The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-10
COLUMBIAN UNIVERSITY.


PARrMENr.
WAsmlNGToS, guue o. 1915.
The Commencement exercises 81 me Laa De-
partment or Columbian University 81 washington
tor the year ending June . 1875. vas something
more han the ordinary routine OF class com
mencements. The Nationa! Theatre never III is
palmiest days had such an audience within us
walls. Tragedy ana comedy were allke aepleted
on the stage Bancroft, the historian; coreoran,
the banker; Henry the scientist; Johnson, the
statesman; Merrick, the LAWYER: Frazer. the
iurist; MYer, the meteorooglst, with the
Justices OF tine supreme court. Court
Of Claims ana District Courr, made uD
surrounding not usually seen IN any
group, while the President or the University Or.
lanes c. yelling. in 3 snKen gown. was rne em5
bodment or dignity N the midst OF the disto-
gulshed members of the District Bar. The au-
dience was more than brilliant.
THE DEGREES
were conferred by President Weninc. and, after
tire grand fantasia from "Lucretia Borgia,n Presi-
aent yelling announced that the address TO the
graduates ana awarding OF prizes would be made
by one whom all would unite IN respecting az the
Nestor OF the Americ Elm Bar. As Reverdy
Johnson came forward, literally IN the
midst OF TIE garden OF flowers, ne was
received with prolonged applause, and, resting
mis- right hand on 4 table Suriened with exorcs,
We addressed his remarks % the graduating class
he was patriarch among children. Abiding
to fact tnat Tor SIXTY years he mad been prac-
ntioner ut the Bar, ne thought he might say some
thing that wouli animate 1r encourage the young
men In heir future career. lie spoke OF the dg-
atty OF lawyers OF law "A profession, lis
i'm Importance to society and how much rested upon
Inc solid, ST. bic character OF the men who entered
upon the practice o law. las advice was not 20
read too many books. The Isalmist dld nor
know, as We now know. that lnucn study j.
wearlness Of the nesh and OF maEing books there
is END, but tnere were some books they could
read with profit and ny mastering their contents
pront BY them. ne aliuded 10 Lytton BuAwer
is an Illustration OF what a man could
write who read but few books and studied nature.
ae cautioned the graduates against dependency
Il they did not win their
FIRST CASE BEFORE Jury
Or court for such misiortunes come unto ALL ana
comfy Maryland, he thought he had prepared the
most exhaustive plea for a poor client thar could
be made and iound lls mistake Ia hood OF tears
HIS moruncation then only strengthened MS
determination 10 conquer his ehagrn in
future eiorts, and ne thought to certain degree
he lad done 50.
This allusion was received with tumuliuous APP
piause the graduates recogn zing II as first les
sOn IN courage.
duigng IN citations from classic authority
especially the Latin. unless the advocate was GER
tam OF his words, ana advised them not 10 AFFECT
gestures which lie had seen among members OF the
Bar even those who Practise before the supreme
Court, VINO shake their left hand nervouSly M The
face or the Court, because Ruus CBoate did So
VINO was famed great lawyer. lie
warned them against plagiarism, Imagination
and atrectailon, and advised them TO be true 10
themselves; TO realize that the works OF nature
were the works 81 HIM VINO Is law unto Himself,
and that revelation was
THE HANpHAID OF LAW.
The address OF the venerable statesman was re-
ceved with great applause, and after conlerring
the prizes, the wall9 or flowers on either side OF
tho stage were distributed among the graduates,
ana Que OF the most interesting law commence
ments ever held IN Washington ended IN tins
sweetest OF music from the Marine Band.