The New York herald., 1872-07-11
OUR COLLEGES.
THE COMMENCEMENT AT YALE.

Class Day-C1ass Poem and Grafton
Glass Misunderstanding Ivy-sopho-
more Prize speaking-6enior Prome-
nadc-A Grand Success.
NEW HAVEN, July Q, 1872.
The exercises of commencement week began In
earnest day. The associations which cluster
around ''Class Day" conspire to make 1t the most
popular ana agreeable OF the whole week. Its
exercises are just far enough removed from the
staidness ana strictness OF commencement Day.
to make 1t the most attractive feature of the whole
year. But before describing Its and ollites
1t behooves us, as faithful chronicler to correct
the statement made In previous letter that this
years annual examination had proved fatal to
"LOw STAND MEN,n
as previous ones have been; for, by the Official
announcement 1t appears that seven from the
Junior class alone were expelled at the exam
ination which closed last week. The severity with
which these examinations conducted shows the
determination of the Yale faculty that this college
shall not be bed Of ease and its degree an empty
name.
CLASS DAY
has been clear and cool and in every way propi-
tious. Soon after ten O'Clock the Senior class,
headed by Filsburg's Band, formed in front Of the
lyceum and marched to the chapel where the class
poem and grafton were delivered by David Nelson
Beach, of South Orange, N. j., class poet, and
Edwin Stevens Sims, OF Naugatuck, Conn.,,
class orator. The subject Of the poem was "rhe
outlook of Life - and was in some features supe-
rior to the majority OF similar college productions.
The rhyme and rythm good and the poem
full Of thought, though somewhat disconnected in
its arrangement.
The closing illusions to the class achievements in
ball, ana to the many peccadilloes In which it has
been involved, seemed to us by far the best and
most appropriate to the time and OCCASION and the
applause OF tile class seemed to indicate similar
opinion.
on 'rhe University" showed little originality of
thought, bat was an interesting and instructive
effort Little special allusion was made to the Yale
plan. to the growing university of New Haven"
on church ana State was traced to the pres
ent time. As the orator was closing the class
arose and listened to the brief parting words which
formally severed their class connection I'm perfect
silence When we think OF the numberless COM
mencements and graduating exercise OF each
not surprised that the exercises bear So strong
resemblance to each other. 1t is not strange
that young men pursuing the same courses, and
should arrive at their outlook on life with essen
italy the same feelings and ambitions. few
roseate tinge of life; but unhappy is the man who
altogether loses his youthful hopes and aspirations
At the close the class sung the "Parting Ode,''
then separated for dinner. At two o'clock in the
afternoon the more informal and enjoyable exer-
cises attending the reading OF
CLASS HISTORIES
began on the college green. A circle OF seats rising
In tiers is erected under the shadows of the elms.
These are filled with the gayy dressed fair friends
Of the Students while the graduates class Is seated
In the centre, around rough table, on the ground
and on rude benches. On the table stand the four
historians who in turn read the history of the class
ana OF each individual member OF it. Every joke
and scrape that has been treasured up during the
frvR OF fhn nf nonhA fS ha,a
brought out for the deectation Of the class and the
assembled crowd 1t would seem to stranger
that these histories would lead to much personality
and ifeeling, but such is far from being the case;
personal they are, no doubt, and greeted with In
cessant bursts OF merrment; but the best of feel
ing prevails, and each one Is in duty bound to
laugh heartily at himself as at Others Through
out the class beguiles itself by smoking the pipe OF
ppousy Of emosade he ladies' indulge Freely in
the latter, and in the former to the full extent of
making believe. 1t Is impossible to give an Idea Of
the perfect inf0Tmality and
UPROARioUs GOOD HUMoR
which attend the observance of this ancient Yale
nsed se asc eag pay b1 % 1ega az a M
ened by the continual moving and intermngling Of
the crowd, by ohe singing OF college songs, by the
playing Of the band, by the enforced speeches OF
prominent class characters, and by the constant
cheering and applause. At the close OF the reading
the class again form, headed by the band, and, pro-
ceeding to the west side OF the library, performed
the ceremony or
PLANTING THE IVY
and singing the Ivy song. Then the exercise OF
class day proper being over, they sauted with three
times three college cheers the remaining classes
in college, assembled in front Of South and each
one Of the buildings in turn till Alumni Hall was
reached, and then the class disbandcd not as years
ago. with extravagant signs of grief, but quietly
and forever.
But the visitor is not yet to suppose that the day
is done. Scarcely had the last cassc heer died away
when the college bell rang forth the summons to
the
SOPHOMORE PRIZE SPEAKING.
This contest was held at the college chapel, and
n rand n llrn nnllan a. at.irr
plethora of previous attractions. The ten best
faculty alter six months clocutionary drill, and
contest for prizes at the end OF the year. The
speaking showed the effects of Yale training, which
from first to last aims to remove all bombast and
mere rhetoric and to encourage simplicity by
making manner subservient to thought. But by
far the greater attraction of the evening was the
SENIOR PROMENADE CONCERT
at Music Hall, which, In glow Of splendor closed
the pleasures and excitements OF Yale's great day.
Felsburg's Band furnished the music in excellent
style, and the whole affair was grand success.
Not only the beauty and grace Of the City Of Elms
were present. but the surrounding cities. as far az
Hartford and New York, sent their fairest to lend
withstandlng the unbusnesslike arrangements Of
the committee, the affair was one OF pleasure
Thus closed day, or, rather. to be ex-
act, the morning after a day. full OF excite
ment and interest In some respects the
class day at Harvard Is more attractive than the
one we have endeavored TO describe, but are
pleased to see that Yale is making more ana more
foresight to predict that 1t will, ere long, gather
around itself an interest and Importance common
surate with the dignity of great university.