Morning journal and courier., 1885-06-29
An Observer at Trinity College Conn mencement-A Word About YaIe's.

mencement-A Word About Kale's.
 GRANBY, June 27.-On Thursday of this week. 25th inst, we attended Trinity com mencement. At the opera house, Hartford where the exercises were held, we were told that two outside distinguished persons were present, viz: His Excellency Governor liar rison, and Dr. Porter, president of Yale col lege Eleven young men were graduated, one of whom was honored with the title of optimus. When he alone went upon the platform for his diploma the president of the college rose, lifting his Harvard cap in tok- en of his profound admiration for his supe- rior scholarship. The president conferred on him his degree in loud toned Latin. Each student received his degree much as one re- eeives the button in the well known button play. It took the president as long to confer degrees upon his eleven students as it took President Porter to confer said degrees upon 120 students at Yale. But Dr. F. seemed to be much pleased with the exercises, which abounded in great dis play in virtue of white and black gowned dignitaries of the Episcopal church The graduating class wore gowns and caps, as does Yale's president at commencement. But what is natural in this respect at Trinity bor- PNeSSOS1A Yale. Trinity till few years ago abounded in bouquets presented to the speakers. In some instances the speaker could not bear out of the hall the flower offerings given him at the close of his oration. It seemed as though the poorer speaker often got the greater number of these costly tributes. Not a bouuuet is now presented 8 gradu uating speaker. Sensible this in Trinity. Yale will do we'll to note this absence of flowers given by personal admirers and govern itself accordingly. Not much connection between oratorical merit and flowers, less between medioerity in speaking and flowers.
 Trinity dined her alumni right sumptuous- ly at the Allyn House. A ribboned menu cardboard covered tablet of dishes was at every plate. The repast and the speaking went on from 3 p. m. to 6. At about o'clock friction matches came into common use and cigar smoke began to abound. We personally are opposed to cigar smoke and feel tempted to s3talk out in meeting about it." but we forbear. Even Connecticut's otherwise perfect Governor smoked. But all honor to President Porter, who no more thought of smoking than of clogdancing on the dining table. In a cloud of smoke emitted by the dignitaries about him, he bravely and calmly spoke in praise of Trin- ity, oblivious, apparently, of her incivility smokewise.
 Yale's last commencement exercises proper in the Center church bordered hard on per lection to the credit of the participants and of their instructors. The Vice Presidents presence was worthy attraction. What he said on Tuesday to the lawyers, and the man ner of his saying it, was right creditable to him and to our republic. One could but wonder why Yale did not readily confer on him an IL. D., and as urgently insist on his being present to speak on the occasion. It could but have mortified him to receive the honor he did, but after all fail to receive the degree in question. At Yale, however, he was Vice President of the United States, strictly so. But at Boston he straightway tried to demonstrate before Democratic club that he is Vice President chiefly of the Democrats of the United States. His Thurs day Boston address was just one too many to match nicely with his discretion at Yale.