Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-07-07
A COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT
what II Done In the Closing
Days.

The past week has been q week of
commandments with our American in
stitutions of learning. All has been
gaiety in college, both large and small.
The freshmen have be been jubilant with
their prospects of becoming sophmores,
the seniors with their friends from far
and near have been rejoicing at their
seeming Importance at this time, yet
with some seriousness do they realize
the tremOr of sadness that comes when
class ties that have been so closely
bound and college associations are
broken forever. Yet to the light hearted
graduate of twenty-one the idea of
entering the bustling world to fight for
tune seems manly and he enters in the
spirit of commencement week with
whole heart treating it as one Of the
happiest times of his life.
This period so interesting to the grad
uate and his friends begins at three
o'clock on the Friday afternoon that
college closes with the reading of the
graduating theses. These are papers
upon some particular theme followed by
the student in his college course and must
be presented by him and accepted by the
faculty before he can obtain his diploma.
On the evening of the same day the Giee
and Mandolin and Guitar Clubs OF the
college hold their concert. This is an
evening of music and remains one of the
prominent features of the week. After
this as the wee hours of the morning ap-
proach the sophmores triumphantly
cremate with appropriate exercises those
subjects that have seemed the most
tedious to them.
Saturday is taken up with the inter-
class boat races and the commencement
week game of base ball. But it is not
Sunday night that the graduating class
attend any of the exercises in q body.
Here they do and listen to a well pre-
pared and instructive sermen (Bacca-
laureate sermon) as they begin life.
Monday is the eventful day for the
Seniors. 1t is their own, it is their class
day. At 3 o'clock the exercises begin.
The speakers are chosen by elections,
and it may be well said that many of
the political bosses to-day could get
points from the present methods Of
college politics. Upon this occasion
(class day. the glorious history (how-
ever poor it may have been) OF the class
is read, addresses to the President,
undergraduates are made, mementOes
are presented to each and every Senior,
his future is foretold in the class
prophecy and the class presents it
Alma Mater with memorial, generally
fn the form of a stained glass window
for the chapel. Next comes the exercises
upsn the green and shady campus. A
tree is branded with the gear, ivy
isplanted and clouds of smoke curl fpOm
pipes Of peace. The Seniors are all In all
But in the evening the Junior comes to
the front for time and they hold their
Junior Exhibition at which eight chosen
ION merit) members present orations
upon themes of their own selection,
A prize of twenty-five dollars is awarded
the best speaker ESQ judged.) Bnt this
is all, the Seniors return. they now enter
the last social event of their course in
their Seniors Ball and it for this oppor-
tunity to move to the soft strains Of
music amid flowers and the gayiety of
this night, they applaud this effort of
the Juniors at the close. On Tuesday
morning the alumni Of the college comes
again to their Alma Mater. Previous
classes hold their reunions. A brass
band makes the already delightful
campus ring and many (and how encour-
aging for the Seniors) are the hand
shakes from those treading the paths of
life but little way on.
At 1880 the alumni and friends as
semble and listen to an address by
prominent member of their number upon
some popular question of the day, after
which those that once enjoyed the pro-
lection of these college walls return to
hearty banquet in the form of the alumni
dinner. At this time it would seem
fortunate to be member of the gradu-
ating or previous classes for such men,
bers are alone the chosen people. The
toasts that follow are full of wit and
humOr and the occasion is bound to
make an impression. Immediately after
this comes the presidents reception from
four to six. This is rather formal in
character but gives another opportunity
for professors and students, and
friends to meet and enjoy real
socalbility.
In the evening at o'clock the COM
mencement exercises proper begins.
Faculty students and friends of the col
lege march to the chosen building to
time of music and with this exercise of
orations conferring of degrees and
awarding Of the prizes, presentation Of
diplomas the graduates become alumni.
Another commencement is at an end.
j, e. A.