The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-24
THE COLLEGES.
Dedication of Memorial Hall
at Harvard.
INTERESTING EXERCISES.
An Grafton by Charles Francis
Adams.
YALE GLASS DAY.
A Brilliant Attendance at the Dis
tributi0n of Prizes.
THE VASSAR LADIES.
Meeting Of the Alumni Of Union
College.
Ysst0day's Proceedings at the Colleges Of tho
City Of New York and Princeton.
COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW
THE vASSAR LADIES.
Meeting Of the Alumni Of Union
College.
Yesterdays Proceedings at the Colleges Of tn.
City Of New York and Princeton.
COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK.

Growing youthful enthusiasm In anything per.
tanning to Q collegiate education as we'll as undi-
minshed ardor Of older heads, to say nothing Of
the never ceasing interest OF young ladies In the
matter, served to I'LL Booths Theatre last evening,
Notwithstanding the uncomfortable heat, to Its
fullest capacity, the occasion being the annual
prize speaking OF our youthful but popular insttu-
ton OF learning yclept the College OF the City Of
New York Like most occasions OF this character,
given up to intellectual displays the proceedings
were, taken as whole, rather heavy and dull;
but then the weather must be considered. and
again, youthful essays and orat0rlcal efforts, how
ever near the former may approach to the excel
hence Of Kacaulay and the latter come up to the
standard OF q Beecher, an Emmett or q Patrick
Henry, are hardly the things for q hot summers
night. However, II some were in reality bored,
spirited show OF interest was kept up, and as the
young contributors to the evenings intellectual
entertainment made their entrances and their
exits they were warmly apphuded, and from par
Ques and dress circle sparkling eyes amid mazes
Of moving fans looked on approvingy, and this
was the battle half won. Occupying the platform
were the faculty and many wen known citizens
gpicuous for their interest in the cause OF public
education.
Opening the evenings intellectual feast, sue
ceed1ng the usual prelmnarIes Of music and
prayer, was the reading OF the Riggs prize essays
by their authors. The first one read was by VIII
bur Larremore, OF the Junior class, his subject,
which was put interroratively being, "How far
may the best literature OF the present century be
regarded as the fruit OF Q careful study OF older
masterpiecesS'' He treated his subject which,
after all Ia not so Intellectually appalling as at nrst
glance 1t may seem, with great candor and fair
ness. He gave the old masters . far more serious
consideration than they are given In the "lnno-
cents Abroad" He gave those "old felers,n az
Mark Twain calls them, good deal OF credit,
but yet insisted that some Of our best
writer's, q Charles Dickens, for instance, was
not under much obligation to them But
then he approved OF improving genius and OF
trimming its lamp. Altogether 1t was very good
essay solid. researching. spirited and evidently
Samson Lachman of the senior class. His topic
was also presented IN the popular conundrum form
and chivalry still lavorably influence civilization in
the United Statesr He, too went back to aud
Old ieSaai days the Knisnss Of the middle ages
on their gaily caparisoned chargers. he traced
Nth the IDEAS Of that old time finding
Prose declarations followed. There was more
life in these, more animation, more interest.
Albert Philip, Of the Sophomore class was we'll
reetted. That great scene in English history was
too ssi and formal. Somewhat msrred Il. Tnere
was general disappointment when Charles G.
Ru6hmOre came on 10 the stage OF O1m1nutlve
figure and q voice suggestive OF John Randolph, 1t
was not to be supposed he would make much OF
his theme, 'Spartacus to the Enjoys" But there
was disappointment That little figure grew In
proportions and that shrill voice sent soon o
tremulous thrill through the vast audience.
The succeeding declarations were ''The Spirit Of
Anti-slavery," BY Carl schurz, BY Haniord Craw-
ford; 'The Gladiator Of Kellogg, by Louis
Werner, both juniors; "The Death Penaltyn OF
Victor Hugo, by William 7. Rodenbach and ''The
Declaration OF Irish Rights" OF Grattan, by
Charles W. Rush. the last two speakers belonging
to the senior class. All spoke very well and with
an easy grace Of delivery rarely surpassed among
the students OF our older colleges.
Concluding the evenings programme were
poetry declarations. There were three OF these
respectively by members Of the sophomore, junior
and senior classes. James N. Smith first
gave "The Mantle Of st. John de Mar
tna," BY whittier; George N. Morsltor gave
ssThe bton,u from Schiller and Joseph
Eastman, the 'Island Of the Scots" from Aytoun.
Recitng poetry requires o higher order OF de-
clamstory art than prose Rotations. These
young gentlemen, though not a Bellew or Booth,
and though not always catching rightly the spirit
OF certain passages, acquitted themselves exceed
ingly well.
fhe prolonged programme made it late when the
exercises concluded, but the audience continued
to hnger ana the interest was undiminlshed to the
close. The judges Tor the occasion are Nathaniel
Jarvis, IT,; james w. Gerard and Allen Campbell.