The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-30
OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.


New HAVEN, June 81 1857
New Haven without her elns," says u popular
writer and divine. "woud be like Jupiter without q
beard, lion shearcd OF his mAne" and no one At all
with this rural city, At the same time blessed
with Imagination vivid to picture the mytho-
logical dgnitary suffering Is the victim OF some deined
tonsorla artist the quadrupedai ford guominiousy
disgracsd can fail TO Wedge the force Of the
figure But any smle would fall far short Of por
traying New Haven II deprived Of its college, popular
remark would have IL that 'a that keeps the city alive
s It's college," and though this must DO accepted per-
haps with reservation certain II Ia that II embodes
q deal Of truth a. the prevailing dulness Of the city
during vacation season bears witness Especially 10
this influence OF the student element apparent on the
return OF such season of festivities has just closed
The varied attractions Of Presentation week are known
all the country and Its return always draws 70 the
city the youth and beauty from far and near and occa
sons Of tho most brilliant assembagos that over
graces New Haven In point Of numbers aud success OF
the exercises this year has proved no exception.
On saturday last the streets were all hustle and ami
nation, the city being roplete with strangers sunday
the college chapel the ceutre Of attraction although
the services wore conducted usually the most notice.
able exception being the absence of drowsness on che
part OF the main body Of worshippss the charms In
the galleries. whore ranged the galaxy OF beauty
stroke OF policy the part Of the college authorities
the wisdom Of which the students below will mover cease
to commend-provng strong that they. the worship
pers CONSIDERABLY refraned from enjoying their habit
ua snooza Monday afternoon witnessed the opening
public exercise the prize speaking for the DO Forrest
gold medal. few days sncs it was announced that
the Townsend premiums for tho best English compost
ton had been awarded to the following gentlemen
Richard W. Woodward, Franklin, Ct; Thomas
Hedge, Jr Burliogton Iowa; Boyd Vincent, Erie, Pa:
David J. Burreii, Froeport, ILL.,. Henry c. Sheldon,
LowviIle N Y; Albert Z. Dunning. Bridgewater, CT.
These premiums considered among tho highest
honors conferred in college, are open to all members OF
the class The subjects selected by the faculty
were these 1.-THE Power Of Ideas as contristcd with
the Power OF Individual Men," s'Modern Poetry Com
pared with tho Poetry OF the Seventeenth Century"
''In1uence OF the Puritan Rebellion on English Free
dom" "The Future Of Russia"
About thirty competitors, unusually large number,
entered this year. the SIX gentlemen aboye mentioned
bearing or tho prizes. The De Forrest gold medal is
awarded TO the ono OF these cssaysts who pronounces
his composition the best oratorica mtnner Four Of
the speakers made choice OF the nrs 1.-THE above SUBJ
jects two choosing the second. Tho mbdal was finally
awarded to David J. BurrelI, Of Freeport ILL.,
Monday evening occurred the Woodei Spoon Prone
made Concert, which may be pronounced emphatcally
q complete succesa Tho music was furnished BY Lam
ders band OF New York Tho programme consisted OF
some twenty round and dances, With sufficient
number Oe sspromenades'' thrown In b warrant the
name and lend oountenanoe 10 the eyes Of the
sober p0ter amiJids at home To do uaice to the
tumos worn weah require the fertile idagnstion Of
jenkins and the resources Of . Demorete. Even now
dssolving visions oa before the memoH OF your cor
respondent OF taretans musiins silks ami satns Of the
gorgeous description, a0d suttcd satisfy that
diversity 0f human which ssthe famous old woman
with bovine amapvencss 90 highly Commended" A
shower which sprung late In the cveniig Delightfully."-
cooled the atmosphere and made dancing much more
agreeable. Unfortunately the rain did not cease with
the termination Of tho concert but continued through
the whole Of Tuesday, 10 the disnaay Of tae lads
and asscs and illusion bonnets and fabrics
were Obliged 10 content themselves indoors during the
entire day. Tuesday evening the MUSIC Hall was packed
TO its utmost capacity TO witness the exercises OF the
Wooden Spoon Exhibition Popular tradition asc-bes
tho origin Of this custom In the days Of ColleRe Conn
mons when jack-k knife annually presented 10 the
homeliest man, 70 shs handsomest, and WOODEN
spoon to the greatest eater But this institution ia ne
modern form established at Yale By Henry T. BlAse
OF 1S4S At nrst the recipient Of the spoon VS.
the stood last the list OF apponttes
at junior exhibition; later, the whole affair was
aged by the nonappointees Alone the exercises BEING
the Of Tire.
tiss three msmbsn beins elected from each, and one
s HSsS 20 as Sa.: s
nine cocASanreal. or ''cochs, ~ they fsmilarl
called have tho honor and work Of getting up the sntir
entertainment Tho following gentlemen constituted
the committee, whose abors were Tuesday evening
brought 70 sucn successful termination q D. Berry
Nashville, Tenn; G. w. Bingham, Cleveland Ohio; w
r. Dixon, Brooiiyn, N. r.; ). q Hail. Covert n Y;
g. Manisrre, Chicago AL W Parsons, Look Hayer,
Penn; I. C. Sloane, New York city; 8 Tweeoy. Dal-
The exhibition, point OF exceilence, has been
exceled by any similar entertainment at least for
scene was one Of undsscrbable richness ana beauty
The instrumental music very nne, and the abund-
ance Of college songs an agreeable feature Of the even
ing all we'll received, the s'~poon Song" under
the able leadership OF the former director OF Beethoven
being particularly we'll rendered.
The ..opening load, u entitled "The Strawberry
proved on The rising OF the curtain to DO man moth
bundle Of straw, from the centre OF which the
happy spoon mAo," Mr. G. D Berry. The Latin salu-
tatory by I. c. sloane, was nnely delivered. Contain
ing great prsponderance Of English and Angllcixcd
Latin words It was fully appreciated By the audience
gramme on occasion took place early in the even
ing-a commsndabe change. The presentation speech
was mperectly committed but the reception remarks
by Mr. G. ID. Berry brief and neatly spoken. Then
followed the coioquy, "Love and Ambition"
original comedy in three acts ingenious In plot abound
ing college songs and New Haven ocalisms, and
we'll put on the stage The high Grafton "Prize De-
bates, y considered by many the gem OF even
ing lnona Hall was the scene; the awarding CON-
mittee, headed by standy SAM were influenced In
their decision. both by word-arguments and the more
potent ones Of Champagne and cigars Prominently
posted tho life busts OF Homer and Cicero from
the College library height OF ridiculous was
reached when discovered that those apparently
inauimate heads could eat, drink and smoke like or
binary morals. The exercises brought to close
by burlesque the Greek tragedy Of Antigone, In
ve acs all the characters being wei sustained aud
piece, though inferior TO other plays OF the evening,
Of considerable merit
The exhibition every particular reflects great honor
on the committee and was highly creditape to the class
Of 1868 There WAS an entire absence OF that tedious
delay between the pieces 100 common fault in for
mer years. and when wearies the patience of the
most ndulgent audiences Another agreeable feature
the cearness and dstinctness with which the actors
spoke that they understood in all parts OF the
hail. aud Tor which they deserve the sincere thanks OF
the audience there assembled.
Wednesday dawned beautifully clear, much to the
eradication Of thousands OF anxious hearts, and before
ten o'clock the chapel filled with audience as
sembed witness the last exercises OF the graduating
rhe Latin address by President woolsey, Inc
entrance Of the class followed BY the vaeictory
poem by William r. Bishop, OF Hartford, Conn. Al
though containing many hne aud poetic thoughts, and
happily recalling "reminiscences OF bygone davs rs q
literary production Il cannot be ranked above ordinary
mcr,. One amusing episode during its recital the
audience seemed TO ENJOY. Falterng q, one time
for . word, he neatly drew up his coat
sleeve little way, and, taking his cue
from some heroglyphcs on his wristband, proceed
Cd without hesitation 10 the conclusion Tho class
orator was john W. Showalter OF Minerva, KY; his
subject-"The Educated Man as q Ciuzen." The mos,