National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-08

was crowded yesterday to witness the order of ex-
ercises appertaining to presentation day. This
college was established ten years ago according
to an act OF Congress signed by Abraham Lin
| colr, then President of the United States on the
sth day of April, 1854. The act reads as follows:
Be ii eracted by the Senate and House of Rep
resenfdtices Of the United States of america in
| CsngresS assembled. That the board of directors
of the Colum bian Institution for the instruction
| Of the Deaf'and Dumb and Blind be, and they
| are hereby, authorized and empowered to grant
sciences to such pupils Of the institution Others
who, by their proficiency in learning or other
| to them, as are usually granted and conferred in
colleges, and to grant to such graduates diplomas
| or certificates scaled and signed in such manner
as said board of directors may determine, TO au-
thentieate and perpetuate the memory OF such
| graduation.
PROGRESS OF THE INSTITUTION.
Two months later public exercises were held,
| in which the purposes and objects of The deaf
mute college were fully set forth, and within four
| days thereafter Congress made an appropriation
| the institution.
In September of the same year the college be-
| gan its educational operations with seven stu
| dents. Private benevOence supplemented the
| liberal action of Congress, and there no lack
Of means for the prosecution Of the novel under
the pTRcticability of aHording collegiate educa-
| tion TO the deaf and dumb. and many who did not
question the feasibility Of the enterprise were
The work OF the college advanced, its numbers
increased and yesterday the eleventh anniversary
was celebrated.
THE EXERCISES YESTERDAY.
AS early as o'clock large numbers of persons
arrived, and by O'Clock every seat and vacant
space was occupied.
AT three O'Clock the candidates for degrees in
company with John Eaton, esq, Rev. DR.. Gallau-
det, New York; Hon. J. Q. Mcclure, Rev. DIR.
SunosrlaHd. Rey; Dr.. Parker, Hon; m. Stick
dent yelling, Columbia college; Secretary
Delano, General Hitchcock, Nevada; Chas. W.
Ely, principal Maryland Institute for the
Deaf and Dumb; President Gallaudet and
the faculty Of the college, arrived in the
hall; the former took seats reserved for
them in front Of the platform, and the
latter occupied the rostrum, on either side of
which were tables, abundantly filled with flowers,
to be presented to the candidates for degrees
After all were seated Rev. Dr. Chlckerlng in the
absence of Rev. S. s. Mitchell, d. D., who was
confined to his home on account Of sickness, in
AN EXPLANATION
President GalIaudet next explained "Preseu-
tation Day" and said: Following the traditions
and presidents of other American colleges our
commencement day, the distinguishing feature OF
which consists IN the public exercises of the grad
uatipg class. This occasion has, time out Of
mind, occupied the closing day of the academic
year in American colleges. Its observation in
our institution was attended with not a few in
conyeniences and drawbacks, some of which
would doubtless be found to exist in all colleges
The preparations for the exercises of commence
ment day have necessarily been made under the
they have come in connection with the closing
examinations Of the academic year, Cnd the final
examinations Of the graduating class. The daY
itself, the last Wednesday in June, more ukeiy
TO be excessively hot than otherwise, Is only
reached after very many whom 1t is important to
interest in the college have lett the city for the
summer.
These considerations, and some others which it
is not necessary to state, led the faculty OF the
college TO make the experiment of substituting a
new occasion in place of the time honored com
mencement.' 1t was decided to hold the annual
public exercises Of the college Just after the close
OF the second term, and to call the anniversary
presentation day. The order of proceedings was
made to differ from that of commencement only
in this, that no valedictory addresses called
for; and instead OF the comforting Of degrees the
members Of the senior class were presented By
the faculty to the board Of directors as suitable
name Of the day. The formal confsTfinF Of t de
Rress would take place. under this new plan at
the close Of the academic year, and be accom-
panied by no other public exercises than the vale.
dictory addresses
CREATIONS AND DISSERTATIONS
On the conclusion OF the Professors statement,
the following programme Of the order Of exercises
siad & 0I rso of IN
MISUNDERSTANDING" by Elias Myers, Union
town. Ohio. Dissertation-"Woman's Domain"
tisn-"Home, the Training Place of the Citizen"
by Albert &. Powell Flndlay, Ohio. Interms-
sion Of five minutes. Orationm"The Epoch Of the
Renaissance in Italy," by VIM. q. Pick, Provi-
dence, X. l. OTatlon-"Abuse Of the Freedom of
the Press" by James NJ. Park, Columbus, Ohio.
The above were all delivered in the sign Ian
guage by the authors, and repeated to the au-
dience.
ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS,
President Gala udet said that during the past
five years much had been done by the Govern
ment of the United Statee, through the Interior
Department, toward the completion OF the insti-
tuition. The institution has had friend in the
present Secretary Of the Interior, and to him
duced Secretary DelanO, who said:
This noble institution, which commands respect
and confidence, was connected with the branch Of
public business in his charge, and he had taken
deep interest in its prosperity. He was not pre-
from a multitude Of cares He referred to the
origin and history Of the institution, and stated
that some years ago man came to this city and
gentlemen wrested these unfOrtunates from the
mans grasp, and with their private means
started this institutions; after which the United
States Government came to their rescue, and the
institution has progressed ever since. Some Of
the officers present were such from Its foundation,
and the name of Amos Kendall could never be
He next addressed the candidates and referred
to them as about entering into new sphere of
life. In another rear they would graduate, which
would bring them to an important epoch Of their
lives. 1t would not finish their education, but
tice what they had been taught. Aman's educa-
tion was never finished, but the training they had
received would enable them to
ACHIEVE SUCCESS.
Wheh the eollege nails were LETT an opQ ortunlty
would be afforded them to study the world. Gods
works would afford knowledge. and the young
men would be like the ship lying in her harbor
provisioning ready for the stormy sea, when after
leaving her wharf be pIlcted out after which she
would have to make her own way. They should
remember that they had chart Of this sea, re-
ceived at this Institution, and pilot also. Rely
steadfastly on Of him and the journey would be
prosperous. He had seen some stormy voyages
and he hoped the young men would be more pros
porous. He claimed that the president and pro-
lessons were doing good work by spreading be-
fore them morality, Christianity and knowledge,
for which they deserve praise from Christian
Mr.. William Stlekney read q letter from Prof.
Henry regretting his inability to be present.
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES.
President Gallaudet next presented the names
Of the following candidates for the degree OF
b. A.: James Martin Park, Orson Archibald.
William Charles Pick, Elias Pick, AlberL Charles
Powell, James Curtis Balls.
Rev. J. W. Parker, d. D., pronounced the
benedietion, and those who had received invita-
tions called on MIR. and Mrs. Gallaudet at their
residence, where an hour or more was enjoyed in
social converse, and the company retired.
oFFIcERs OF THE INSTITUTION.
The following are the officers of the institution:
Patron, Ulysses S.Grant, President Of the United
States; president, Edward n. Gallaudet, Phi. D.
LII. D.; secretary, VIM. Stlckney, esq.,; treasurer
Geo. W. Riggs, esq.,; dIrectors-Hon. George F.
EdmuDds, Senator from Vermont; Hon. Henry
L.Dawes, Senator from Massachusetts: Hon VIM,
L. Niblack, nc. from Indiana; Rev. Byron Sun
derland, d. D.; James @. Mcclure, ESQ.,; Hon.
College FacuIty-Presdent and Professor Of
Moral and Political Science, Edward NJ. GalIau-
det, Phi. D., LII. D.; Professor OF Mental Science
and English PhilolOgy, Samuel Porter, M. A;
Professor Of History and Ancient Languages
Edward A. Fay, M. A; Professor of Modern Ian.
Ruages Professor OF Natural Science, Rev.
John W. ChIckeriBg, jr., NJ. A; Professor Of
Mathematics and Chemistry, Joseph q. Gordon,
NJ. A.; Tutors, J. Burton HOtchkiss. NJ. A, Amos
q. Draper, b. A; Lecturer on Natural History,
Rev. VIM. W. Turner, Phi. D.; Instructor in Art,
Peter Baumgras.
Faculty Of the Primary Department-Presi-
dent, Edward NJ. GalIaudet Phi. D., LII. d.; H.
stIuctors, James Denison, NJ. A, Principal; Mel
Vile Ballard, NJ s., Mary T. G.. Gordon; In
siTuciOr in Articulation Rev. John W. Chicken
ing, jr., NJ. A; Instructor in Art, Peter Baum
graz.
Domestic Observation-Disclosures Physician,
N. S. Lincoln, NJ. D.; Matrop, Miss Anna A.
Pratt; A Assistant MatroD, Mrs Elizabeth L. Deni-
son; Master of Shop, Almon Bryant.
The reception committee was composed Of Geo.
NJ. TeeRorden, marshal; Dudley W. George,
VIM. g. Jones, John E. Crane. Wilbur N. Spar
row, Lester ID. Waite.