uninteresting to the readers of the Spy.
A stranger, until today, to the classic shades
of Yale, l confess my first impressions upon
emerging from the cars into the dark, smoky,
subterranean depot, were not peculiarly favorable.
Ascending however, into the upper WORLD all
unpleasant sensations were at once dispelled, as
beheld the wide and elegant streets, and the
beautiful lawn of velvet green, overshadowed by
wide-spreading ems, which half conceal many
| noble edfces, and the time-hallowed venerable
| walls of this ancient "seat of learning"
1t was my misfortune not to arrive in season
| to attend the meeting of the Alumni, this morn
ing or to listen to the address of Rev. President
| Chaplin Of Beloit College, Wisconsin, in the af.
| ternoon. am, however, informed that the meet
ing of the Alumni was fully attended, and an oc
casion of unusual interest. The venerable Rev.
Daniel Waldo, Chaplain of the late United States
House of Representatives, and graduate Of the
class of ITS, was present, and made very APP
propriate and touching address. The address of
Rev. DR.. Chaplin, upon " Moral Principle, as the
Leading Element in True Civilization is spok
to by full and appreciative audience. In the
evening occurred the Grafton and poem before the
Phi Beta Kappa Society. The North Church
was densely crowded, but at an early hour we Sc
cured comfortable and eligible seat. At guar.
ter before eight, the noble and familiar form of
Wendell Phillips was seen, as he made his way
through the centre aisle of the church to the pull
pit. A generous burst of applause welcomed the
distinguished orator. At precisely ten minutes
of eight, Mr.. Phillips was introduced to the au-
dience and commenced his grafton upon "The
Republican Scholar Necessarily an Agitator. -
For an hour and half he enchanted his audi
ence by the spell and power of his chastened and
effective eloquence.
1t was thorough and mastery presentation o.
the claims of the times upon the scholar, and an
earnest and faithful exposition OF the duty ofcul
tivated intellect, to guide and influence the agi
tations ''.of the Democratic masses. The Grafton
abounded in those rich illusions and delicate
touches of wit for which Mr.. Phillips is so just
" tanned. A friend, who sat at my side, and who
is far from being in sympathy with the orators
views, remarked that he had often heard Mr.
Phillips before, but never when he spoke with
greater effect, and that he was proud Of "olC
Massachusetts" and Boston, while listening t.
him Very many of the audience evidently car
ried away a very different opinion of the orato
from that which they brought.
The Grafton was followed by apoem from Fran
els M. Finch of Ithaca, N. Y, a recent GRADUATE
Of Yale. am not qualified to speak critically o
this production, but will simply say. that it wa
listened to with evident delight by the large AM
select audience, and many portions were warml,
applauded. 1t is thought by many that Mr.
Finch is the finest poetic genius that Yale ha
graduated since N. p. Willis. The evenings en-
tertainment was, throughout, one of rare literar
enjoyment and satisfaction.
Tomorrow is !" Commencement day" proper
1t is expected that the exercises of tAe graduatn
class will be of more than usual interest, as tn
class is thought to be one Of unusual talent
will endeavor to send you a sketch of the day
proceedings.
On my way hither passed two or three hour
most pleasantly, in strolling through the pleasan
| city of Hartford, visiting the State House, Co
| Colts extensive pistol mandatory, and his &
| egant residence, and in refreshing my patriotism
| by look at the revered remains Of the historical
| ly celebrated old Charter OAK A.