Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-06-27
rwarthmOre.
ooMMmonA1loN DAY ExEnoInEs
doubt,

CONFEDERATION DAY EAEhtlbhHs
A Large oonconrse from Philadelphia, wost
chss,er Wilmington, and other neighboring
rl,ces. assembled ysatsr,lay, at Swarthmore to
,i,r,s. the performances OF Commemoration
Day.
Al the appointed hour the pupils lled into the
h,ll n nrettier array tnAn is often seen in collie
vIate Assembliea--mAidenw white and masculine
Risck hAhiliments minRling equally in their
ranks Tho guests crowded the other seats, ana
tha exercises commenced with the inauguration
of Professor Maglll "a President Of the College,
by samuel Wlllelts, President Of the Board OF
Managers.
President Magill accepted the position in a
short speech, in the course OF which he gave a
sketeh Of the present position and future pros
pects OF Swartbmore, speaking with approval of
tbe present optional system OF education, as
contrasting with the old method ii has replaced.
which enforced upon all pupils one regular
course OF studies. At present, the pupil may, OF
choice make . specially of either mathematics,
natural sciences, or the languages each being
thus allowed to follow the peculiar bent OF his
Tia ereat present need Of the college, az
stated by its President If, such endOwmsnts TO
the Foundation az would enable it to extend its
benofts to some OF those whose limited means
Al present exclude them from it's course.
ihs exercises by the pupils commenced with
the Sophomore class Herman Hopes, OF Phil
adelpha, gave, as a defamation. poem, by
Oliver Wendell Holmes, which was rendered with
peculiar grace, spirit, and nAturalness OF tone
and gesture
dialogue followed between Mary Proctor, OF
Philadelphia, aud Elizabeth \. WoOlston, of Mt.
Washington, Md, IN which the altarnate claims
OF Eyes aud Ears" were we'll argued, with ap-
propnAte illustrations. This dialogue, like all
the other exercises, except the two doclamations,
MAS the composition OF the speaker and, like
the rest was not read. but reclted, the speakers
being quite 'Word-perfect.
Ferris W. Price, OF New Brighton, Pa, next
gave an interesting and patriotic review and
euogy Of the life of Abraham Lincoln.
The Problems of the Age" were presented by
Ellen II. Evans, of West Chester, Pa, very ear
nestly, with full plea for radical reform.
Bradbury Bedell, Of n. Y, gave an essay OF
'Senco." as excellent in its thought az polished
In ita language.
A defamation by George f. B. Corrau, Of
Philadelphia, was given with much force and
TivAoity OF gesture.
The exercises OF the Sophomore Class concu
ded with sprightly essay entitled our Boyf
aud girls. by Anna II. V. Griffin, Brook VI n. Y
the yivaeious characterzations Of which drew
signs Of pleasure and appreciation from the pu-
pills, AZ well az the guests, although overt ap-
pAuse was strictly forbidden.
After a short recess, the Junior Glass exer
Gises were commenced by Elizabeth O. Miller
Of Morris, N. Y, who spoke OF Compensation
with depth and purity Of religious thought and
given with equal purity of speech.
Sarah Ii. Acton, OF Salem, N. j., spoke II
spirited words OF "Labor'-the blessing, no
the CURSE pronounced upon our first parents.
An essay upon Truth" in its broadest al
well Az its most particular sense, was given b,
Loundes Taylor, West Chester, Pa.
Hetty 7. Moore Of Sandy Spring, Md, gave
All elegantly compacted biography OF Francii
Bacon, with very just remarks npon his failurei
Aa lis failures as a man.
The list OF exercises concluded with an admir-
able address upon Capital Punishment, by Heller
hagll. Of Swarthmore. The wel-woru them,
was treated with novelty OF illustration whicl
Invested its arguments with renewed force th,
speaker rising with her theme to really touching
eloquence.
AT the conclusion, after a few solemn word
from Samuel WilletH, and pause OF utte
quiet the audience separated, bearing away th'
IMPRESSION Of a remarkably interesting com
memoration, ,graced by such maturity Of though
and earneslness Of feeling ON the part of Tia,
performers az to create surprise, al well a
8rsllncauon, speaking most stron gly in praisI
OF the Influence and training which arc thu
moulding these young lives to such fair forms
Ana yet SwarthmOre College is still in its in
FANCY, 80 much 30 that not till next year will ]
send forth its first graduating class. SeelnI
THESE things in the green tree, We look witt
great hope for the still incre asing soidity au
strength OF the dry.