Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-27
Commencement at Oberliu.

DEAR LEADER No, it didn't rain. Eve
rybody said it woodland the lady students
thought of their procession and sighed as
they looked at their white dresses. But at
two O'Clock, when the exercises of the class
graduating from the Ladies' Department be
gan-the first Of the regular Commencement
exercises-at two, say, the clouds had
cleared, the ladies had formed their usual
procession, over two hundred strong, end
white robed and angelic as ever-marched
from the chapel scross the College square to
the First Church, where, entering, they filled
their reserved places in the galleries. Thence
they looked down in encouragement and ex-
pectatiOn on those Of their sisters that take
leave of them to day.
We look around upon the house. Despite
the chill, raw weather, despite the threatened
rain, despite the war, which has taken SO
many away, an audience as large as ever,
tbronged every seat, and aisle, and nook and
corner of the house. It differs, however,
materially-this audience-from all previous
ones. 1t is more feminine. The proportion
of ladies is even greater than at last Com
mencsment. And among the gentlemen,
uniforms and shoulder straps are very fire.
quent. So much for the war.
After the opening music and the prayer,
offered by President Finney, Mrs. Dascomb,
the Principal Of the Ladies' Department, an.
nOunees the first upon the list But here is
oGRAMME.
MUSIC. PRAYER. MUSIC.
Impressions. Francis D. Andrews, Oberlin.
Why are we here l. Martha A. Bowen, Oberlip.
Memorials ls...........-..Cynthia E. Bowen. Oberlin.
5. No taste for Study. Ellen L. Bruce, La Porte.
Hide and Seek..--........Susan A. Cooley Oberlin.
MUSIC.
Gnat Bites......Helen D. Hopkins, Granville, Ill.
The sun an Artist. Francis @. HUDSON, Oberlin.
Chapter from American HistorV.
Elizabeth A. Hutehes, Urbana, NJ Y.
What becomes Of the Smart People ?...........
Maria L. Judd, Franklin, N Y.
The Fear OF DEATH. Elizabeth P. Kinny, 0bsrlin.
MUSIC.
Popularity ,,....,-..Mary E. Lyman, Strongvsille.
g Then snail We know as we are known" ...........
Martha NJ. Miner, Lima, n. Y.
fSmok e.... Mary Z. McWade, Oberlin.
Becalmed PettibOne, Bainbridpe.
open the Shutters. Frances A. Reed, Wellington
MUSIC
Human Isomerics. Helen A. shafer. MORGAN.
Superstition .........Annie NJ. Snider, Mt. Gilead.
Mary A. stinebaugh, Leesville.
eSubstanee and ShadOW.......'..
Luela E. Stoughton, Stoughton, Wis.
POur Life Cup,...-.Pauline E. Swift, ObeIlin.
MUSIC. distribution or DIPLOMAS. BENEDIcTIoS.
eE4cnsed.
fDiedJnly %.
The class is small, numbering only seven
teen. Eight Of these,-the largest prOpJr-
tion, believe, ever knoWn,-are from Ober-
lin.
In the talent Of its members, however, and
in the interest of it's exercises it was sur
passed by few, if any, of its predecessors.
The essays were brief, well written and
varied in character. Some Of them displayed
uncommon depth and grasp of thought.
Nearly all Of the ladies read we'll. But it is
hard task for any feminine voice to enun-
eiate 50 as to be heard throughout that big
church BY that vast and crowded throng.
1t is hard,-is it not, MR. LEADKR,-to de-
eide the comparative merits Of these fair es-
saylsts, especially when one has known mauv
OF them almost from childhood. I shall not
attempt i. Let me say, however, that the
applause Of an audience like ours at Com
lleheement - not a Iair barometer of merit.
These who applaud are not those who think.
While chance witticism or popular opin-
ion may catch the attention and gain the an
plause Of few claquelrs, Others as meritorious
may escape it. am glad 70 see that this
habit Of applause necessarily unpropOrtioned
to merit, is dying out in 0berlin audiences.
The music Of the occasion, under the di-
rection Of Prof. foote, was excellent. can
not forbear giving special attention to the
trio performed By Misses DaseeuII, Fay,
Haynes, Hazs1, Hunter, Marshall, Payne,
and Tuner and 4rs, Yhitips,-thrss Iaaisf