The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-25
v AS s A r
Commencement Exercises To- Day-An-
nouncement Of the Programme.
The Woman's College, Inside and
Outside.
SYSTEM OF EDUCATION PURSUED THERE.
100000 Contributed by Matthew
Vassar, Its Founder.
The Gymnasium, the Riding School, the
Bowling Alley, the Theatre, the Flower
Garden and the Boat Pond.
Chapel, Art Gallery, Library, Lecture Room
and Natural History Cabinets.
vassar Practically and Poeti-
calIy Considered.
Receipts, Expenses Scholarships and
Personnel Of the Institution.
Early Struggles and Ma
turc Successes.
Laundry and Laboratory, Dining
Room and Dormitory.
How the Young Ladies Live and Move and
Have Their ReirT
Early Struggles and Ma
tuI.e Successes.
Laundry and Laboratory, Dining
Room and Dormitory.
How the Young Ladies Live and Move and
Have Their Being.
vAssAR's NEED OF ENDOWMENTs.
PoUGnKEEpsm, N. Y, June %, 1873.

PoUGnKEEPsIE, n. Y. June %, 1873
Archbishop Whately defined woman a creature
who does not reason ana who pOkes the fire from
che top do not know what motives may have
impe,led the worthy Archbishop to this remorseless
piece OF cynicism, but, probably, they were fur
nishcd by some domestic experiences OF not par
ticularly pleasant kind. At any rate, the epgram
proves that he took very superficial view Of
womans nature and that totally wrong prn-
ciple was adopted by The femininehands which
superintendent his fires. The woman OF the present
age, at least the American woman, is essentially
argumentative and Is full OF reasoning, whether
she be reasonable not. 1t is to her that Mr.. JUS
tin Mccarthy paid that fine tribute in reference to
conversational power which he denied to woman
OF any other nationality. 1t is, therefore, pleasant
TO learn that at least one nucleus exists in the
United States where something akin to the
poetic ideal OF the perfect woman nobiy planned
ls appropriated. | allude, Of course, to Vassar,
a college which Is often misunderstood, which has
been frequently msrepresented and which Is
probably not even perfectly appreciated by those
among whom IL sprung into existence II is indeed
noble instituton-noble alike In its structural
form and dimensions and architectural beauty,
and in the spirit which gives ii its power and Sig
nidcance ana invests it like a soul. Your CORE
spondent has had peculiar opportunities for seeing
ana Judging Tor himself. The Prince and his two
courtiers who threaded the penet1atfd OF the
Amazonian College in "Tne Princess had
scarcely better occasion for closely observing all
the piquant pecuharities OF that wonderful uniyer
sity. But you must not expect me to come TO you
Drumming with poetic enthusiasm. 1, alas am
neither Florian cyril. nor the Prince, and may
not measure my impressions into exq,Astey
finished blank verse. The laws OF newspaper
correspondence forbid impassioned similitudes
about rosy blondes in academic silks and
solemn psalms and silver litanies. 1t is
all very well for professional poets to
make use OF these arts, and when
Mrs. Hemans visits girls school everybody
knows she will melodiously record her sensations
during evening prayer there. she VIII tell us that
the quiet room seems ike a temple and that it is
the future lot every school girl to make idols and
TO find them clay But it is with the practical, not the
poetic aspect of the subject that your correspond
ent has more particularly to deal, and, though the
poets may be quoted from occasionally to point
paragraph or lend felicity to an Illustration, let US
beware how we draw upon them too largely.
COMMENCEMENT WEEK AT vAssAR.
Your correspondent, upon arriving at Pough
keepsie found every hotel full and the little city in
that pleasant state OF excitement which occurs
semi-annually or whenever commencement week
arrives. About fourteen hundred invitations are
issued by the President, John II. Raymond, LIZ d.,
the utmost the hotel accommodations The
baccalaureate sermon was preached yes
terday afternoon by President Raymond and
deserves mention as a broad-sprited and judicious
exposition OF the present relations of science and
religion. musical entertainment By some OF the
pupils OF Vassar Will be furnished in the college
chapel where all the exercises are heidi tonight.
Tomorrow Is to be devoted to the annual meeting
OF the Board OF Trustees the class day exercises at
two in the afternoon, and an address before the
Phialethean Society at eight In the evening
Wednesday is the great day-the day of the COM
mencement-tne day which has brought all these
anectionate fathers and mothers 10 town which
has filled the hotels with good-natured aunts and
congratulatory unces and spread a sunshinv, holl-
day spirit over everything. 1t needs very little ex-
perience to detect a relative OF member OF the
graduating class. There is o sort OF norid good
humor in the air with which such q one enters the
room which discovers him at a glance. There is
the magnetism OF propTietorship about him. as
though he had a share in Vassar and possessed
II deep and subtle sympathy with its founder
And yet / question whether any OF these good
people will see before you do-howeyer anxious
they may be TO do so-the programme 10 which /
NOW proceed to ask your attention. II is the pro-
Rramme for Wednesday, and, like every other com
mencement programme, indicates alternate
yam voluntary, which have no doubt VIII be APP
propriate to both time, place and occasion. Then
Miss Elma Doremus swift Of Poughkeepse, de-
nvers the 'oratio Salutatorian Miss Anne Red
field Phelps, of Syracuse, win then make address
In relation to Thomas Arnold as an Educator
IL ia natural, perhaps chat pupils should have a
fancy for criticisKag teachers. Miss Mary Eva
Perry OF Rockford, ILL.,, has gone out OF the beaten
track and WIZ discourse on Life In the Deep sea"
After there three speeches the finale from Beetho-
vents Fifth Symphony viii be rendered by Misses
Bopson, Perry, Leggett and WEIGH. When the
music has done its work by imparting the
relief OF diversity Miss Elizabeth Hale Brewer,
OF Stockbrdge, Mass, Will take up the orator
lcal thread again with 'TThe Theory OF Perturba.
nonsn Very different is the theme selected by
Miss Blanche Wilder, OF Brooklyn who has COM
pacted her thoughts and convictions in relation to
''The Literature or the Day Critical Rather than
Creauve.n Miss Clara Jenette Wilson, OF Rock