National Republican., 1883-06-16
Princeton College Commencement.
Tn fbe E,IJgor

SIR: Will you kindly accord me tn @ use of
your columns to call the attention of the
graduates and friends of Princeton college
residing in this city TO the coming commence
ment ON the twentieth instant of that hon
ored institution.
Tho commencement committee of which
Henry NJ Alexander, of New York, is chair
man, have issued a circular letter to impress
at least upon such graduates as reside within
q not inconvenient distance the duty of q
greater interest in the affairs of the college,
but especially of larger attendance at the
annual commencements. Perhaps no greater
apathy exists among Princeton alumni than
is to be found among the graduates of other
institutions, but it is remarkable that of the
three score and ten gentlemen residing in or
near. Washington, and who doubtless are
proud to hail from Nassau hall, and half of
whom take such pleasure in the annual re-
unions of our Washington Alumni associa-
tion, the number who return to greet the
friends Of their college days, and renew their
associations with old Princeton at her annual
ingatherings, may usually be counted on the
fingers of one hand.
And yet in addition to the memories and
associations referred to, and which grow
dearer when mellowed by time there are new
attractions in the magnificent structures
erecte within the past ten to fifteen years to
enlarge the scope and facilities Of the course
of study, and afford increased and comforta-
BILE accommodation, both of the $50 students
who now receive instruction within her halls
and the thirty-hve professors in her various
departments of academic and scientific study.
Those who remember only the then college
buildings-north, east, and west-the library,
and the two society halls-Cliosophic and
American Whig (eXcuse me If i name the
historic muse first t)-will be amazed (if they
have not renewed their acquaintance within
ten years. at the number, beauty, uses, and
adaptation Of the various buildings which
now fill the eye at Princeton, and with the
accomplished body of professors which justly
entitle 1t to the name of university.
The want of hotel accommodations at
Princeton was in times past serious impede
ment to those who longed to revisit scenes so
hallowed to their memories but soft-shades
of Joline and Rittenhouse and Schenck scowl
not upon mo so fiercely In your day and
generation, while in the flesh, you did your
"level best" but times are changed, ct nos
you understand. Crowd not our memories
and our Latin too hard. Times are changed,
and the University hotel now opens its ample
doors on the site where Peter Polite was wont
| to dispense ice cream beneath the sylvan
bowers which adorned his garden. SchenclS's
| hotel is still in existence, running
with new life and vigor, while many
o hospitable citizen, either for friend
ship or a consideration, stands ready to well
come the wanderer home. Then, too, dear
old DR.. MacLean is there still, his head white
with the frosts Of over eighty winters, but
erect as Clan-Alpine's pine, and genial as-as
his own warm heart. He and Prof. Stephen
Alexander, star-like memory, are the sole
survivors of the old faculty. The young men
of this day only know DR.. McCosh, whose un-
doubted ability in the chair of philosophy is
only equaled by his power in enlsting tho
practical sympathy of wealthy friends in be-
half of the college. Let me only say in con-
clusion of what was intended to be short
article to some my fellow alumni, that
the 136th annual compencement takes place
ment dinner in the University hotel ut 2 p. m.
1t is, however, of equal importance-far
greater to many-to know that the annual
meeting of the literary societies is held in
their halls at 1l;30 a. m. of Tuesday, and the
annual meeting of the alumni in the Univer-
sity hotel the same day Tuesday, at 1880,
which will end with a collation. and some
grand doings. l. H. V.