New-York tribune., 1868-07-02
COLLEGE COMMENCEMEyTS
YALE COLLEGE.

THE SPOON PREsENTATION-IIsTO DRY OF THE
SPOON-THE POEM AND ORATION-THE- HIS
TORY OF THE CLAsS-THE PLANTING or THE
IYY-THE FAREWELL.
NEw-HAyEN, July lin accordance with time
honored custom the wooden spoon presented at Music
Hail. last evening, to the best boy" amid music anC
mirth, song, scene and tabeaux. The hall crowded
to It's utmost capacity Tickets in great demanf
The exercises unusually interesting and univer
sally admitted that the Spoon Presentation of this year
excels spendor all previous like entertainments The
"Cochleaureate" have covered themselves all with
glory The wooden spoon presented last evening was
made OF black walnut and Is elegantly carved with an
ivy branch running from bowl to handle 1t is about two
feet long, ana upon silver plate was engraved the
words Presented to JnO C. Emo, by the class Of 69
YE historic OF YE WOODEN SPOON
The precise origin Of the Wooden spoon Is involved IN
impossible to entirely remoye but TO the apPIecatlve
mind this only serves to invest 1t with stu higher ven
erabeness and shows its similarity of fortunes with all
great institutions and customs This much, at least, may
be set historically certain, that the Presentation
Of the Wooden Spoon became an established feature OF
college life during the Junior year OF the Glass OF SlS
That the nucleus existed long before that time
customs can for a moment doubt Probably
it In a manner similar to the burial OF Euclid"
which last seems to have been as follows AL nrst tle
divisions simply remained in the recitatonroom after
the had departed the evening OF the last regular
cause of their troubles soerpniy affirmed that the
dence of their faithful application in study presenting
their eyes to the aperture, they could see through
it," The next step was an informal gathering
OF the class on the Green front Of the State
in certain grotesque Demonstrations. Thus it
Among the numerous traditions select the follow
ing jackknife given to the ugliest, cane to the
handsOmest and spoon to the who ate tile most
This version, If unromac Is certainly at the same time
commended by its natufalness am inclined TO think
that the design Of those who made the mess-room Gus
tom public institution was to renew in some degree
that ancient and welknown custom the presentation OF
the Bully Club" which was murdered IN its vigorous
old age the decree Of the Faculty in 1872 Let it, how
ever be set down to their credit that the motive not
n
which thew considered were decidedly Injurious But the
curious and inquisye may ask why the spoon was OF
wood. The following is the only philosophical expana
ton when nave Deeh aDle 10 devise III tne nS. RF &c
such appetite was compelled to sgnaize himself III
consuming the bad rations OF Commons ana & was & re
prateness OF the ceremony we have only 10 Ieeai te
Ssy unRcv thai n Ge was born With
spoon in his mouth" Now. by curious transition,
nonappontment men Of the junior class, who by some
stretch OF imagination were supposed 10 De IN an e&
reati," Wooden Spoon They assembled to acknowl-
edge and make the best Of their unfortunate condition
search the method Of choosing the com
mittee and its officers was at first somewhat
as follows The editors Of the Yale Literary Magazine
selected at the OF the second term OF each
collegiate year. some reliable individual from the Junior
ec brought the matter before the class for the choice of
three from. each division to be the spoon Com
mittee." It was then the duty OF the "Coch-
leaureah" viz, the nOn-appontment men TO meet
and select their Knight Wooden
spoon-to whom In awful grand and peculiar manner
ye antique spoon" to be handed over But the Gus
tom has been changed OF late The Junior Class select
agree upon Of their number TO perform the roe OF
Knight OF the Wooden Spoon Such IA BRIEF Is the early
history OF institution which, in the wealth OF good
fellowship, fun friendship and pleasant memories OF
which Is the center stands unquestonaby the hrst oi
student honors.
Az general rule, he must be liberal openhesrted
fellow, well beloved by his class not given to envy back
biting cant hypocrisy but IN every respect class
worthy Of the regard of his felowstudents John
class OF go He is tall slender young man, and rather
good looking Among his casma,es & Johnny has hs 6he
"Cochs" are Robert L. Reade, New-fork W. r Bissel,
Buffalo TswYork ndoDd;i IL BrOER E w6sep wR6Siassphir
New.Haven; F. s Hayden, Milwaukee, Wis; o. NJ; val
llams, Mystic, Conn., F. b. Denton MiddIetoS1 IN, ~ u
Presentation The Spoon will be presented at Music
Hall TO night and It Is almost Impossible TO OBTAIN seat
Cock OF the Walk, Growing over the spoon and the
the eight eoeleauedte sparring eating, and eackg in
This morning the chapel was filed early hour by
O'clock the poet william Alexander Linn OF Deckerton
n j. delivered the Glass Poem OF 1858 II was listened
10 with rapt interest. and at its close the poet was
warmly applauded This beautiful verse occurs IN the
pOeiH Hon. of the Elm Tree, when yOu welcomed
The orator. Chauncey Bunce Brewster of Mount Car
mel, Conn., then delivered his oraton, "The supreme
End OF Education properly Power rather than Acgulsl
tion" The subject was well treated. The speaker Is
blessed with fine oratorical powers, and clothed ms
thoughts in beautiful imagery He was rapturousiy
applauded at the close OF his oratlon.
ht O'Clock the Faculty gave the graduating class
dinner in the Alumni Hall. No speeches were made at
ana the company adjourned early listen to the class
histories Under the elm trees seats had been placed to
military band discoursed beautiful music.
and then ,rd the mid pipes e pdnr Of the craEas
coal and the soft fragrance OF the glowing bowl the his
torans mounted the table in succession aud gave the
story OF the class members absent and present were
"haued over the Goals" mid cheers and laughter Those
present were called upon respond and obliged to
the class formed in line and. preceded by the band
marched to Alumni Hall to plant the ivy by the SIDE o,
In the stone and the orator and poet advancing
each with ivy branch in hand one from the grave
and the other from the home Of Sir Walter scott planted
them while the loud chorus was waited above the trees
coms F| Re 4 sif @e SoT for the sad Word farewell
Again the band lead the way, and the students now
passed through every hall and shesred chapel ana col
Professors residences; they eheered them and then
0a1e He%e the Elm Tree sad must our parting be-
With thy @c.1Ps breast Nan with each s'ns crest
Let every rock and fount
Bid US farewell"
ST. JOHN CoLLEGE.-St. Johns College at
Fordham situate on what called before the purchase
OF the property made in lS4l, Rose Hill, held its
twentythrd annual Commencement yesterday, and the
occasion attracted the place the greater number Of the
Catholic clergy of this and neghborng cities and the
Most Rev. Archbishop McClosky, accompanied by the
Rev. Father Stars the yicarGenera OF the diocese and
the Rev Father McNerny, Secretary to the Archbishop
In ls4 the land now known the grounds OF St. Johns
College was purchased by the late Most Rev Archbishop
Hughes and there presided the Institution until an
act OF Incorporation obtained from the State Legisla
ture 1885, the Rev. DR.. Manahan, the Rev. Mr.. Farley
and the Rev. Mr Bailey, now Bishop OF Newark, N j.
The act OF incorporation having been obtained, Arch
bishop Hughes transferred the institution TO the custody
OF the Jesuit Fathers who have since assumed the con
Iati,a nhap1 NUoa tla President
new administration, and the chair which ne so ably hed
was occupied by the distinguished Dr. Larkn Tor one OF
two terms the limit of presidential term, according 10
the rules OF the Jesuit order. To the present time
ST. Johns College has continued TO grow in Importance