The Portland daily press., 1869-05-17

>~-'tsS
represent or describe. Now let those who at
tend tho performance of this grand Oratorio
pay strict attention to the orchestral accom-.
paniment, and, our word for it, they will dis
cover new beauties such as they never dream
ed Of
Glass Dny Exercises nt tho High School.
The happiest and at the same time the sad
dest day in the student life of the American
collegian is Glass Day. On that day he bids
farewell to those scenes which will always live
in the memory as the brightest hued, never
fading pictures of o time when care was al
most thing unknown, and when tho most
enduring friendships were formed, which end
only with life itself Confined originally to
colleges, the custom has been taken up by
academies and high schools all over the land,
and has fairly usurped the place SO long held
by commandments and exhibitions.
On Saturday morning last we attended the
Glass Day exercises of the graduating class at
the High School. The day opened dark and
lowering and Jupiter Pluvius wept in copious
streams az if overcome by the solemnity of the
occasion. The large room of the school was
filed to repletion by the scholars, and parents
and friends of the class of 60, who had assem-
bled to witness the next to the last appearance
of the young men and women so soon to take
upon themselves the burdens and cares of this
work-day world.
The exercises were divided into three parts,
and consisted of
1st-The burial of the school books.
2d-The initiation of neophyte into the Lodge OF
Cementod Bricks.
3d-Mnemosyne, tho mother Of the Muses., receives
an account of the benefits conferred upon mankind
individually presented to her by the goddesses OF
Science and the Arts.
To the music of a dirge the long procession
of nuns and mourners, clothed in the deepest
sables, accompanied by the Bishop Miss
Blanchard) in her mitre and trailing robes,
marched upon the stage, when three young la
dies (the Misses Kimball, johnson and Picker
ing) in turn delivered their touching eulogies
upon the merits and character of the deceased,
interrupted by the half sabdued sobs of the
afflicted funeral train. AT the close of the
remarks of each the volumes were consigned
to the depths of an arm chair, while the Bishop
solemnly and impressvely pronounced, in the
choicest HQratiaa Latinv thAu consolidating weFds
| consigning dust to dust The Burial of Euclid
at Yale, and the Burial of the Football at Har-
ward, might have been moro wierd and par
taken more of the supernatural, but the
"tearless or5s'' of her whose grief was not loud
but deep, fairly eonvulsed her audience with
emotion.
The initiation of the neophyte into the
Lodge of Cemented Bricks, was one of the
best take-offs ever seen on the mysteries OF
Tba Lod
in his robes of office, was seated on his tribune,
which was covered with a black cloth orna-
mented in front with the skull and crossbones,
while above him on the rear wall was the ban
ner of the order, inscribed, lodge of Cement
ed Bricks" The stage was dressed in black,
and the knights, whom their inky garb,
masked, and with drawn swords-stood around,
might we'll strike terror to the hearts of frail,
cred ulous mortals. The neophyte, who bore q
strong resemblance to an old college friend
named Verdant Green, but more Familiarity
called Giglamps,' stood shaking in abject
fear, awaiting the terrible ordeal He was
first trussed like fowl for the roasting, and
while lying in that position took the oath Of
fealty, amidst the clashing Of swords, which
threatened death at every moment. But
when the branding with the red hot poker was
announced as the next thing in order, human
nature could bear up no longer, but sunk in q
death-like faint en- the floor. Pity seized these
fierce, unruly spirits and they dispensed with
the branding. substituting instead the passage
through the coffin, into which the neophyte
and he was borne of on the shoulders of the
brothers
The last exercise, Mnemosyne receiving the
account of the labor of the arts and scencei
in behalf Of humanity, was not only particu-
larly deserving Of praise for its originality, but
also for the individual carrying out of parts,
both in costume and in language. In this per-
Torrance every member of the graduating
class assisted, girls and boys. Mnemosyne il
seated in the centre Of the stage, with Science
and Art ON either hand, who call up, each in
turn, their followers, who narrase their deeds
and lay their offerings on her shrine. There
were represented Agriculture, Horticulture
Horticulture, all the departments of Mathe-
mates, of Chemistry, Geography, Zoology and
and all the other ologies, the Mechanic Arts
Literature, Law, Music, Painting, Sculpture,
Tragedy, Comedy, Dancing, Architecture. and
in fact it would be impossible to enumerate
them ALL The tasteful emblomatical and ele-
CANT dresses and the beautiful faces, whose
beauty was greatly enhanced by the flush
caused by the excitement of the occasion, pre-.
sented a very effective and beautiful tableaux
At the close of the exercises the class united
in singing tho Glass Song, at the conclusion o.
which the large auditory gradually dispersed
highly delighted with the entertainment, and
loud in their praises of the abilities of the Class
of 49,. *
The programme was made up with excellent
taste and was entirely free from the fault O.
OVERRIDING SO common in school exercises. II
was all harmonious, easy and natural, az well
as legitimate. Indeed, it is little less than {
wonder how so elaborate and classical and vel
SO popular performance as the last exercise
could have been SO well gotten up, and there
was universal desire expressed that IL could
be repeated in City Hall, which is SO much
better adapted for the purpose. We earnestly
trust this request will be complied with, for il
| is befitting that an affair of such excellence
and one too in which all our citizens have Z
common pride and interest, should be more
widely appreciated.