The Republican journal., 1882-06-01

Founders Day at Vassar College.
THE FESTIVAL FROM An INSIDE POINT OF VIEW.
WELCOMING TIE COMING AND SPEEDING THE
PARTING GUEST.
Correspondence Of the Journal.
The recent celebration at Nassar College is typi-
cal of one held there yearly on the Friday evening
which falls nearest to April 29th, and is perhaps,
more than any other social event of the college life,
a representative one. 1t is given in commemoration
of the birthday of Matthew Na5sar, the founder Of
the college, but from the pressure Of the hurried
student life, is held evening which shall be
followed by day free from recitations,- Satur
day is a holiday in the college.
TO those looking at the fcstivity from an inside
point Of view, perhaps the evening is not its most
interesting part The day preceding il 4 busy one,
for the students, bent on having their college pre-
sent an appearance as inviting as possible to her
guests appoint committees to fill the various offices
of decorating the halls and parlors arranging the
collation., providing for the comfort Of the guests,
etc. The apartments thrown open for the use Of
the guests the public parlOrs, the dining-roonl,
the chapel. and the corridors the second floor,
The students parlors are, of course, not opened,
but their occupants are unanimously invited, by the
committee upon decorations, to Yield up the most
ornamental pieces Of their furniture for general
use. The public apartments, in consequence take
ON unwonted appearance Of luxury, and even
the long corridors, usually bare of very adormment
save a few somewhat severely classical pictures,
are gay with flower, brought for the occasion, and
made comfortable for those who care To sit by an
abundance OF easy chairs and sofas. The chapel,
too is prettiy decorated with flowers, and it's here
that the literary entertainment of the evening is
given, beginning with il welcome from the Prrsi
dent OF the Students Association, including am act
dress by some speaker from abroad, ana varied by
some fine vocal music. collation. in the dining
room follows, and even in this the students feel
that they are truly hostesses since they have
helped to arrange the dining room to the best effect,
prepared the table, and act such of them a. have not
guests as mattresses for their more fortunate com
panions.
For the dancers at least, the most attractive part
of the evening begins at the point where the cola
ton ends, for then the diningroom is cleared for
their especial use, although only square dances are
customary at the public receptions ot the college.
The band, stationed Just within the diningroom
door furnishes music for the dancers. well as for
those who choose to utilize the corridor as Il prom
enade This latter room is, perhaps, not the less
picturesque that the great Majority of the company
is composed Of ladies. For, however desirable
gentlemen may be- looked ut abstractly As social
acquisitions, they cannot be said, generally speak
ing, to add to the artistic beauty of scene. Flow
ing draperies possess an undisputed advantage over
dress-coats and the general straight lines Of mas
culine attire.
On Founders night of this year. however, the
college much indebted to two gentlemen, DR.
Vincent and Mr.. Thomas, in the one case for Il
pleasant address the subject of ''Construction,'
in the other for the vocal entertainment of the
evening Much disappointment is sometimes caus-
ed the students from the inability of invited guests
to attend, as, VI course, much Of the evening"
pleasure depends on their presence. This year,
however, there seemed to be much less trouble
than usual in this direction, and happy madens
promenaded attended by friends who had not sent
the disappointing "regret5." Yale, Princeton and
dents and when twelve O'CLOCK brought the even
ing to a close, our own Students at least felt that
Founders night, of this year. had been a success.
somewhat amusing scenes are likely to occur 1T
the close OF the evening, for at twelve O'Clock bell
strikes with meaning obvious enough to the initat
cd, who, at breakfast have heard the lady princi
pies Interpretation: "At the sound of the bell
young ladies will please expedite the departure of
their guests, far as hospitality will permit
But the means OF hospitable expedition is some
times more easily to be suggested than applied AMI
''the parting guest is often 'hard to speed How
ever by force OF delicate limiting and in cases.
n frank statement that collegianS belong to the
working wOrld-fOr openheartcd dHmsel
lately heard to say blithely-"Now, Mr. S, | will
take one more turn with you, and then you must
hope, no bad opinion of Nassar's hospitality.
NJ H. L. II.