Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-05

LENT oRArIoSs AND PoEMs-THE cEREMoN OF
PLANTING AND CHRISTENING THE oAK-A BAN
QUIET IN THE EVENING,
Almost all colleges have class days. as they
are called, days given up entirely to the stu
dents themselves. when, as a sort Of relief to
the general seda.eness OF commencement time,
the student can amuse himself and his friends
as best suits him. The National Deaf Mute
College has heretofore always managed 10 get
along without a class DAY. but the class Of 80,
more progressive than any Of its predecessors,
decided they would plant a class tree, have a
class history and prophecy and have as pleas
ant, if not as noisy a time, as the students in
other colleges, where there are more of the
five senses prevalent. Yesterday was the day
appointed for this Innovation into the college
c~eremonials and a ~lovelier day could not pos
sibly have been chosen. 1t was hot in the city,
but out on the lawns and under the trees at
pretty girls in white looked as cool as they did
Interested.
EXERCISES IN THE CHAPEL.
At3 o'clock, the hour set for commencing
the exercises, there was quite a large crowd
gathered in the chapel hall, aud the greatest
interest was evinced in everything the students
did. On the platform we're placed seven chairs
In a semi-circle. and promptly on time the seven
members of the graduating class filed in and
took their seats. In the center OF the group
sat Mr.. Cadwallader Washburn, the president
OF the class. Mr.. Washburn, who Is a son OF
Senator Washburn of Minnesota. ia an excep-
tionally clever young man and his college
course has been n most satisfactory one.
THE GRADUATES.
The graduating class was made up of the
following members: Thomas Hagerty, Wis
consin; Frank A. Ieitner. Maryland; Oscar II.
Regensburg, Illinois: Stephen Shuey. Missouri:
Hobart ID. Tracy. Iowa; Cad. l. Washburn,
Minnesota. and William H.. Zorn. Ohio. And
the committee OF reception. who were RESPONSE
bic Tor the we'll being of ali the guests. was
composed of three undergraduates, w. W.
Beadell. w. ID Himrod and +. Il Wurdemann.
The exercises we're begun by q PRAYER by
Thomas Hagerty. the class chaplain, and Cad.
l.. Washburn. master of ceremonies as we'll as
class president, made a pleasant little address,
partly of welcome and partly of ex planation.
Oscar III. Regensburg, class historian and
prophet, told of the past and of his several
classmates in witty styIe, for Prof. Chickering
read aloud what Nh. Regensburg was saying in
silence, and even the uniuitiated could under
stand the point of his jokes aud the wit of his
clever little sallies. The class poem, THE
Lapse Of Time was delivered by the poet,
Mr.. Stephen Shuey.
IT SEEMED PLEASANT.
President Gallaudet followed in a pleasant
little speech to the class. 1t was pleasant In
all probability, that is, for the class seemed to
enjoy 1t immensely. and as for the outsiders
they could only make wild guesses as to its
import, for it was not interpreted for their
benefit. A benediction by Rev. J. Fl. Cloud
closed the exercises in the chapel.
PLANTING THE TREE.
The audience was requested to adjourn to
the Ia wn who're q wanna oaG traa bod haao
planted. This had to be christened and given
all sorts of sage advice. Cad. Washburn be-
gan by mounting a platform beside the tree
and making another short address. A poem
inscribed to the tree was read by Stephen
Shuey and Oscar H. Regensburg rose to give
the Advice to the Tree" That young oak will
be crooked and gnarled, indeed, il it follows all
the advice it received yesterday. One would
think the advisory committee of one knew
more about how an oak tree should grow than
the oak does itself. But the audience was
pleased and amused by the speech; SO all went
very well, indeed.
CHRISTENING THE OAK.
Then a small mite of humanity in white lace
and a pretty blue sash was led up to the tree to
christen it. The child was Master Burton
Hotchkiss, a son of Prof. Hotchkiss and a great
favorite with the class of 80. Burton poured
some water upon the roots of the tree and
it the Porter Tree" in honor of
Prof. Samuel Porter, the Oldest teacher OF
deaf mutes In the country.
Then the class ode was recited in dumb
chorus by Frank A. Leitner, Hobart L. Tracy
and VIM. II. Zorn. A burlesque distribution
of presents, followed by three cheers for each
class in college and for the assembled guests,
closed the afternoons entertainment
THE BANQUET.
In the evening the class gave a banquet in
the lyceum, to which seven guests we're in
vited, one from each Of the lower classes and
four from the faculty. Mr.. Washburn was
toast master. The toasts we're "Our President"
1.-The Faculty" 1.-THE Alumni" "Our Alma
Mater" The Undergraduates" "The Porter
Tree" THE Glass Of go" They were re-
sponded to by President Gallaudet. Profs.
Hotchkiss and Ballard. Messrs. Tracy and Him.
rod, Profs. Porter and Mr.. Hagerty, respect
lively.