Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-11
EoR ND COMMENCEMENT.

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COLLEGE ND COMMENCEMENT.
Ana Som I'd in Relation TO Them.
JUNE, 1884.
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times
The delightful days have come again,
when We gather In chapels and college halls
and look at the young folks, and hear them
discourse with youthful wisdom upon the
problems Of life.
Where shall we gop suggest Union for
one place. Commencement there Is on the
same day a. 10 Burlington. We can CON-
pare the two universities and contrast them.
II you leave the postoffice 10 Burlington
and ascend the hill toward the old Medical
college you come to APPOINT where the principal
buildings are seen through the foliage at
your left. II you walk up Union street.
Schenectady, you reach, as you approach
College hill, a similar CONT OF view. The
shape Of the ground, the masses OF foliage
and the impressions made by the two locali-
ties are very much alike. Coming to this
point In Schenectady for the first time, re-
Gently, felt thrill go through me. as II l
we're stumbling upon my own alma mater
(the University Of Vermont) unawares. A lit
tie advance changed the appearance and ban
ished the illusion. Union has the fine CON-
msnding situation, the broad campus, and the
gentle downward slope toward the town. But
there the comparison ends and the contrast
begins. II is the willow-shaded Mohawk
instead Of Lake ChAmplain, at the foot Of the
declivity and there Ii breadth OF undula-
| ting country reaching Its horizon q dozen
miles away, instead OF the far-of towering
Adirondack. Turning In the other direction
the grove and college woods invite you, In
place of the broad Winooski valley. and the
distant Green Mountains.
To me the woods and groves, and Jack
sons garden" and the winding paths
through these sequestered shades, are the
outward attractions Of Union. can under
stand that In them, for her children, the spir-
II OF enchantment dwells.
Lot US leave the hill and 60 down into the
town and attend Commencement. We find
that beautiful church has been opened ant
10 prepared for the occasion, and all things
are In order.
At ten O'Clock the procession comes and
the church IL filled. II 10 not crowded In
deed, there are not few vacant seats. ash
An old stager Gan elderly man on the stage
If this II the usual attendance. He say
no, that tho room will be packed, and no
tlce that BY degrees, people dropping 10, al
the vacant places.
The exercises begin. As the young mer
that the Union boys are good, off-hant
speakers. They add somewhat to the forct
OF any statement they may make, by thei
natural and easy orstory. Their sub1ectI
are all Of practical character. Perhaps II
10 not true that they aooid all show OF learn
ing and distractions, and are shy Of clsssi
cal illusions, yet that thought has occurred Il
me. The young man who gains the highes
prize for oratory tells US In pleasant way
what he thinks Of Wendell Phillips. HI
does not attempt any analysis, or aim al
profound treatment. With graceful delivery
he presents merely his estimate OF the char
acter Of the man, commencing chiefly bill
conscientiousness and integrity. There II
talk by other speakers, Of The Morality Of the
Stage, England's Foreign Policy, The Irish
Question and similar topics. The farthes
push away from matters of immediate prac
tical interest," upon which any talker ven
lures in bis choice OF a theme, goes no far
Their than Marathon"
The address by the so-called chancellor Of
Union University, some learned man, chosen
each year, mainly or merely to deliver the
address, 10 also very practical, having for 1T
subject the physical and mental heath OF
students and workers In professional life
He regrets the increasing use OF tobacco. in
dulges in . pleasant joke about his owl
fondness for tea, and comedies that he doet
not quite know what to say to his well
Informed hearers, upon the wine question
He wins his audience by talking with then
In an extremely matter OF fact way. His col
leee gown and cap impsrt flavor Of pleas
ing Quaintness TO his appearance. 1t 10 by
no means a solemn hour. The kindly anC
humorous advice Of father to his family il
about the manner Of II. He hints 10 thu
boys with sly wink) that while he car
not say, that II they are virtuous they viii
be happy, be is able to inform them that Il
they take good care OF their health they will
be comfortable, and will probably prosper II
the world. The chapcellor's plain remark
are very much liked.
There are few more than forty graduates
Then 1.-THE Song Of Old Union" is sung by
the entire assembly, led by the organ
This takes hold, and lifts US t
a higher plane OF feeling than anything ",
have had. Indeed there Is nothing else tina
seems like sentiment In tho course OF tn
exercises. But this song starts the tears o
the older alumni. In singing the last stanx,
the final chorus 10 three times repeated. l
seems to be necessary for Union man Il
hang on to that final chorus and repeat
NTH he feels that he has enough.
CAorus-Then here's to thee, the brave and free
old Union smiling Ger rs
And for n any day, :. ny walls grow:sray' ma
III ring with thy childrens chorus
It is grand when sung As they sing 1t, ant
il Is easy to understand why they have sucl
an affection for It.
As tho sounds Of the organ and the voice
die away, President Potter, In gown and cap
rises and announces the prizes- A sllve
cup. siven BY the officers OF tho college, i
frst presented Then follow presentation
OF about dozen prizes to orators and essay
ists. These presentations with the bent
oictiop) concluded the exercises at th'
Ichurch.
There IL quiet hour With few friends a
1.-The presidents house. A learned judge, wht
has retired from active duties, Informs US, as ",
euioy ouristra v berries and cream. that he wa
graduated moro than fifty yesrs ago, and hat
really imagined OF late that no was growins
old but be finds ths, he 10 still boy q
Union. He has an attack OF juvenility everJ
year. when he leaves bis resting place among
the green hills and comes TO Commence
ment.
With lively talk and hllarity the houl
passes, the lunch 10 over, and We take thu
cars for our return journey.
"How do you like II and what do vol
think OF Union ?" 10 asked. A Dartmouth
alumnus whispers that the talking we have
heard has been good and practical, but ht
fears there 10 not as much learning snd
thought IN 1t, - would characterize effort
OF the same kind In some Of the New Eng
land colleges. A New York city man asserti
that the 'practical colleges" like good ole
Union, are much the best. He thinks tn.
boys need to know the world, and claim
that 1t 10 . grand thing TO have the New
York Central railroad, with Ito many tracks
limmanna traffic and constantly roaring iraina