The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-06-20
ENJOY WHILE YOU MAY.

Wh1Ch Will be read IN American schools
and colleges this year were gathered
into book from the result would be
series OF volumes as numerous and
closely printed as those comprised in
the Encyclopedia Britannica. And,
however much you may scoff at the
statement, there would be much in
those volumes worth the reading
much original, sensible thought, many
examples of splendid composition and
perfect English.
How truly, by the way, is the day
on which these essays will be read
called commencement day." For it
marks the end of school life, aud Of
course the beginning of the struggles
with the outside world, If those strug
giles are ever to begin.
But commencement day is not the
time 10 think of coming struggles;
there will be time and to spare after
the delights of the day are over. The
friendships formed in school or college
are often the best OF all. Later the
battle for existence will occupy too
much time for such delightful COM
partnerships to form or for the old ones
to be kept up. School life is a mine
which contains other nuggets than
those OF knowledge, and as commence
ment day is the time when its work
ings will be closed to you forever, dig!
dig! work with will, and get as much
fun out of it as you can.
Speaking of day fun
recalls an incident which occurre at
ore of the New York colleges a few
years ago.
Among the graduates was a young
man i think his name was Dessoit-
who was one Of those combinations of
bashfulness and wit which are known
30 seldom; and the faculty had con-
sented that instead of preparing con-
ventional essay he should write semi
humorous record of the work OF his
class during their four years Of college
life. A popularity of Dessoit's shy
ness was that it only appeared when
be encountered strangers. He was al
ways the best speaker at his class din
ners; he ''knew no fear" when talking
to the people with whom he had even
slight acquaintance, no matter how
large the gathering, and among his
many friends his witty little speeches
were often heard. But let one
wholly unknown face appear among his
listen land Dessoit's tongueithickened
his cheeks flushed and his wit fled.
Of cop-se he knew that there would
be many people whom he had never
seen among the commencement day
spectators, and he trembled acc ording-
ly. Weeks in auvance he began
schooling himself for the event, but he
could not overcome his bashfullness
When the great morning dawned he
was terribly frightened. His agitation
was really distressing aud if he had
begged off, giving sickness as his ex-
cuse, his appearance would have justi l.
fed the claim.
But he had made up his mind to do
or die, and of the two he considered
doing prefrable. His name was among
the first on the programme, and as he
waited for the signal to go on the
platform he fairly quivered with pain
full excitement At last it came, aud,
wonder of wonders! III it came in
staut and absolute freedom from EN-
bsrassment Calm, self possessed, his
agitation wholly gone, he ste ped for.
ward, inclined his head towards the
faculty then towards the audience, and
began. He said afterwards that he
never felt more certain TINT his man.
ner was easy, his smile natural, his 'ges
lures graceful, than at that moment
When he reached one of his good
points he threw back his head and his
eyes twinkled merrily as the audience
showed its appreciation by deafening
applause. He had gone on for perhaps
five minutes, and the audience was
couvulsed with laughter when the
president of the college stepped NJ
and put his hand on Dessoit's shoulder
His face was black with rage as ht
said in tones which must have beer
distinctly audible in all parts of the
hall: "Mr. Dessoit, leave the stage a
once"
Dessoit was dumfounded. Tht
president had read and approved hi
oration only the night before, and tina
he should command him to retire be
fore he had half finished delivering i
was outrageous. Boiling with anger,
he did as he was told. Within two
minutes he learned what had been the
trouble. He had not made an audible
sound while on the stage. He hat
stood there opening and shutting hi'
mouth, gesticulating, putting on tn,
most delightful of facial expressions
but uttenug not one word. The spec
tators had expected something funny
from Dessoit, and when he began tt
go through his silent imitation of {
speaker they were immensely pleased
The president was surprised beyont
measure. He thought Dessoit was try
ing to make game of the occasion.
Fully twenty-four hours passed
before Dessoit was thoroughly con.
vinced that he had not spoken-he
said he had felt the words pass hi
lips. BIT overwhelming evidence
proved that he was wrong. The presi
dent never thoroughly believed tina
Dessoit really thought that he wa
talking.
At another college, where both sexel
are received, an equally ludicrous in
cident occurred on commencement day
One of the young men students who
like Dessoit, was very bashful, had fall
en- violently in love with one of tn
prettiest of "co-eds." The night be
fore commencement day this youn,
man was called upon by one of tn
professors to help return the essays
which had been handed in by tn
students for a final examination, L
their owners. While the young maj
was at work he ran across the essa
written by the girl of his heart. III
had been unable to muster up sufficien
courage to declare his love, and as o
the morrow he would leave on a raj
road train in one direction, Will
the pretty "co ed" went in an