New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-23
COLLEGE COMMANDMENTS
VASSAR COLLEGE.
GRADUATING RosEBUDs-THE COMM

| In these sweetest Of June days, when over
the river, sleepy In the sunshine, and the fields
white with marguertes the warm breezes from tho
South hum, hum Of essays, hum Of poetic, pro-
sale, and solemn is audible along old Rip Van Wrinkle,
lovely stream. School after school plunges the coming
men aud women into agony of examination. and
fishes them ont crushed but triumphant budding with
baccaaureate honors After year Of prodigou gray
| ty the tough seniors melt in day 10 the
| most gracious j0llty and when the tender
Juyenas depart indulge in moods Of aectonate frisk
ness. Bright boys, babbng hope energy and innocent
deytry bright girls proud, laughing and loving, seas
their sheepskns and feel the happy immaturtes that
| they accomplished facts. Life In parenhesls kas
ceased for them they have come to period and
beginning new paragraph, blooming from initial 10
fms with entertainments. And with that right royal
Of faith, Prince Charming and his sister graduate.
ont 10 the world TO all the perfume song aud color
Of June and Of life.
Vassar College, gay with the laugh OF girls solemn
with their aggregate wisdom, held its closing Commence
ment exercises yesterday. The digniicd pile OF brick
bloomed with pretty faces, did the lawns outside
with clouds of goldentntcd daisies The chapel was
full Of them crowd Of cherubc heads clustered In
the gaeries-little heads busy with dreams OF their
graduation day Piquant little turned up and
turned down in airy mischief, and coquettsh little ps
pouted and smiled at the big brothers below. With the
big brothers all the fathers aud mothers and annts
one may believe And those graduates In tEeir white
robes and their rosebudes they were rosebud garden
rest In pillows of whiteness and brightness they sat-
charming the parental heart, aud annihating all the
big brothers with admiration On the platform appeared
grave and reverend company OF Trustees and
ITtier and b iaitg cna1n
brighteyed women. And not the least noticeable
Prof Maria Mitchell, with her soft gray cur her clear
brown eyes, and her strong kindly expression. Prrsi
dent Raymonds genial face beaned upon the graduates
from the chair of state, just under EOtts portrait ~
the founder Of the Institution. The little chapel.
all crimson and white, shone WIN tho sim.
always diftingushes vassar Where maidens be, there
beautie see, was an old saying when Queen GuincYer
CALAMITY by damsel who did not exactly wear the
awful front OF Horace though her discourse smaclcd
accomplished was Miss Chumar's French
say La NOuree Ere; Mademoisee couldn't have trpped
off her pretty syllable easily had she been Marie
instead OF fair Mary. The allegro from BeethOyens
Fifth symphony was given with great expression by
National Idea an elaborate and wellconsldered essay.
uttered with gIrsb dignity by MISS Palmer Of MAJ
sachusetts. Tie Task. characterized by the sane
adjectives the production OF another WINE roDeu
DIVINITY MSs coerto in Minor Were nicely
rendered by Miss Merrek and Miss Rushmore. Inc mol
tbe earnesness with which they extracted all the sweet
ness from the pianos and forgot all about their audience
made charming picture. one does nt look for concert
the lack OF firm, assured touch, didn't seem at al I'M
pamsd Case nnfoided its caves in spreatest way.
asserting that everybody aad hs price and giving
Judges Miss Case seemed to understand her
subject thoroughly, and covered her sohd
blanks of reasoning with delicate roof OF
poetry Tie Endless Promise" an excellent
metaphysical poem was given by It's author Mss s,oIkc
made decided success in Germsn essay " Das Ideal
in der Frauenarbep she adyGsated TOT women d NOR
them the life that is not rOseeaf satisfaction Miss
Norris, who charmed her audience nnds herself MISTER
pet language rfter only two yearss study VasSar
means work. ,,.-,,--,..
Miss j. Denton aud the ROndO OF Chopin which followed
did honor to the young performers and heir teachers
Then followed short congratulatory address IN Latln
from Prof. Raymond and one by one the 80 graduates
swept modesy aross the stage, receiving from the Pro
blue ribbon peasant light those young Baccaau
reaes bright wit the brightness OF youth wise with The
wisdom of their honest earnest study. Then the
comforting of the degree of A. b. upon former graduate
Miss Clarke, and with the singing OF the Dogoogy Com
mencement week
The eOcutiOn OF the class was exceedingly good in
clear distinct enuncatiOn they rvaed the English girls,
who are famed in that regard But il may be questioned
II any English girl could show the delicious combination
admirable Loving their College as their real
mother OF knowledge, they study with won
time nor taste for The highest possible excel
lence demanded from them and they accord to that
workers I'm the college the 16 girls In Miss Nit
the way of working out ecIlpses ana the IKE Their are
less students in the classical than in the scientific course
1t observed that the studies enthusiastically pur
sued are the natural sciences and German literature.
one can't but feel the warmest pride IN American girls
faces dgnhed by thought but they bright with the
radiance of clean healthy souls Throughout the College
pervades it, and the absence Of any petty disturbing ell
sment. An occasional scoding from the lady principal
is the only punishment which the girls receive
deserve the English system of birchng" has not yet
profaned American schools.
Vassar is sensible in the matter OF dress. Simplicity IL
enjoIed, and DIR. Avery, the resident physician aud
Teacher of Physiology has special aversion Ia tight
lacing. pinkcheek girls float about with glor
ousy large waists and seek to rival the lovely Venus do
Milo that poses in the gymnasium. with their riding
boatng and walking and their excellent and abundant
fool the uniform good health Of the girls cannot be won
deTed at.
The rangement OF the rooms Is admirable. Round
central parOr grouped from TO three sleeping
rooms. The little parOr Is used by the occupants OF
these rooms in common, and Is lovely little bit or
home. Pictures and flowers are grouped eyefywhere,
and the window invariably looks out upon charming
landscape Of hill and wood.
The tone OF the College is somewhat more ConserYa
tive than Radical, though slight leayen OF the latter
quality Of late been introduced IN an eloquent Zee
lure given To the girls by Mr. George VIM Curtis inc
College societies are, in great measure, left To ther
own guidance and are extremely elective lheIeotuAH
and socially. ,
The trunks are packed and gone and the girls tucked
under the wing OF their patenalS and paternas nave
disappeared with merry chatter. Tuesday was GAS
Day-the time when all the student Jokes ana secrets a
brought forth to mystfy the Faculty, when the historian
reviews the class and the poet makes IL cry ana Wheh
the syb extends her wonderful wand ana lOretelh tho
most delicious mpOssilities On Class Day all te hars
were she'd and given, and the pretty gfacei
crowd that Yesterday left their Alma Mater lonely had
but marmaade remember The bread and butter "ens
long before.