Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-08-19
Commencement Exercises---0ld Bow
doin--Putiing and Anti Putting.


OF liberal education. Although we wer
never permitted to tread the classic halls o
Old Bowdoin, still We always have felt,
deep interest in every thing that pertains t
TO the welfare Of this noble institution.
Every commencement, day turns out
rev swarm OF young men, who 90 forth Il
enter urOn the great battle Of life. Ii !
not our poOrPOse now 20 write disqui''
ton upon college life, or speak PARTICULAR!
Of any matter connected herewith; bu
simply TO noticc habit into which news
paper writer. generally have fallen, wher
speaking OF the performance. Of the gradu
a,inr elias. We very much doubt the pro
priety Of the criticisms INDUCED in. whsr
sreakins Of the manner in which these young
men Acauit themselves in the exercises a.
signed them upon the pulaic stage.
In looking over the Maine Evangelist, oul
eve caught a communication descriptive o.
the recent commencement exercises at Bruns
wick. This writer in speaking Of the PER
iormaaec. Of one of the graduating class
said Thu, part was n most powerful
hold and eloquent examination into asub'
i'ct Which might have proved barren in lrs'
skilliul hands" or another he avs "Th'
SPEAKER received uumbcrlcss rewards Cor hi'
performances from the ladie-, and bore away
IN h.. arms an appalling amount OF boa
Duets" Again. in rcmarking upon the
performances Of another, he says; This
part va. tsmely delivered and failed to eI'
cite much the interest " the audience. "
Thi. is a fair sample OF the manner m which
our college graduates are treated by letter
writers. These things may be substantial
" true; vet We very much doubt the wis
dom Of putfNc one scholar at the eIPens'
Of another. Could the public who rraC
these putTs and anti.puf', know eyery,hin:
connected with the lives Of these young men
they would be better prepared TO judge o
the Justice OF these Determinations - bu
tha, :. impossible.
The history Of the Pa', reveals one yer!
important fac, concerning college graduates
B,csusc young man has wealthy parents
and influential friends, perchance goes OF
the stage " hearing in his arms an aPpallin.
amour, Of bouquets" /, i. no evidence ,ha
Be will astoni.b the world. even II he trav
els il. thorny rad side by side With one les
favored in these respects. who IN his gr'dn
Atinc exercises " failed to excite the intsrcs
Of the audiencr." We have sometimes know
th--s brilliant meteors, Who astonish 90
world. and especially newspapers eorr~spon
dents. with their stage performances. &
aa.h away in 4" life. starry horizon, blu
when the light which has checred them int
darkness ha. gone out, a - me- iaH ih' ,rorh
As, sr,r hard of ibsm. Others, who, lik
the great Webster. are grudgingly permit
tel tn carry A~ay diploma, oi,entmes ar
heard from " in subsequent years-,h
pride Of the country and the glory Of th
Americar name.
1t is exceedingly hard Tor young ma
who has had TO toll on in his college course
under difieultis. the world knows no,hin
Of. o. End himself at the close Of his labor.
published To the world dolt. In these r,
marks We have no reference TO any partieu
lar student in the late graduating class a
Bo~do,n, Cor nearly every one Of them ar
STRANGERS 10 US.
We care little about " college honors, " q
they are generally termed. 4 'nan 'r'H h
man. college or no college. George Wash
inetun. Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay. an
host Of other distinguished men, aecam
- outside the wall. Of college. Ola Ma.
sachu.stis. with more colleges, more learn
ING and better educated men than any othr
State in he Union. !. to-day mos, ahly re
presented m the SsnAte Of the United State
nv Na,ick cohblsr-vhile proudly sits
wai,hAm factory by ia her gubsruatoria
chair.