The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-08-08
COMMENCEMENT,
The Pretty Custom Observed by College
Graduates Zach YEAR

! The Pretty Custom observed bs College
! graduate. G.acil Year.
! Comne.! 'e,nent Is like spring in that
It IS new each year aai that Familiarity
! with 1t br-eds only Increased apprecia-
ton. IL grows on the participator as
his years accrue. 1t is good day for
the hopeful youths who graduate and
march at the head Of the line. Il will
seem good to them next year. when they
come back after a II months separation
and HOLM !. with one another over their
class punch and presently get in line at
the very tail end Of the procession. so
far of from the band that they can
scarcely catch the music. But in 10
years time. when they have moved up
lO places nearer to the band. they will
find it dearer still Then it will have
begun to assume its true properties. a>
the day Of all the year that brings back
the youth that is already slipping from
them. by taking them back to the s..,i.s
of their untrannelel adolescence and
ruo,iny them up against the men who
wer" yoi'ny with them when they were
yUnG-
Lac br!I-S greet prizes to the diliyent
ami ine lucy. To the averag. college
graduate If Is years standing it las
brou--:t Il wife AMI children. Il certain
footiI, II the world and definite pros
p"cf IL re-rtctabl" achievement But il
Is better at bes.o.'..l than ut re-, ~ 81
ment. |, brings him new things. ,,lit il
does not - him ont with fres., Supplies
OF the tr ...l;res that he had There is
only o.ie set Of the men who were Young
when h. ,:i.s young. i..sl it Cannot IL
duplicated.
Ii he l., wise, and the cookies round
his heart .lp not get too stiff. he i, YER.
c.;r1.Hl ot l.lat dwi.idliny set III asSu.
ciatcs. anti iAe fewer there are of them.
anu the NOR lie realizes he iin, -s. nii-
ty of replacing them. the greater pains he
takes to go back to commencement au,.
take account of stock
a strangely Impressive spectacle Is the
forming If the line of graduates tht
marches to tine commencement dinner Of
an old college. FIRST comes the graiu.
ating class. then tae alumni by clas.ts
IN order OF senior..y. Glass of l>.U.
cries the marshal. Perhaps iere is NJ
response. ''Clas-iof 1921. Glass of lSaa,
Class of ISL. Presently, as his elias. j.
reached. the oldest graduate pres, nj
steps out. IA venerable man. perhaps he
sole representative of his year. and taxes
his place ail.i III. cheers of the >pecia-
tors Then tor Il dozen or n score. ..
classes AS tue marshal calls the year Oh
or two or foar or live old iilen walk on
arm Ill arm. SUPPORTING one ano; ier.
steps. Then lis the list gets into the for
ties come gray haired men. but vigorous
and not yet of the lean and slippere.i
period. And then in larger companies
the men ii middle age and then the
younger i.!en. and finally boisterous
crowd EGO Gong of lus,y youth who
cheer for ~" A marvelouslv yiy;..
panorama OF human life is the com
melice.nent procession from .Mori,ur
salutamus IT one end to Life let II, |
cherish at II. other. Dull must be the |
spirit that is not stirred 10y it. And yet !
1t Is cheering sight with all its l,athos, |
sp much good fellowship il shows and
sympathy and joyous greeting when oil |
companions meet.-Harper's WeeSly.