The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-09-07
VOLUME XT. NO. 36.
Correspondence Of The J.6ersOutan Democrat
The Oberlin Commencement.
OpERLIN. Aupust 24lh, 1861

oBERLIN, August gath, 1860
DEAR DEMOCRAT The annual Com
mencement exercises of Oberlin College,
closed last evening.
We think the renowned hospitality o. the
citizens of Oberlin must have boon callod
well into account during the past week,
judging from the crowd gathered there.
Tho Graduating Glass in the young ladies
course, read on Tuesday p. NJ. The class
consisted of twcnty-niue. Tho essays
evinced q high degree of culture, intellcc.
tual, moral and religious.
Among those which we were go fortunate
as to hear, We thought Our Future Poet"
"Soul Worship" "Seaward, So Much Beau
ty," ""Lifo is a Magic Ring" and "Our Lives
Are Lent" to be the best.
Miss Everson's "Lifo is a Magic Ring"
surely must have emanated from the pen of
genius. The short way of telling her story,
sho said was "once man aud twice child.
In the long way, she pictured an infant,
then little boy-Bennio Bradley pla aying
with hook and rod, finding psriwinklcs,
giving them to young Stella Morning to
wear about hor neck. Then came the
dreamy period, aud yoang Bonnie often for.
got his Latin lessons. Then tho period Of
earnest, thoughtful manliness, when she saw
Benjamin Brady with somo ono standing
by his side, whom she did not know, but
half guessed to bo Stella Morning, and who
seemed almost like q bride. Anon she saw
Ben Bradley sitting snGor his Magnolia troo,
leaning upon his staff and talking childlike
to group of small chdron about toys, fish.
ing rods and po:iwinkles. The children
prattled to tho kindly old woman in his cot
tage about periwinkIos, iuquiriug what they
woro like; and sho brought the s'ring Of
periwinklos that Bonnie gave to Stella, long
ago. and wore them about hor neck.
Tho singing of tho Class Song by the
lady graduates in tho stand, and the uprising
of tho hundreds of snow.whlto swans in the
gallery, Ginning a responsive song was very
Impressive and beautiful.
We unfortunately die not hear Prof.
Monroe's Address to the Alumni. Prof.
Fairchild addressed tho assembly on "Obor-
lin, its Origin. Progress and Resojts," "hich
was Interesting, very much moro so than
one would expect an historical address 10 be.
Rev. Mr.. Bittingors 8 address to the Liter
ary Societies was most excellent His sub
ject, "The Laborer tho Artificcr and tho
Artist" He said that the life Of him who
merely laborcd with his hands, is an honest
life. but his name is lost to postoriy. Tho
Artficer, working with head and hand, is a
blessing to his race and leaves nainu to
live long ages after him. Tho Artists work
is higher and nobler mission than either
Laboror or Artiicer, for he prosonts to til,
soul visions and tones of beauty, and ole
Yates our human nature nearer to tho Di
vino.
Thursday A. NJ, tho Graduating Class il
the Collegiate department camo before III,
people. The productions were most OF thou
very fine.
A humorous poom by Mr. Boyd, wa
highly appreciated. IL was tho easy, rolling
vehicle of n host of hits. We heard nothing
more eloquent than tho Grafton Of b X
Sampson. u colorel man, ON Tho lntelIec
tual and Moral Powers.
The exercises of the Theological depart
nrent which camo Thursday +. NJ pleased
us vory much. "Enthnsiasm in tho Minis
try" pleased most. But We hav0 no righ
10 attempt criticism horo. Every one VIII,
would know ANYTHING about Oberliu, shoul,
procure Prof Fairchilds lecture, which il
printed. For our own part, We like Oborl;r
very much and that it is not what wo hav,
Often hoard it represented to be.
ResDoctfully voura RAW