Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-07-27
Reported for the Delaware Gazette
Alumnus Festival.

The Alumni of the o. w. U. held. their
first annual Reunion and Festival at the
American House, Delaware, Wednesday eve
ming July 25th, 1860.
There was an unusual gathering from among
former classes, and there were few classes since
the first but were represented more or less.
The Professors, Pastors and Editors, with
their Ladies were invited guests. The Alumni
brought with themselves SO many of their
friends that the American was, for once, food
ed, and their Dining Hail. though large and
spread with two richly supplied tables the
whole length could not afford room for the
multitude. The entertainments early in the
evening. were chat and music The latter very
good and in style and performance rather an
innovation of modern times.
The occasion of the evening took rather a
" Squatter Sovereignty aspect-each one at
tending to their own comfort in their own
way
The committee had gotten up ten or twelve
toasts which were read and responded to after
supper in the Dining Hall. Several of them
adverted to the University and the loss of our
beloved President One was gotten up for
each of the professions and responded TO by
representative men from the classes themselves,
save the Press. This responded to by one
of the Editors Of the Cincinnati Commercial,
mnch to The edifcation of all and especially to
those loving free thought free labor and free
press.
l would be glad to furnish the readers Of
the Gazette with the. toasts and responses, but
have not the data necessary.
bOva,-ar r-i1nr, ,pJ
responded TO by Rev. G. NJ. WEBSTER, of the
class of 1858:
The Faculty of the Ohio Wesleyan Uni
versity. May their past success be an earnest
of the future
Brethren of the Alumni Each of us is
here tonight under some peculiar circumstan-
ces The popularity of my otcn relations !
presume to be this; after longer absence and
over greater distance of country, I have
come 10 mingle in these exceedingly pleasant
associations.
When out on lifc's busy scenes, we often
have turned thoughts hither, aud within
yon hallowed walls We have lived again the
thrilling incidents of college days. The two,
the four, or the six years Of college life have
seemed to us as an island, balmy and sweet, in
the sea of life. On yonder side are the shoal
and riply waters of school-bOy days, when we
had our hopes and fears in regard to ever
reaching its enchanting scenery. On this side
have been the deeper waters of iife's realities,
stern, tranquil and tempest tost by turns.
Out on these waters have we been launched;
sometimes on the white crested waves of am.
bitious manhood, sometimes down in the
troughs of bodily infirmity, and of the
time, thanks be TO God. we have been drifting
on the siIycry tide with divine and uushaken
trust.
While musng on these things each one of
us has said " ! will visit again that balmy
spot and tonight are we all with one ac
cord in one place" Before us stands our cher
shing mother from whose breast have
drawn our life food. Around us are instruc-
tors whom we all delight to honor.
Perhaps my own happiness This hour is ai-
fecied bv the storms and trials through which
my voyage has led me. ! have been dashed on
the rocks OF aYbition, and drawn within the
whirlpool Of ipfrnty.
Seven year go this commencement | re-
ceived my con nission from these instructors.