Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-28

Several hundred students have, paradox
callv, closed their course of study and ar
rived at the commencement point Within
the last fortnight in this city. And tine
theaters and public buildings have been
taxed TO accommodate the large audiences
that have assembled to listen to the flights
of eloquence taken by the young graduates.
Uncomfortable jams and sweitering atmos-
pbere have not, apparently affected, in the
least the enthusiasm of the young aspirants
to fame and honor, or of their admlr1ng
papas mammas uncles, aunts, brothers and
sisters and cousins.
But what difference there is between the
graduation exercises of q city schoel and
those of a college or seminary in college
town? There tho commencement is the
event of the year, and is usually held in the
open air, where the undergraduate and the
"college widow flourish about as largely as
the graduates themselves and have any
amount more fun. The latter are not
compelled to remain within near
ing distance . OF the neroer 0fatSIs afaT:
still enjoying the crowds the music, and
the excitement, but enjoying far more the
little chats under some wide spreading tree
that SAVIOR of you'll be true to me-" ard
mean so much Just at that moment, when
the summer months look an eternity. 1t Is
so hard for 4 budding collegian to go to dls-
tant home and leave his sweetheart for Two
whole months; mother and sisters are found
wanting when weighed in the balance with
the rosy sy-cheeked maiden in the white frock
Short but Sweet Romances.
And the graduate, how his manly heart is
torn and lacerated with the thought of
leaving his a1fianced-for what college town
graduate ever received his diploma without
being engaged?-until he as fondly imagines
time and opportunity will permit the
Joy and pleasure OF his returning to claim
the sweet one as his bride: but in reality un-
til some other student claims her as his best
Rirl-for what college town graduate ever
married the divinity of his school days?
Truly the commencement day in the col
lege town is the greatest and the saddest of
the year: but in the city commencements
ere only episodes in the busy routine of city
life, and lack entirely the sentimental phase,
for city graduates haven't time to fall in
love, there are so many things outside OF
their studies to demand their attention dur
ing their course. In this they are really at a
disadvantage with the country graduates
for they miss such woeful amount OF ex-
perience.
As TO the exercises from q literary point,
they are much the same wherever they may
be held; and though the graduation essay or
Grafton always has been and always will be
the subject for the paragrapher'S wit and for
mock sighs and groanS, vet what writer or
philosopher emDodies the freshness and
Originality in his writing that does the
average college boy or girl. Anyone WHO can
listen to graduation essay and not gain
some new idea or some quaint novel manner
of expressing an old one Is either dull of
comprehension or the essay an exception.
And how similar are tho audiences that
attend the graduation exercises, leaving out
the individual families and friends of the
graduates, and what an interesting study they
areI First is the retired professor with his
diSnified wife and probably daughters; then
the teachers and perhaps the principals of
Tival schools; the last years graduates and
those of the year before that with their
friends: and then multitude of commence
ment-gOers that in the winter time becomes
the lecture-going constituency of the city.
The commencement audience is always an
appreciative one and no one of the perform
ers lacks for applause. =.
Jubilee Day in the Parks
But the intellectually is practically over
for the season and thousands of hard-worll-
fng students are now drawing long breaths
OF relief and cndcavoring with as little effort
as possible to forget that which they have
labored hard TO place within their memory.
School books are thrown aside and summer
vacation has been ushered in with excur-
sions and picnicS and the great jubilee dav.
What day the latter is to tho little onesl
All the pleasures of circus dav Decoration
Day and Fourth OF July do not in the aggre-
gate equal a real healthy jubilee day. The
little mcE'ryIuahers are so important on that
particular day, and they assume such Jay
Gould expression as they fit here and there
and everywhere in the park regardless of
the keep off the grass signs or of the STERN
looking policeman excepting as he may con-
some way. What jolly time they do have
TO be sure7 Not moment is lost from the
time they enter the park until they depart,
tired and weary, as the darkness closes down
over the scene OF their gayety.
Jubilee day and the Episcopal Church
Home fair cay seem to be greatly favored
in some way as they are always exempt
from rain. No one ever heard of rain on the
church fair day; should it be attempted it
would develop into snow from the freezing
Elances that would be turned in its direc-
tOn. Everyone seems interested in the sue
cess OF the fair, even the street car conduc-
tors, as they stop their cars to unload |
the vast crowds that Catronize them |
in going to the Home and as
sist the ladies and children off with |
master-otthe-ceremo air peculiar to the |
occasion. The fair was the society event of |
TO wear mis- or her good clothes and to see the |
good clothes of friends. And every one was |
kept busy admiring the good clothes. for the |
dressing was exquisite. Society beauties |
and society leaders who are not beauties |
were all there-those who are still in the |
city-and were all alike equally tastv and |
stylish in their dressing. 1t was really quite |
dress parade, something like the Highland |
Park concerts will be if they continue as |
they have commenced. How delightful it is |
THAI Pittsburg has ut last awakened to tho |
Saturday afternoon concert, and how still |
more delightful it will be when business |
houses have all awakened to the Saturday |
half holiday!
Interest is centered now almost entirely |
in the AS You Like IT. presentation on the |
kenmawr grounds. |
KATHLEEN HUssEY-WArson,