New-York tribune., 1869-06-28
CLASS DAY AT HARVARD.


BosTON, June 2G-Class Day at Harvard is
the important day OF the year with the students
and the people this vicinity who take lively Interest
in the venerable institution are becoming less familiar
and less interested with Commencement Day each year.
anc are directing their attention to the class exercises
Yesterday the observance Of the Class Day fG9 was an
occasion Of much interest several thousand relatives and
the students being In attendance scores
distinguished gentlemen and numerous ladies', gaiy
marked Improvement appearance OF the ladies
apparent, they were dressed less gaudly ana with
taste than has been observed OF late years All was
life aud animation on the college grounds yesterday
morning The members ef the senior class were collect
ing at 10 o'clock in front Of HowOrhy Hail. and the yisr
ors arriving by thousands IN carriages and cars
The college buildings looked as venerable and stately
as Of old, and here and there proInenaded
gay throngs OF happy and smiling people who
gave a holiday look TO the whole picture.
The Senior Class was marshaled by Edward Bowdlteh,
John Wayland McBurney, and Gardner Goodrich VIII
lard, and marched to Appleton Chapel, wherein William
prayer At later hour the literary exercises took place
at the First Parish Church. the church was crowded
Peabody an Grafton by Francis Greenwood Peabody OF
Boston poem by George Ednnnas merrill on Ean2dge
and the singing OF an Que WTueh Dy arthur IrvIng
Fiske OF HostOn. As intellectual efforts the OratiOn,
poem. and ode credtable to the young graduates
The oraton and poem were well delivered and we'll
ceived and In fact could hardly be otherwise for the
whenever the orator poet forgets his piece alters
the least they are 10 applaud I'll no collects his scat
tered faculties and either quietly makes up his mind to
repeat the obstructive paragraph or omit 1t altogether
and continue from another point
OF friends invited, aud at which Of the items
was 1900 boxes Of Strawberries. The dancing the Col
lege Green was begun at o'clock. The members OF the
class aTrayed In the usual miscellaneous manner
and gave HOwOrthy and the other buildings which they
visited the customary cheers At the library the class
ivy planted and excellent Grafton delivered
by BENJAMIN j.. X. Tower. IL may be here stated That
the Ivy thus planted each invariably dies, fact
which may be interesting 70 students OF natural history
or hOrticutursts. The exercises AT the tree followed
and lack OF rudeness noticeable In former years.
noteworthy. The pulling and hauling incidental 10 the
formation OF circles by the classes around the trees
not particularly agreeable to visitors, though 1t
heartily enjoyed by the students Usually there Is
grand rush for the bouquets tho tree, and while one
student gets six and spOs two three somebody
else goes without. Yesterday Committee took down
the bouquets, and passed them around, so that each
member Of the Senior Glass received perishabe
memento Of the days sport The members Of the Inter
national Crew, who had been the lions OF the day IN
quiet way were brought prominently
The which did such good service with the
races last year. was suspended In Harvard Hall during
the day, decked with the trophies OF inc victory over
Yale, -,
In the evening there were private entertainmers OF
tortunate friends singing the Harvard Glee ClO ana
- rscention ar the psI. DIR. Peabodys HolwCsthy Hall
nd tbe C5reen re brilliantly Illuminated ard hundreds
- naore Sed vocal and Instrumental ausic till late
Sor member of the Senior Class who stood highest
rgas Ropert Alder Mcleod OF Baltimore, Nd who was
canain in the Rebel amy during the war; and who lost
an arm lille serving that capacity He accepts the
siInaou gracefully ant is OF the popular
III tE- college. Commencement day is Tuesday next