West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-09-05
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Fourth Chautauqua Letter.
Chautauqua's Commencement.
CHAUTAUQUA, N. Y,
August 20, 1888.

DEAR 4 FREEMAN: saturday the
18th was the great day at Chautau-
qua this year. The Glass Of 1888,
in the Chautauqua Literary and
Scientific Circle, to the number of
1900, had completed their four
years course of reading and were to
graduate.
1t was Commencement Day.
Among the graduates from Par
kersburg, that we know of, are Mrs.
DR.. Kendall, Miss Emma Taven-
ner, Harry Moss, Hon. Geo. W. At
kinson, and the writer of these
lines. Everything on the program
to-day pertains to the G. l.. S. G.
Glass of 1883. At 10 a. m. the
class, or those Of them who were
present, to the number of almost
300, marched through the golden
gate and up the hill beneath the
arches into the Hall in the Grove,
fifty-two little girls dressed in
white, strewing their path with
flowers. Here they were met by
Or, Vincent and welcomed into the
Hall, aided by the Glass Of 1882.
Some very choice singing was done
by the '.'Choir Of the Hall in the
Grove" led by Prof. C. G. Case, and
the "Glee Club" led by Prof. W. F.
Sherwin.
The procession was again formed,
and marched to the great amphi,
theatre, where they were address
ed by one of the Counsellors of the
c. l.. S. c., DR.. Lyman Abbott, of
New York. The graduates of 1882
and 1888, to the number of 500, oc-
cupied the seats directly in front
of the platform. The address was
one of the most chaste, beautiful
and eloquent deliverances that ev-
Ell fell upon our ears.
At 2:30 p. M, the G. L. S. C.'s
are out again and an immense au-
dience with them. President Lew
is Miller, of Akron, Ohio, delivers
the first address and is followed by
DR.. Abbott, in a brief, off-hand talk
that fairly sparkled with gems.
DR.. Vincent then read letters
from absent members of the Glass
in more than a dozen States, among
them one from our own Harry
Moss, Of the Post-office.
The Graduating Glass live in'33
States and territories, and mem
bers of vast variety Of the profess
sions and callings in everyday life,
as well as connected with nearly
all of the religious denominations
to be found on our continent.
A memorial fund of one hundred
dollars is collected in the class of
1883 to aid in identifying the
grounds of Chautauqua.
The Society of the Hall in the
Grove" composed of the classes of
1882 and 1888, of the G. L. S. c., as
sembles at p. m. and discuss for
an hour the Importance of erecting
larger and more substantial build
ings for the accommodation of the
vast multitudes that now come to
Chautauqua to rest anC study.
The c. L. S. c. campfire is kin
died at s 80 p. M, and after some
good singing and a half-dozen spir-
tied speeches, the exercises of a
great day are ended.
CHAUTAUQUA's SABBATH.
A Sabbath at Chautauoua will
not soon be forgotten, nor its infu.
ence cease to be felt, by one who
has been so fortunate as to enjoy
its blessed stiffness. To-day the
gates are closed. Nobody can pass
in or out. Boats pass back and
forth, but do not land at Chautau-
qua. Work of all sorts is suspend
ed. A Sabbatic quietness broods
over the encampment.
At 80 a. m. four Sabbath
Schools are in session in four sepa-
rate buildings, presided over by
four Sunday School geniuses of
different denominations. In the
School held in the amphitheater,
fully $500 adults were assembled.
At II a. NJ, an enormous congre-
cation assembled in the amphithe-
atre with the graduates of 1882 and
1883 C. L. S. CO. occupying the
front seats-possibly nearly 500 of
them. DR.. ]. H. Vincent preached
the RaccalalIreate sermon. from