The New York herald., 1869-06-12
Glass DAY At COLUMBIA C3LLEGE.

Columbia College never In Its history O more
brilliant day than yeste rday. The class which en-
tered In 1864 met Tor the last time to celebrate the
closing exercises Of q remarkably creditabe collie.
gate course. Out OF ffty-two who first started on
the weary round only forty were present yesterday
the others having failed, from sickness. death or
mental disasters, In completing the term. Many
Invitations must have been issued, for long before
the hour set apart for opening the exercises large
number OF guests had arrived. At four O'Clock
fine band played the overture, "Poet and
Peasant" and the large gathering began to
swell from fresh accesslons that po ured in
from all quarters. Few, II any occasions, 1t 5 sae
to say, have ever witnessed so much female beauty
and oveness SO many unique yet tasteful toilets, so
many people oil all ages sexes and conditions run
ming over with good nature and merriment as this
class day at Columbia. The scenes In the recitation
rooms and corridors. on the balcony and along the
lawn were especially brilliant. There were clus.
tered the friends Of the graduates and often their
relatives who had travelled many miles to witness
the closing ceremonies; and In the different groups
could be seen faces radiant with the sparkling
beauty Of the brunette and softly modulated by the
seemed enthroned everywhere, and the POSI-.
tive statement was made that there was only
one homely woman present, and this person turned
out to be man. The entire buildings were thrown
open to general Inspection and all the ground
rooms were appIopraie a nted ior she reception OF
pets laid to obtain presentabIe floor for dancing.
One OF the most charming features OF the day was
the appearance Of the grounds, and especially the
lawn The fresh verdure, the fragrant aroma and
the light breezes abroad the Chinese lanterns that
hung suspended from the tall oaks, In short, the
tout ensemble, added as much TO the general enjoy
ment as the interesting exercises that passed Oh
The first In order AFTER the overture was the GLASS
opening song. spirited aud pertinent composition,
sung III good TASTE and Closing with these lines:-
AS tho year-bels chime down the road Of time,
OF Hose Who stand in our little band.
Who shall link their names "a story;
And when earth denies tho ions nssousht prize
:, For which life Is given, ,o,,,.,,,.,
BE won and worn in heaven
Mr.. John A. Brsted then read the History OF the
sve English set forth the claims OF the graduates
as promoters OF many Important academic reforms;
fellowship. MIchaelis' March, 'Gut He'll" was then
performed by tho band when the class assembled
around the trunk OF a towering tree, against which
the memorial plate was nailed by the grand marshal
OF the day Mr. Charles A. PEABODY Jr. As the last
stroke fell on the last nail the members broke out la
wild cheering, and closed each round with the sug.
gesttve tiger. "Co-l-u.m-b-ian spelled out In con-
cert BY the entire class agsn and ,Ss again vs sy n
band, when a slight fall OF rain necessitated
change OF scene, and the gathering retired to the
chapel to listen to the class day oration by Mr..
William ID. Foulke. Too much cannot be said IN
praisco the rhetoric, eoquence, and nc times humor
Gus delivery OF this Grafton; for lt was full OF
fine periods, gracefui and pathetic illusions,
and contained wit and sarcastic humor
Music from "Faust" and the class again met to
consecrate o time-honored ceremony-smoking the
Ss pipe Upon the S Srt
stem was passed around ana not few took their
drst tug at tho great levers and then new forth the
smoking song:-
Then, classmates, pass the pipe along,
And watch the blue wteaths upward curl;
And while we troll our smoking song
Wish "'6s oil glory"
Old Sol had again smiled approvingly, when MI.
willard Bartlett delivered his class poem--a really
good production. doing much credit to ms poetic
abilities. "Saluting tue rooms' was q peculiar cere.
monal. abounding In local hits upon PROFESSORS
and tutors. AS the class went from apartinene w
apartment an appropriate verse was gwen com,
uiemorating the memories OF each. lnen Ionoweu
more music and the parting song Ihose meian,
choly words OF young men, VINO nave oeen oounu
to each other for four years III many touchng anu
halowcd associations, whose friendships are Warn
attachments enduring and unity unDroken, were
rendered with q patnos and sorrow that found
climax In these words;-
Alma Mater richly sc,
Is your precious coroneti
nv OF prayer before we part,
tengthen every longing heart,
Tll their deeds gems 0sstOw-
Bless up, Mother. ere wo goi
The graduates made lively times on the green IN
going Through the last handshaking, ana finally,
after some athletic feats at seven O'CLOCK, supper
was served and the evening was ushered IN by
daucinQ which was kept up to late hour. Thus
winch has been conspicuous for high scholarship.
the 6rst manly honor, and virtues that VIII be de-
cIsiye among the doub tfu fortunes oil lie.