The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-27
Exercises and Pleasures Of
Commencement Week.
CLASS DAY AND MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Alumni Enjoying "reminiscences
Of Student Life.
A GALA DAY AT VASSAR.
COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK.


YORK.
PRIZE SPEAKING AT BOOTHS THEATRE by THE
SUCCESSFUL CONTESTANTS FOE COLLEGIATE
HoNoEs.
The annual prize speaking OF the students OF the
College of the City Of Now York took place last night
Mt Booths Theatre. After the overture prayer was
offered by Dr. Kortell Tho reading OF the riggs
prize essays followed. The successful contestants icr
these prizes Lewis s. Burchard. oil the
senior class and Eugene Fishc, OF the junior
class. Mr. 3urchard reaG his essay on "fhe Choice
OF a Profession Alter Graduation" 1t was full OF
strong ideas expressed graceful English. He argued
that every young man starting out in life should
devote himself TO some profession and that the
one for which he felt himself the most fitted. The
best professions we're those which aimed to leave
mankind better than they found IT. such as theology,
teaching, law and journalism. Six young men chosen
from the senior, junior and sophomore classes next
contested for the prize for prose destinations offered
Mr. Wood selected Messrs. Richard OiGorman General
Foster and General Thomas ID. Johns. }. s. McWill-
lam, OF the sophomore class, was the first speaker.
He chose the battle piece, .How Saratoga Was Won."
Charles Sheppard. His voice, gestures and manner
s ,ss ioowea with the speech Of Robert Emmet on
,eing condemned Tor high treason HIS articulation
accurate aud his gestures graceful but ms voice
hardly SO loud as that OF his predecessor Thomas
piece by Thomas Corwin upon UNJUST
National Acquisitons.' HIS was more
calm than the others, but tho style Of
The spec Gu did admit Of display OF passion
Anthony r. Horn, OF the junior class, spoke Wendeil
Philips Grafton, "ToussiInt fuuverture" HIS voice
was excellent, but his manner was slightly laborcd,
aud ne EN- pnasiZei too many words IN each sentence
He was Interrupted several times by the applause OF
The audience. David NJ. Hunter, OF the senior class
delivered extract from Daniel Webstcr's speech ON
HE Presidents protest He proved himself TO be
IN ncipicnL orator OF the first order. Ber-
nard 10th, OF the senior class, delivered Wendell
Phillips Grafton ''Ihc Last Great Protest +"
HIS manner and gestures were very good, but
In parts requiring greater emphasis his voice was
hardly voluminous enough. This closed the contest
Tor the prose dcclamatlons. The result will be
announced by judges the medal awarded ut the
exhibition next Thursday night.
similar contest was next entered into Tor the prize
Tor poetry declamations, oG$ed by q. Il. Lockwood
Tnerc was only contestant from each OF the three
classes Theodore c. Ives, OF tho sophomore class
rccited Longellow's "Kcg Robert OF Siciiy, very
difficult piece, TO which the young man did fun
justice lie was followed by Alexander Bernstein. who
recited ''The BLACK Regiment" by George II. Boxer.
HIS was too weak aud pitched on
high key, SO that II was not an easy matter TO
follow speaker Charles G. Protheroc, OF the senior
class. spoke Bret Hartes poem, John Burns OF Get
tysburg" His tone rather conversational Than
and failed to do full justice 10 the piece Tho
OF this contest VIII be announced ut the COM
mencement The exercises were over by ten O'CLOCK
Among the prominent persons present were Commits
sioner Wood, ex-Commissoner Brennan, Rev. Dr.
Kortell, G.. X. Lockw ood, III. Christcrn, Rev. DR..
Burchard and President Webb.