The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-27
THE MAIDEys or V.4ss4R.
Mis- Mitchell, the Astronomer. Taking n view
OFFS Mundane Galaxy.

Mis- Mitchell, the Astronomer. Taking n view
ofs Mundane GALAXY.
PoUdHKEEPsIE, juno 2G-It Is generally
conceded TINT Vassar College il the largest and
best institution in tho country for the educa-
ton OF young women. To-day was their com
mencement. Tho graduating clnss numbered
in the ncGhborhood OF fifty. The whole num-
Der OF students during the past year was three
hundred and fifty. This is rather smaller than
In some previous years. for vassar. like every
thing else has felt tho pressure OF the hard
times.
Ten young ladies took pnrt in the exercises to-
day. The mode Of making the selections for
bearing the honors Of the graduating class and
OF conducting these proceedings after the sclec-
tlon Is made IL, in some respects rather pecu-
liar Mt Vassar The selection Of the honorcd
ten is of course. made by the faculty, but after
that the ten conduct their affairs pretty much in
their own way. The two chief positions of the
graduating class are its President and its vale
dictoran. These are chosen by the class Miss
Harriet f. Stanton Of New Jersey was President.
and Miss Sarah q. Wilkinson of Iowa was tho
vaedictorian. The former is understood to be
the best rhetorcian and orator of the class tho
latter the best classical scholar. Ten young la
dies assembled the platform to-day. SO good n
judge the Rev. DR.. Prime of tho New York
Observer declared that the orations and essays
delivered here this morning we're above the
average in every essential particular OF those
pronounced on Tx" occasions Mt tho best col
leges in the cOu v. Tho productions Of the
Nassar graduates exhibited study. thought. and
wide course Of reading. and were clothed i'm
choice language. This was the QUO marked
feature of all the performances. The subjects
too W are generally OF a grave character Con,
trary to what many might be led to expect from
young ladies'. there WIS nothing light trivial. or
superficial in the addresses; and we have the
authority OF one OF the professors for saving
that they were tho work OF their respective au-
thors alone.
But we will commence litle nearer tho be-
ginning, Tho large chapel Of the college was
crowded 10y an audience gathered from various
parts 81 the country. seats, however. being re-
served for the trustees. faculty alumni, and stu
dents. All was expectancy. when ut half past 10
the organ sounded avoluniary. and the trustees,
faculty. and alumni slowly entered the chapel
and took seats on the platform. while three
hundred and fifty students, closely following.
filed into the seats on the main floor. Notable
among the professors, about two til irds OF whom
wero women. were Miss Mitchell the astrono-
mer; President Raymond took the chair. and
DIR. Prime opened the proceedings with prayer.
or course. the first address was the time hon
aored Latin salutatory. pronounced by. Miss
rs usual on occasions when listening to the
round. sweet cadence of the Roman tongue.
Inc trustees test tried i to APPEAR "a they under
guage could not help thinking what Cicero
would have said about 1t If h. had Unopened 10
have been present. Very ltely II. was good
thing Of its kind. At all events. II Is safe 10 as
sert this. for there are not ten men and women
IN Poughkcepsie to-day who know enough to
Miss Nelson OF central New York discoursed
ably upon the expediency OF uniting. physical
boldly announced that the idea of total deprav-
ity originated in u disordered stomach. twelve
platform laughed outright while the other
twelve elongated their faces and looked grave.
u, Miss HIllard daughier9t the Pilgrims, from
vein OF thought and illustration the modern
methods Of reconciling science with Christian
ity. The Keynote Of her Grafton was that the
Bible is not a text book for teaching the SET
Miss Botsford Of Port Jervis portrayed in bril-
liant colors the NanRlory OF the French nation.
She drew her proofs from striking events in
the reigns Of Louis NV. and Napoleon 1. She
yaingl ory WIS the one salient weakness Of the
French people.
ton. Should America Modify her Estimate Of
Charles SUMNER, Miss stanton took the afir-
native. and aimed to prove that Mr.. sumner
had been greatly overrated as lawyer, II
scholar; stalesman. a political leader. and
quently defended him whom she called the
idol Of the Old Bay State, This debate was
cor e 20 1e IN s,uT n %, tne d%y On
the literature and more particularly the poetry.
OF the GERMANY ~ our times. showed clos,
that people. II WAS IA highly creditable produc-
ton.
Inc tOptc next cOnsldered bore tne somewhat
mystic title OF "Art and the Philistine-" I'm
der the felcitous treatment oil Miss Bascom Of
Washington. our art critics themselves received
sharp and sarcastic criticism. IL turned out in
the course ~ her address. that in her opinion
those Americans who criticise the works Of
American artists deserve to be called phlis-
tines. because their hands are turned with NAL
ice nfDrethought against all our native painters.
sculptOrs. architects. and 50 on.
The mathematical Grafton was delivered by
Miss Putnam Of Eliztht thtown. She talked
learnedly Of that ahstrusc science. much to the
nj AN hftll M mn hon
believe anything unless Il can be- demonstrated
according 10 the ethics of Euclid.
And now came the NAlcdictOry OF Miss Wilkin-
son. IL was n beautiful gem. and the farewell
drew tears from her classmates. from the fdcul-
was tenderly touched when she told him that
the graduates of rs would ever regard him. not
merely as their mentor and guide. but as their
father.
A. soon as Mr.. Raymond had recovered his
en-possession he proceeded to address tho
class in Latin. according 10 the usual formula,
then conferred the degrees. the graduates pass
ing before him in u long line as they received
the young ladies arose and stood while the
President delivered pathetic baccalRur eate
grafton in English. and dismissed with his
benediction, those over whom he had exercised
paternal watch for four years.
We have omitted To say what should by no
means be left out. VIZ: that the proceedings
were intcrspersed with music on the piano and
singing. all performed in the most artistic man
ner 10y the students. Music. both instrumental
and vocal, Is regarded as one of the cardinal
virtues in an education at Nassar. Very appro-
printey therefore, the commencement eXer-
cses closed by singing the doXologv, Praise
chorus
An Obituary Wreath.
,py Kind Permission OF C. W. chnd. a. NJ