New-York tribune., 1877-06-29

hut nothing occurred until lO45 Then the ladies OF the
Presidential party entered the theater Mrs Hayes being
escorted by Gen. Devens. Mrs. Deyens and Mrs W. d.
Howes were the party and all took their places ex-
actly at the middle OF the ecirce and just above the
parquet where the to bc placed Mr. Long
fellow was seated little their left Mr.. Van Brun
Of the architects OF the hall and theater OBJ
served sat q little behind them. 1t was charming
scene-he amphitheater ftted in polished and carved
wood the deeply shadowed dome harmonously tinted in
citron, maroon, and brown and the stained windows,
half open allowing glimpses out among the noble
elms that line tho ncosng streets. Finally,
what we had been waiting patiently for happened
Martial approached outside, and presently In came
the whom all know and whom none OF us know
the President OF the United States. He was accompanied
by Gov Rice and Messrs schurr and Key, and followed
by the body OF professors in academic gowns, which
gave them cuTously wilted wrnkled, and ominous ar
Many gentlemen Of note now took seats with them on
the platform, among whom Judge Rock ood Hoar,
Senator Bayard OF Delaware twho gives the Phi Beta
Kappa oration tomorrow, Hester Cymer OF Pennsyr
vania the Rev. T. T. Hale and others little after the
exercises began Ralph Waldo Emerson entered quickly
upon the platform from entrance at the back and sat
down in the OF the rest
The Commencement orators though their productions
were finished and clever enough did not surpass the
average of their kind They gave us what might have
been rectations Of magazine articles, without much
originality in them Mr.. Edward Henry Strobel's Latin
Grafton had special interest from being pronounced in
the Continental manner and Mr. Francis Buchanan Tiffany
threw good deal OF feeling into his address Heinrich
Heine. After the dsquistons and dissertations, the
degrees bestowed TO each class in gross, without
reading out the names Mr.. Birchard Hayes went up
with his companions OF the Law School, in body, and
PROBABLY rot identified by quarter OF the audience
The honorary degrees included Mr. Bayard and President
Hayes and the Of the latter called forth
prodigious enthusiasm, the entire audience rising and
cheering
Immediately after the exercises many drove or
walked TO Mrs. Dcvenss which is quite in Oxford
ST., to attend the reception given TO Mrs Hayes Here
was collected a very interesting assembly. Gen. Dcvens
present for few moments But the tide of interest
soon set back to Memorial Hail, where the Commence
ment dinner was TO be served in the huge apartment
used for the college commons; while Mrs Hayes and
Miss Fooe were 10 proceed their drive TO Longwood
ana Brookline, those suburbs OF Boston which have
heard thar Bayard Taylor pronounces fine any sub
urbs in the world.
To the dinner as usual the alumni went in procession,
with music at the head OF the column and this time Presi-
dent Governor and three Cabinet officers The hall was
speedily filed with the invited guests and older alumni
that presented the spectacle Of great area covered
by long tables each lined by 200 500 men, with mar
row lanes between. barely permitting the passage Of the
cOored walters As looked down these lanes the re-
semblance TO paths in fed under cultivation was
heightened by the proximity Of the colored walters to
long cOton-whte heads where the older classes
were gathered The last TO the graduates
OF two three years back, who made rushing irrup
ton into the hail. Fastening wildly clsmberng over
chairs, and finally all getting seats except desperate
few who waited to De sifted iutO chance vacancies.
Prayer offered by the Rev j. f. Hoors OF Greenfield
Mass and then the dinner rapidly dispatched and
the speaking began.
Gen. Devens as President OF te Alumni, presided ia
the most accomplished and genial way. The fact that
he held this relation TO the affair and also place in the
Cabinet important element III the OF this
OCCASION giving it friendliness and nformaty-s
thing resembling confidential exchange Of sentiment
between the Administration and part OF the people
that prevented TOO great excess of gravity. The ap
plause unstlnted, ard the Germana Band in the
gallery iDterspersod music Of every kind from the
"Walkire" to Strauss and back again to Lohcngfin.
Tire name of the late Gen Bartlett whom Gen. DeveDs
mentioned in his opening remarks received with
great feeling When President Hayes rose to speak the
three cheers accorded to the previous speakers
were increased TO nine and his brief sentences
were answered with storm of enthusiasm that must
have convinced Inn, other things had not already
done how complete the accord was between himself
his hearers. Mr. schurzs remarks being the most
extended also on the whole the most successful
being witty at the beginning and gradually bringing the
audience mood OF eager eaFuesness But each effort
had its special merit; President Eliot combining statc
ness and pleasant brightness; Prof. Lowell occupy
ing ones attention by that quiet persuasive grace
o. literary culture which is great fascination IN his
speaking and hghtens the zest Of his cordial humor;
ald Senator Bayard colorng his candid aud manly
thought with winning suayy OF uttcrance. Secretary
Eyarts had, unfortunately returned TO Newaycn
to keep the anniversaries Of his class and college,
and for neither Oliver Wendell Holmes nor
Judge HOar who generally enlyen the entertamr en at
Commencement- sid not forward with any prom
inence, though they doubtless present somewhere
the great tangle OF chairs and tables At the Pres-
dents table wore, besides the Cabinet officers. President
Eliot, exChief Justice Bigelow OF tho Massachusetts
Supreme Court Judge Bradley, who takes the place Of
Gov Washburn in the Law School, and Judge Hastings
OF California, with number Of others. Finally, Presi-
dent Hayes had to return to Boston, and shortly after
this, and after speech by Mr. Joseph Choate 81 New
York the hall OF the audience who had remained san.
AUD Lang syne," and made then way slowly out,
leaving the great hall TO its silent population OF historic