New-York tribune., 1886-11-09
THE ASSEMBLAGE AND CEREMONIES.


THE ASSEMBLAGE AND CEREMONIES.
A NOTED AUDIENCE IN MEMORIAL HALL
WAITING FOR THE PREsIDENT-GRoUPs OF FAMOUS
MEN.
far TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.1
CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Nov S.-The greatest day
In Harvards history Of 25O years has como ana sone
leaving memories hardly to be put Into words Inc
associations and the character OF the gathering which
have added splendor to ilustrous occasion may be
understood bare word Of the day But the un
der current Of deep feeling throughout Har-arfs anni
yersary exercises not to be expressed There is left
only the opportunity OF few siight Ko'ches
Of scenes under the College Elins and IN memorial
Hall Just outside tie college quadrangle around the
turretted gray stone building containing HarvArds
library there gathered this morning graduates OF half
a century and moro ago. Tho sun shone upon heads
crowned with silver, or-to misappy the poets words
-"Disfurnished without" by time. The chilling
wind pufeted bowed and feeble rms and
clutcned at the coaks In which some veterans
Of quaint aspect sought to shield themselves.
Morur1 e saiutans might have been their greeting to
the University their spoken uterances only told
story OF enthusiasm and pride Ihere vas uihe ol
waiting while a band blared noisy Tho graduates OF
various classes formed In different parts OF the grounds
church bell sent s peal through the bare inos OF 'he
elms and the Cambridge popuaoe poured in on every
side The chief marshal. Colonel Henry Lee, younger
than his aids although graduating in tho year OF Hsr-
wards hundredth anniversary came to the Library
door and looked expectantiy toward Boston, len
clock struck The set for the procession was naf
an hour earlier Presently the booming OF a drum'
glimpse OF helmets and pumes and the sound OF cheers
told of the coming Of President Cleveland The Cam
bridge popuace took their heels hurryng first
the street and then to tho gateway below the Ola
and Harvard Halls where tho Presidents
carriage entered. He was welcomed by the Short sharp
cheers of undergraduates and usual salute
OF cannon from the Common. A Cher Magis-
trate is Uo unwonted visitor to Harvard. but Har-
ward was new President Cleveland ana as
he rode the quadrangle with bared heaa'
hi expressed unusual interest In his academic sur
roundings The interest OF the noisy crowd, whch
rushed unchecked across the yari extended evon to
pressing curiosity concerning the conventional four
white horses held sacred to such occasions Inc Lam
cers In gaudy uniforms lent to tho scene tho usuA
Commencement Day touch of military pageantry. But
no cement witnessed procession Ike thst
which presently marched up the college yard There
was no further delay.
President Cleveland who was net az tue library door
by President Eliot and Colonel Lce was given his place
at once, preceded OF course ny the
chief representatives OF the university. The marshsls
who the melancholy spectacle OF full dress In
tho morning, fourished their batons the long columns
of graduates closed and last the procession moved
1t seemed all Cambridge had furnished an unasKed
escort until Memorial Hall reached and there all
| Cambridge was encountered again Meantime
the balcony OF Sanders Theatre had been
| filed by ladies' with Mrs Clevelands pretty. youthfui
face IN the centre Of the first row OF seats Robert u
Winthrop and one or two other venerable graduates
waited on stage. All at once there WAS STIR as
slender gowned figure brisky crossed the stage aud
then the anniversary poet was greeted with coruiai
| feminine applause Dr. Holmes knows his New-Eng-
land and he had declined challenge pneumonia IN the
procession Mr. Lowell who had walked In the cng line
with modesty bowed head followed, and poet and
orator grasped hands upon tho stage the
central figures OF the day. President Cleveland
| paused moment on entering ana his
| ewes swept the balsony until smile told that his
search was rewarded 1t one OF the pleasant things
of the day to this sympathy and to note the
wfc's unrepressed interest IN all the husbands acts
There WAS period Of conversation upon the stage,
while the graduates crowded In through every door
There were dialogues between President Cleveland Pes
ident Eliot Mr.. Lowell, Charles Francis Adams. the
| Rev. DR.. James Freeman Clarke and Carl scburZ The
groups cha nged constantly yet all were distinguished
by the presence of leaders in literature, science
theology or public life. When Colonel Lee raped for
silence there seemed for another person IN the
tine corner. of the theatre The number who
failed to obi ain admis sion cannot be estimated
There were the prelude, OF mT'G . Oh prs,s sna
brief ,s Sssae Of the sun &
ward and bowed to the httest among Harvarfs sons
rose na ADVANCED step or two to the reading stand
As he stood there, In his doctors gown, he faced
snce were familiar His kindly eyes looked into those
OF OF his old pupils On their part. they noted
threads but they reoced persistent sturdness OF
the form before them 1t need not oe said that |. q
anniversary orator. There was nothing voei.erous III
his reception There was none OF The eaT-.pi..ins
ing came froW an audience. than wmch none cOud
bis theme. il was a tribute Of admiration assur-
ance OF sympathy an expression even OF persona aneo
siIs%os. snSn sH' ''"0"k-'''A anu '''N ''' " .'1' "
business OF the occasion. He stood In IN Illus
trous presence On his eft sat group OF
and Professor Dana whose faces lines ploughsd by
tho osaseess intellectual labors which have made them
leaders Of American scholarship On MS right sat the
chief pubcists Of tho country toe men VINO administer
the aars OF the Nation ana OF staos SUse nus
them from John Harvard's College, who had crossed
the ocean TO listen To hi: words All ths ns Sns
graduates before nim had come from the racine. iro
those waited the chief Two of tho pro
fessors at least had listened fifty years before to the
.n& s:d Gf
wa. also the burden Of great reputation which might
in this time and place of the author Of the Commemor,
snS% WHO 'n read the
In Irni What they cannot know Is the charm OF the
shed between himself and hi. hearers and the ncreas
ing delighted appreciation Of those hearers a' they
Mr. Lowell felt for the cord Of his glasses put them in
place, dropped them again. and arrsoSed b.: manu-
what los: ioISaiity he ..iat.d hi: .udlsnes There
wa. an srpsetaDs hush, with possibly eight % nsrv
:p:.. name, perfectly c.:s u::t Z:
me Of So no he
% % es1ss TsSsd me s:r :SFs
theatre s:I.; :;'s asT and hss