The New York herald., 1869-06-25
COLLEGE ClM2 2EGczlIag1 IS.
New York Observation-Disclosures ni thc
Grand Ope.n House Yestarduy.


audience OF unusual character for that locality
| IL was announced that the commencement exercises
of the New York University would there take place
at halfpast ten O'Clock yesterday, and in conse-
quence Fisk's temple OF opera 60,0e and burlesaue
became the centre OF attraction for quite different
public than were wont to assemble within its walls.
The beauty and fashion, which is never wanting on
any public OCCASION was represented by a different
class the which with wealth and display united
taste not only but education and refinement. AT
the beginning of the ceremonies the house was not
crowded as the popularity OF the institution the
proficiency Of whose pupils was to be tested, aud
also the popularity OF the young students themselves
might have led one TO expect but after the first in
troductory exercises had been had the auditory
filled up more and more, and by the time
the "oratiOn" was reached the large house, with
the exception OF the upper tier was crowded, and
the young gentlemen graduates Of the University,
who mad all donned silk gowns In regular OXonian
style, kept exceedingly busy to act ushers TO
the numerous ladies' who desired seats and found IL
somewhat diicult TO obtain them at first sight. On
the stage Chancellor Ferris, of the University, pre-
sded assisted on his right by the entire faculty. all
clad in their official robes and on his left were
seated the council and trustees OF the University.
In the orchestra were placed Grafulla's renowned
corps OF musicians, who opened with Suppe's charm
ng yet very light, overture to ''Light Cavalry" fol-
lowed by the celebrated march from Meyerbeer's
prophet" The Chancellor then offered up prayer
to the Almighty for his evident blessings bestowed
upon the institution and closed by lmploring the
AID OF Divine Providence for al similar educational
institutes III The land.
Mr.. James L. Donnell, OF North Hatfield, Mass,
one OF the young graduates, the first to enter
into Tie regular order oi exercises. He delivered
the salutatory IN Latin with great fuency, but it is
81.
ladies present 10 whom the concluding portion Of
the greeting addressed, understood Il word of
it. Indeed 1t were wrong to deny it that to one ac
customed 10 the me!odious Latin pronunciation Of
the Continent OF Europe the strict adherence to the
broad OXOnan dialect rendered even the language
itself somewhat dubious, and II required some men,
tai labor 10 follow closely the speakers meaning
from sentence TO sentence AT the conclusion OF this
salutation Mr.. Donnell was the recipient of several
bouquets thrown nm by the sweet hands OF young
lady admirers IN the auditory, which gilt he politely
recognized by bowling. waltz by Strauss followed,
Mr. I. Martin Trppe, OF orange, N. j., who de-
erea l.t,Hn the salutaoa IN English ana ss0 also
though much may be ascribed 10 the situation and
the embarrassing influence produced by the con-
ScOusnesS that one Is gazed at by 900 people, The
'friend In need" located in the ''regions below"
commonly occupied by the prompter and hid by the
well known shell, was several times looked down to
and his whsperings carefully sought. This was the
case also with nearly all who followed MIN. Yet
this did not detract from the merit of the orator and
the manner IN which he treated the subject selected
for his Grafton. RepuDlicansm as against despotism
was the main spirit OF his essay, ana an earnest de-
lender of the republican doctrine lie proved himself
He was also honored by the gift Of numerous bOu-
queis.
Amer a potpourri by Grafua, from ''La Vie Par-
slenne came dissertation ON hidden Fire. by
Mr.. X. W. Haskins, of New YORK city, which had for
its subject the earthquakes ahd volcanoes, begin
ring with the destruction OI POmpel ana drawing
from 1t lessons for the moral instruction OF human
ity. Mr Haskins, in bis style o delivery, gave as
OF more than mediocre a0lty, anu this was
recognized Tor he was nonored, not only with bOu-
que,s but with baskets and wreaths OF flowers and
warm applause, and well merted all this was.
''La Belle Heenen ga!op flied the inCerval, when
Mr.. Matthew c. Mann delivered an essay in German,
'.Preussen eiae nepe Macnt, Prussia New PowerI
The language as well the delivery was perfect, |
bat 1t somewhat questionable whether IL be the
province OF an educational institute 10 ill the minds
OF lis students with sucn adliatlon for the growth OF
power OF u European monarchy as Mr.. Mann eX- |
htblted. He was also reinunerated by receiving |
handsome baskets with flowers ana the clapping OF
many little hands, vino listened 10 his Grafton with
out hnowng what he said, but only iet that he sa'd
Gungl's "Terrassen Lieder" here intervened,
after winch Mr. John Melbourne Root, OF New York |
ton OF the Bastle in Paris IN 1853, to which he ap-
penJed u logical dissertation on the blessings which |
lne thunder storm Of that year shOwered upon man.
world as Us results. Fervent applause greeted him
OF concias.on eql eg carried many bouquets OF the
a, ms oonnosy essay Tas 81 sye b nj Was Wen IN
piGln sensible language, quite remarkable for the
literary frstlngs OF coegates.
Graiulla then entertained the audience with fam
tasa from "Luriine,, whereupon Mr. Augustus II.
Drury OF Paterson, NJ j., spoke OF tee college cQU
which in regard TO the introduction I
Qt tpeyoung student 10 the stern actualities OF the
world and the "ba.te Of life Is always fruitful
subject SUBJ 9F an agnsyss su s1SnSs % aud r mr. pra da
made Was rather too alphabetically general, that
republican America knows no gentleman OF el- |
sure'" His youth and neXperience probably was
way loungers, the barroom oafers, the gam
bling house runners, whose number Is legion, are
the ''gentemen OF leisure IN AMERICA" and that,
Judging by the records OF the ponce, the genusn ii
on the increase. Applause and flowers rewarded
MIR. Drury on the close OF his dissertation.
Strauss "Ander biauen Donau' waltz followed,
apd then Mr. Nelson i,ue Siger, OF Brooklyn, spoke
critical essay the history OF Joan OF Arc, based
upon the and beautiful poetic representation OF
Friedrich schiller, with copious selections from his
drama. selections from O1enbachs 'GenevieVe"
by The orchestra next and then George Bell, of
Greenpoint, l.. l., recIted an essay on the .Misan
thrope" with considerable dramatic effect He was
rewarded all have been before him. with applause
and flowers.
beautiful polka mazurka by strauss-"stadt
und Iand''-was eXqusitey rendered Dy the orches-
ira after which Mr.. James II. Rogers, of Paterson,
delivered an exceedingly well prepared disqulsition
on ''The Politicians and the People" lie depre-
Gated the of party, nut spoke with ap
probation OF the higher ends OF pOllucs to smlte
error and advance to new truths In which all know
ledge may be used 10 advantage anu all mankind
benefited.
After another shower Of bouquets upon the
speaker by fair laues and n fantasia from "Rigu-
lettor by Graiulla Mr.. Jonn T.. Otls, OF Brooklyn,
gave an essay ''The Coming Man, indulgng IN Il
lew side hits at Wendell Philips aud The "lost arts"
saying that somebody" might even consider "a
ankee but resuscitated Egyptian or Arabian, aud
asking whether ''anypodyn hah ever heard OF a
'iost art OF moratySr lie spoke OF the advances
from one age to the other, tnat the original
tnought of one becomes the trusm Oi the next. The
complete. rounded mannood was the theme, and it
was declared to be the char acteristic OF the coming
man, Justice compels the remark that IN point OF
delivery control OF voice and all the other adjuncts
OF oratory Mr. Otis merited fully the loud ap.
pause and the great number of flowers pre-
sented TO him at the conclusion. lie
then turned 10 the members of the council, to the
professors and the Chancellor and IN the OF the
graduating class OF 1869 addressed 10 them appro-
pirate yaledictory remarks, and while speaking TO
Chancellor Ferris he Ieengly referred 10 The III.
nes OF the Chancellor, ana thanked Providence that
the gray locks OF Chancellor Ferris were preserved
10 the University its crown OF glory: and he "Did
then all, on behalf OF 1869, respectful iarewe.r
IN IN iiyft al