Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-24
Presentation of Diplomas.

We take our last degree
(LOa pass9 -
BenedictiOn by Prof Morgan ~
The music throughout, under charge of Prof:
Foot, was peculiarly fine.
The poetic sketch of the seige of Leyden,
by Mr.. Allen, was written with happily chO-
sen words, and the only fault was a lack of
voice in the forcible passages. In cOncep-
ton and rhythm the piece was excellent.
In the cage of Invention" Mr.. Barnard
saw much hope for the future elevation Of
the lower classes, and development of re-
Iigious, intellectual and social synpathies-
Mr.. B. is good writer and evidently good
scholar.
Mr.. Bennett, wide-awake youth, don't
believe in the utility of our quadrennial
political spasns, and would have the Prcsi-
Dental term four or five times as long. This
would do away with a vast deal of political
rancor and disturbance, and give more sta
bility to the executive department of our
country. We have now a series eff inexperi-
enced ofice-holders, the fact being signif-
cant that the most important and beneficial
acts of any of our Presidents have been done
during their second term. Mr.. B. argued
his case well, and set forth strong reasons for
his proposed change, which we commend to
the next President, Abe Lincoln.
The varying beauty and grandeur of the
prairie was enchantingly described by Miss
Hatch. What pleasure there would be in
bounding over the prairie with one who could
so appreciate, and so delicately describe its ev-
cry phase, by sunlight, by moonlight, by twi-
light or dawn; in summer or winter; in its
deep silence, or its terrible grandeur when
on fire. Her reading, too, was perfect.
P. Steele Boyd will do. In 'ther words,
% he is one of them" His poem '' Not
Wanted, was careless, easy, smooth rhyIn
ing, touching upon matters and things in
general, and some things in particular, con-
tanning a good-natured joke or hit in every
other line, and provoking broad laugh,
from the opening line to the last,
q You draw your conclusion, and will make
mine"
and withal bearing with it good note of
warning to his hearers to avoid being in the
class of those "not wanted"
The mechanism of nature and the utility
of high art, were ably presented by the
Messrs. Brown. Mr.. Hayes entered an ear
nest protest against the patronage and the
power confded to the Chief Executive of our
country. He made an eloquent speech, and
when he warmed with his subject delivered
it very finely.
The increase of capacity for usefulness was
set forth by Mr.. Hunter as the great object
of study. Regarding the class of 1860, he
said that about One-half would stand in the
sacred desk, and part of the rest be teach
ers.
Mr.. Johnston, in impulsiYe tones and wei
matured sentences, spoke of the prospects of
Persecuted Italy, and of the hope with which
Garibaldi inspires all the friends of Euro
pean freedom. In him Italy has hope
Her chances are many to one of ours in I776
His bold, almost fierce enunciation, was
pleasant to hear.
Mr.. Laird spoke truthfulIy and elouquent-
II of the manifestation of character by daily
en- ,erience and practice, in contradistinc-
ton to theory. If the Son of God, he said,
had q, opeared in cloud before the world,
and i, ere told to them all that the Bible tells
~ he ga id and did, and then had been lifted
up again, to Heaven, without his ieet having
been pOIIl. tied by contact with the earth,
men might ave wondered and wOrshipped,
but tbev woul havc been worse than before.
If, as we suspec,t t, Mr.. L. designs entering the
ministerial Gel d, he 'Oty be 'Oanted-and will
make his mark.
Miss MasOn,s ssay on the Beauties of
Ruskin, was unforto nately read in too low
tone to be heard. Il takes a good deal of
sound to fill the great cl' 'iuFch:
Mr.. Miller, in speakilN,g Of Literary Nor
tality, said that nearly a. t'0ots were deed
to begin with, and only on e n'ind IN a cen
tury arose to write a book W t,ica IS Perma-
nenty remembered and beloved. How lit
tie of real vitality is there in til, , majority
Of writers, both American and IS roign.-
With the exception Of few who shiA e from