Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-17

 From "Reminiscences by Josiah Quincey.J will conclude this account of my connec- tion with Harvard college by alluding briefly to my final appearance as pupil of that in stitution. This was on the occasion of my taking masters degree. Now this same degree was at that time given in regular course to every one who had been three years out of college and who chose to pay for it. A man mig ht have forgotten the lit tie he had learned, and have failed to acquire any new knowledge to take it's place, he was still entitled to be proclaimed master of arts on the simple condition above specified. The change of policy, which now requires a seri- ous examination to be passed before this de- gree can be conferred, is one of the many beneficial reforms which late times have in- stituted.
 of the candidates for the masters degree to be assigned parts at commencement. An ora ton in English and Latin valedictory were commonly spoken by three-year graduates A few days before the commencement of 1921 I received a letter from President Kirk land, in which he said that the person to whom the yaledictory had been assigned had not put in an appearance, and nobody knew where he was to be found. This was Will liam Wilmington, classmate of mine and an excellent scholar, but somewhat awkward in his manner and with small gifts speaker. As my rank in the class entitled me to suc- ceed the missing Wilmington, the president begged me to prepare Latin discourse with out more ado, for 1t was to be a great day for the college, as Gen. Lafayette was to be present. It may be that the graduates of our colleges to-day capable of breaking into the dead languages at a moments mo- tice but certain 1t is that the instruction that was to be had 60 years ago did not communi- cate this desirable facility. To comply with the presidents request would have been sim Jag e.. ant package which accompanied his letter. This contained number of Latin compost tions adapted to academic festivals. They had evidently been used with some freedom by past orators but, as they had never been re- ported and as the bulk of the audiences did not understand word of them, they were as bright and fresh as ever. It was evidently the intention of Dr. Kirkland that this useful literature should be largely drawn upon in preparing the valedictory. The convention al compliments to governors, magistrates and others in authority were as good as ever. The only thing to be done was to add some origi- nal sentences applicable to the nation s guest and then to recast, as we'll as my limited time allowed me to do, the matter which had been so thoughtfully furnished.
 The galleries of the venerable meeting house had been thronged with ladies from an early hour in the morning. But the general, who had to be received at almost every cross a triumphal arch had been erected in his hon. or. Here addresses and replies must be ex- changed, so that he was some hours behind time reaching the colleges. Notwithstanding the expectant and wearied audience which was waiting in the meeting house, the presi- dent did not see fit to omit his address of vel come, which was delivered from the porch which then stood in front of University Hall The Generals reply was brief, and concluded with Latin quotation which being given with the European pronunciation Sf that Ian guage, was not understood. At length the procession was formed and proceeded to the meeting house, and the most memorable commencement exercises which those old walls had ever witnessed were begun about o'clock in the afternoon.
 To describe the enthusiasm that greeted the guest of the day is simply impossible. Those who felt it, those who were lifted up by it knew that it was a unique experience, of which nothing adequate could be said La fayette was seated in a conspicuous place up- on the platform Most of the speakers d. luded in some way to his presence, and so permitted the repressed rapture to burst forth. Never was homage so unbounded,