Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-08-05
dbe gree press
DARMOUTH COMMENCEMENT.
BURLINGTON:
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY % 1859.

DARMOUTH COMMENCEMENT
For the following sketch of Commence
ment week at Hanover, we are indebted to
our correspondent over the mountain. It
will be found interesting. The schedule of
Commencement Exercises we are compelled
from its length to omit. The graduating
class numbered 20, of whom % spoke.
WEST HARTFORD, July 29th, 1859.
Nessys. Editors o. the FREE Press:
The great event Of + he
year, in the parts of VT. and n. II. within twenty
miles of Hanover, is, commencement at Dart
mouth College "Going to Commencement - is
the question first asked, as friend meets friend,
and in the absorbing interest of this subject all
else is lost sight of. Even the weather loses its
importance chief topic of conversation. Fields
and houses are deserted shops are closed, and the
multitude throng the highways and byeways, to-
wards the centre of attraction, where are congre-
gated to minister to their amusement, all the Gu
rious productions of nature and monstrosities the
/ country produce, including big snakes, fat
women, learned pigs, three legged calves, ct cete-
]
that their boy had "got piece to speak" and
anxious to be on hand to see him distinguish him
self, pretty sisters and cousins, youths and maid
ems old folks and small boys, throng the Hotels
private houses and streets Of Hanover to overflow
/ ing. And every body seems determined to de-
rive all the enjoyment possible from the occasion.
This is commencement week. The exercises
I Wol, nd
/ an they have been very interesting and success
| full. The absence of the Hon. Caleb Cushing who
was announced to deliver the address before the
united societies on Wednesday afternoon, caused
some disappointment, but his place was ably and
acceptably occupied by Hon. Henry Deming, of
! Hartford, Ct The weather has been all that
/ could be desired, fine rain, the first that has
fallen since the ID of July, having allayed the
dust which without it would have been intol-
erable nuisance
Tuesday was Glass Day. Tne class entered the
College Church at three o'clock ?. NJ. The ora
ton was delivered by B. f. Hays, the Poem by D.
W Peabody. An Ode by R. 5. Greene was sung,
and after the exercises in the church the class pro-
ceeded in procession to the Presidents house, and
! listened to an address from II. F Dudley, of Han
over The secret societies held their meetings in
the evening, which closed the exercises for the
day
! On Wednesday, at II A. NJ. very large audi
cnce assembled in the church, and listened to an
Grafton by Rev Eden B. Foster of Lowell, Mass,
before the Theological Society. His subject, Pull
pit Oratory, was eloquently considered in its
rious lights, and the address gave evidence Of fine
scholarship and close culture. The attention
which the audience gave during its delivery,
proved their appreciation Of its excellence.
| At two P. NJ. the usual procession of Alumni,
distinguished visitors, etc, headed by the Boston
Brigade band, escorted the orator Of the day, Hon.
Il. c. Deming, to the church, where the exercises
were opened by prayer from Rev Mr.. Peabody, of
the class of 80. The address which followed was
by far one Of the most interesting and instructive
to which it was ever my good fortune to listen,
occupying over an hour in its delivery He held
the vast audience in the closest attention from the
beginning to the end. His sentences how with
graceful case. and his gestures and manner cor
respond perfectly with the sentiments he utters.
His subject was Man his generic ties, and the
]
condition He closed with remarks to the young
gentlemen of the societies upon the greatness of
the soul and the Importance Of soul culture, even
should the benefit of such culture cease with this
life; how much more so then in consideration Of
the life beyond. The oration was followed by
poem from Park Benjamin of n. Y. In prelude
which kept the audience in roar Of laughter, ad
dressing the different classes in order, he avowed
his admiration and love for the Juniors and SEN
iors, slightly ridiculing the sapient Freshmen,
and avowing the most intense contempt for SOph-
omores whom he classed with certain race ol
quadrupeds; and announced the subject of his
rhymes to be "The Press" He first took
up the weeklies, which he said were
the same in nature as in name, satirizing
in detail the different departments of the
Ledger, which he took a type Of the sensa-
tion weeklies Of the day. Among the writers for
that paper, upon whom he piled his shafts of ri
dicule the long Poet and candidate for Guberna-
tional honors, John G. SAKE, came in for share,
and sitting within twenty feet Of the speaker
had the full benefit of the same. | fancied from
the expression of his face, and the emphatic nod
Of his head, tnat he was vowng poetic vengeance,
and l shall be disappointed if in his coming Poem
at Norwich he does not pay Mr.. B, in his own
| coin. The Poet was severe in his denuuciation
Of this class of papers, and so bitter in his invec
tive against them, that cannot but think that
his own constant failure and disappointment in
| his numerous endeavors to establish and sustain
papers of the same class, has had some influence
upon his mind. He next took up the Dailies,
| giving them much credit, and describing the ben
eft and pleasure which all classes derive from
them. He abused Bennett Of the Herald with per-
feet storm of invective, paid a handsome tribute
to Horace Greedy, playfully chastised the efemi-
macy Of Willis and closed with warm and elo-
! quent panegyric on Holmes.
The Concert in the evening by the Boston Bri-
! gade Band, was all that could be desired both in
quality and attendance. The College Church was
filled to overfowing and 1 am informed that the
receipts than suficed to defray the expenses
of the band for their services during the week
On Thursday there was nothing to vary the mo-
spare you detailed account, and enclose pro-
gramme instead.
Yours with respect,
MEDICUs.
The sweet lines which lately went the
rounds of the press, attributed to Mrs. Branch,