The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-07-25


TO the Editor Of the Press
had the pleasure of being present during
the closing exercises of the Seminary anniver-
sary yesterday. The previous days of exami-
nation, / learn, passed off very creditably to
the institution, and very satisfactorily to WISH
tors in attendance. Fifteen young ladies fin
ished the Seminary course of study, and re-
ceived their diplomas at the hands of the
Principal. Their essays, read from the plat
form TO large audience, were of course un-
equal in style and excellence; some OF them
very fine and all quite meritorious. The
young gentlemen spoke with good deal of
nanlness of style and bearing. Many parts
were full of patriotism, and rebels and copper
heads suffered ''some" at the hands of the
young orators.
President Cheney announced at the close of
the exercises that the Maine State Seminary,
as such, is now merged into the Bates College
so named in honor of the gentleman in Boston
who has made the most liberal donations to its
funds. The Bates College and the Bates Mills
on opposite sides of the new city of Lewiston,
will keep the liberal gentleman's name in ex-
cellent rcpute, If the two Institutions shall
continue to work up the raw material, In the
several kinds, into "articles" Of first quality
for the wear and tear of life. All honor to
Mr.. Bates, for his generous investments in the
material and intellectual establishments of our
State.
After the six hours Of intellectual enter
tainment in the church, the procession of stu
dents, teachers, Trustees and invited guests
re-marched to the Seminary Chapel, where
bountiful collation. was served to hungry
crowd. After discharging the material duties
of the occasion, numerous gentlemen present,
at the command Of the President, discharged
brief speeches at each other for an hour or two.
Some Of these were 100-pounders and shook
the building. Agentleman from Pennsylvania,
Colder by name got Off two 500-pounders, and
brought down the house with crash, which
signiheth, being interpreted, that the said Mr..
Colder-pronounced Cot-der-offered $500, at
two several times in course of the post prdn-
dun, towards the permanent endowment OF
the institution, on condition in each case, that
others present would make up similar amount
The 100 dollar discharges were in response,
and these with few 80 dollar pieces, made up
in the aggregate $1,000 for single afternoons
work. Doctor Cheney-who has just donned
the "Semilunar fardels'--has great reputa-
ton as beggu. 1t is not TO be supposed that
his enthusiasm in this direction has reached
the hight ascribed to that of the founder of the
Boston Atheneum; who is reputed to have
"beggcd, borrowed and stolen" in behalf Of
his pet enterprise.
And now let us say, success 10 the Bates
Collegew II may not be apparent to all, at
first sight, that the State needs another Col
lege for the education of her sons. But if the
large and nourishing denomination which is
represented by this institution, finds it neces-
sity to them as denomination, they having
had no collegiate institution hitherto, let them
erect their Seminary into College, and make
it an honor to themselves and the State. They
will doubtless draw to themselves many stu
dents from other States; and will infuse into
the masses of their own people, an interest in
education which they had not before felt.