Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-07-15
CONN ENCENENT At WIDOW COL
LEGE
The Close Of Commencement Week.


The class of '6G held reunion at the Ton
tine Hotel last evening. grand supper was
prepared for them by the famous proprietor of
the house, Mr.. II. b. Pinkham. The meet
ing broke up about II o'clock with loud cheers.
CLASS DAY.
The morning opened bright and fair. A
large crowd of both young and old arrived in
town on the early trains The hotels are con-
sequenty crowded to overlooking. Among
the arrivals at the Tontine are Hon. VIM. 7.
Frye, Hon John A. Poor and host of other
celebrities. Mr.. Pinkham has provided for
them in the best manner, and his tables afford
a display of every delicacy which the market
affords. This morning the Phi Beta Kappa
Fraternity held their annual meeting at Adams
Hall when several new members from the
present graduating class were elected. After
the meeting the Alumni formed in procession
and were escorted to the church by the Ger
mania, after which they listened to an address
by Prof. w. NJ. Barbour of Bangor, which
was in every respect a fine effort.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
al church was again filled to its utmost
capacity by an audience who were eager to
hear the Grafton and poem. The Grafton was
delivered by VIM. f. Spear of Rockland,
subject Power" He said that power was
the attribute of every existence and illustra-
ted its presence in the works of Nature. He
combatted the naturaistic idea that man was
evolved from nature Said that nature was
but the necessary condition to life, holding
the same relation TO it that the material OBJ
ject does to the sight. Take away nature
and there could be no life. Take away the
material object and there could be no sight.
Yet neither one creates the other. Each is
virtually dependent upon the other. Each is
entirely different from the other. Said that
physical geography did not exert perma-
nent influence upon man, illustrated by ref
erencc to the condition of China. Said ma
ture was controlled by physical forces, brutes
were guided by blind instinct but man had
power to govern himself and as he has this
power he is not dependent on crcum
stances Said that it was mans duty to de-
velop himself, and that development consist
ed in being true to God, true to his fellow
man and true to himself. The Grafton was
an able and scholarly effort.
Next in order came the Poem by A. G.
Whitman of Auburn. We give the follow
ing beautiful extracts:
Four years we've meet within yon classic walls;
Here the closing scene the curtain falls.
Through IT,,
Until upon vision fair and bright.
With mingled hues auroral beauties dawn,
And robed in light the rosy fingered morn
Dispes the shadows from the Eastern skies,
And tints the clouds with rich yermillion dyes.
With piratons high we sought the palm,
And Time, with busy hand, dspeed the charm,
Till on the common earth we walk again
Seniors with students, Freshmen still with men.
The Poet next refers to the Court of JUS
tice, where punishment was often melted out
to Freshmen:
Old days oncemore we pass in swift review,
And many curious scenes again renew.
The gloomy hall of justice we recall,
The trowning rostrum and the blackened WALL
Rope, axe and pulley, blanket pail and horn,
The ghastly, grim and ghosty skeleton,
A stern decree the hoary Judge imparts,
And many gentle hands and heavy hearts
surround the cuprit, and inspired by dread
He takes queer position on his head;
When IN the name of father, and daughter,
Into his trousers leg they. pour the water.
Alas that solemn court is known more,
And its impressive walls are whtewashed DER.
And Freshmen now are trooping unconcerned
Where once our altar fires with incense burned.
Our Lares and Penates sought no more
Our pride and glory in the days of yore-
To dark and secret places have been borne,
Their power departed and their glory gone.
The following passage has reference to the
term on account Of class troubles:
But there were others, brave and noble boys,
Who loved TO blow horn and make a noise.
Or spill a pail of water 80 twould Int
lond-mouthed Freshman loafng under it
But these were fOibles and we've yet to learn,
That twas expedient or just to spurn
Our earnest efforts and to stcrnly send,
Them to an exile that will never end
Just at whose door the CHASTITY plumber lies,
We don't assume to say, 'twould be unwise
There's rottenness in Denmark, and we pray
That Time and Fire may purge the filth away
At length college years passed away,
Their hopes and their endearng memories.
Their disappontments and their sad regrets,
Are craven on the tablets of the past.
Records that ever seem to stand above
The grave of Time,-sad monuments,
As DER the buried past to-day we chant
The requiem of four more years,
Tombed with the countless ages gone before.
How fitting then that in their memory
We raise a monument and sculpture there
The epitaph, These days can never die
As pass away the swiftly hurying years.
Let each its impress leave upon the mind.
Thus being welded to a deathless spirit,
The dying years in turn will live again
But as the crimson hues of Autumn tingc
The forest leaves with beauty lovlier far
Than art can give or genius can conceive,
\ transient beauty yet surprising all
The charms bright Spring or joyous summer boasts,
SO let us hope that these our early days,
May to a rosy twilight sweetly melt.
After the above exercises at the church the
crowd dispersed to the Old Oak Tree, where
the concluding exercises of the day, consist
ing of Glass Chronicles, Prophecy, Parting
Address and other ceremonies were given.
The chronicles were delivered by j. w.
Keene, of Bremen. From the same we CLEAN
the following
STATISTICS.
Whole number in class at different
times, IS
Number entered Freshman year, 80
Number joined the class during
the course,
Number left,
Number graduating, 80
Oldest man, II