Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-08-01
Correspondence of The spy,
COMMENCEMENT mt TnIe College.
ASSEMBLY HOUSE,
Neu IIaran- IulY 30. 1857


New Haven, July 30, 1857. 5
A dull and cloudy morning ushered in q Com
ment Day." but the weather was, however, very
comfortable and favorable for the exercises of
the forenoon.
Early in. the morning made visit to the
Trumbull gallery of historical paintings and por-
traits, donated to the College by the distinguish
ed patriot and artist, Col. Trumbull. Many Of
your readers presume, have visited this gallery,
so that an extended description from your cor
respondent will not be in place 1t certainly
constitutes one of the finest appendages of old
Yale. l also took hasty look at the College IL
brary, l found it beautiful structure and in ad.
mirabe order. ~ EE
At about eiph mt o'clock, A. NJ, the procession of
the College Faculty, Alumni, and uudergradu,
ates was formed, preceded by DOdworth's Band,
and marched to the Rev. DR.. Bacon's church,
when the exercises of the graduating class took
place. Alter prayer by President Woolsey, and
music by the band, speaking commenced with
the Latin salntatory by Wilmer Smith of Hart
ford. Time and space will NJ allow US to speci-
fly each speaker, but, without disparagement to
others, we will notice a few of the productions,
which were conceded by all to be the finest in the
programme. The ninth performance, a disserG
taflon upon ''EarneStness of Purpose" by l. f.
Matson of Oswego n Y was a very marked
L
sertation, "fhe Religious Poet" by E. W.
Hitchcock, Of Homer, N. Y, was tasteful and
scholarly. No. IL was a blind panegyric upon
..denry Clay" by an enthusiastic Kentuckian
Inc grafton, The Charter Oak" by j. p. Buck.
land of Chicopee Falls, Mass, was a well written
thoughtful and eloquent examination into the
ehaiact and sources of American freedom and
independence. dante and his Times" was ex.
ceedlnglv well treated by L. Bradner of Dansville
N I. The Grafton, g The Entertainment OF Evil,
nv
philosophical GRAFTON, THE True Theory of Be-
nevolence," the latter of which closed the morn,
ing exercises, were bothproductions of mucn mer-
1t and scholarship
At quarter Of three, P, NJ, the procession
was again formed, and proceeded to the church,
When the exercises were resumed. A gentle rain
commenced shortly after noon, which somewhat
marred the enjoyment of the occasion, notwith-
standing which the church was densely crowded,
the galleries presenting such an array of female
beauty as is rarely witnessed. First IN the after
noon came Latin poem by Volney Hickox of
Springfield, Ill. A dissertation. The Perfect
Llfe"--by H. @. Pratt of Hartford, CT displayed
a Just appreciation of the real work and true aim
OF a noble existence. - Milton and Klopstock"
by W. E. Doster of Bethlehem Pa, was eriti-
cal and discriminating, but not insidious compar-
1son, of the genius and merit OF these two master
minds The dissertation on The Poet Brain
ard" by B.P. Learned of Norwich, CT, was
feeling tribute to the memory of this gifted but
unfortunate " child of poesy" The dissertation
by n. Z, Perkins, upon g The Sign of Today"
was humorous and very telling effort, from one
OF the most popular men in the class. George
Pratt OF East Weymouth Mass, delivered
q beautiful and meritorious historical poem, enti-
tied 'Hesperus." Scarcely any speaker the
day won more applause than Moses Tyler of De.
Toit, Mich, in his dissertation Heaven fights
on the Side of Great Principle" With clear
ringing voice, and forcibe and effective style,
Mr.. Tyler seems admirably calculated to win
success upon the Western platform or stump.
The +" Poet of Honor was awarded uy thelclass
to A. H. Strong OF Rochester, N Y, who chose
for his theme 4" The Modern Revolutiunizer."
dis oration was one OF great power and worth.
have never listened to more forcible exposi
ton Of the reoTmatoTy influence of the Press
Lastly, came the uration-' The Contamination
Of Life with the vaiedictory address, by L.
dolbrook of WestbOro', Mass. His Grafton was
we'll written and able, but delivered in too low
tone to be distinctly hea where your cores
pendent sat The yaledictory address, particu-
larly that to his classmates. was very apDropri-
ate 1t is no small honor to our GOOD old coun.
ty, that she has this year, in the person of Mr.
dolbrook, borne of the highest honors of Yale.
Ihe eonterrng Of degrees, and prayer by the
President, closed these exercises. The GRADUATE
ing class have fully met the high expectations
entertained. Dodworth's Band at intervals dur
ing the day, discussed delightful music.
mus has passed off other Commencement
Day at Yale another class, strong in numbers
intellect, and culture, has gone forth from her
classic shades, to serve and enrich the world |
cannot refrain from excaiming, inlay Heaven
and prosperity attend this ancient seat of learn
ing and its noble corps of instructors
In closing, let me exptess my qualification at
the hospitality and good fare enjoyed at the As
semby House, l shall proceed, tomorrow, by
the early train. to Westfeid to attend the tri-
ennial celebration of the Normal School, whence
shall next address you. "A.