The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-12

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dial greeting from Mrs. Standish and
Prof. and Mrs. Rich, who with their
little son and daughter, make part
of the Standish home. | am fond of
amateur plays and regretted that |
arrived too late to attend the repre-
sentation of the "School for Scandal
which was given that evening by
members of the graduating class and
which reflected great credit on the
performers, and from which Prof. and
Mrs. Rich had just returned.
That Knox College, it's various
buildings and its grounds are oppo-
site Prof. Standish's home, | dis
covered the next morning on looking
out of my window, and was not sur
prised when !. afterward heard one
of it's professors say at the banquet
that the only thing in which Knox
wished to rival Lombard was its
campus. Were it not for the fine
park adjacent, which belongs to the
city, Knox would seem very much
cramped.
The morning was cool and damp
but it did not deter me from going
over the beautiful grounds of our
host and hostess and enjoying the
flowers and plants which are every
where-plants, it seemed to me, from
all parts of the world, obtained DUR
ing their travels abroad.
After dinner, the weather becoming
bright and sunshiny went out with
Mrs. Standish to view the city-past
the University with its new ladies
hall and Presidents home-past the
handsome homes of some of the pro
fessors of Lombard and the old home
OF President Weston, and on through
all parts of the town and everywhere
on each side of the streets were grand
old trees towering towards heaven,
giving the city the appearance of
vast park. The business seems to be
confined to one street, the remain
der being given up to residences
That evening had the privilege
of seeing the new and beautiful
Universalist church as | attended
a concert given by the faculty and
students of the school of music of
Lombard which was exceedingly en-
ioyable and assured me that the
standard of music in the institution
is very high.
Thursday morning commenced
with the graduating exercises which
were held at the Auditorium-the
And annual commencement. The
audience room was handsomely dec
Grated with the University colors, old
gold and green; there was large au
dience present. This was said to be
the largest class ever graduated from
the University-eighteen young men
and maidens, and they made fine
appearance on the stage.
Five graduates had been selected
to give essays, representing the
Ryder Divinity School and the Col
lege of Letters. | make no report
of these exercises, as | suppose the
Editor has the outline already in
type. | will simply add that I have
attended many similar occasions in
high schools and colleges, and never
enjoyed one better. The class of '97
is a noble one and will do credit to
Lombard, am sure, in future years,
when they make their history.
At the close Of the exercises train
of street-cars was drawn up in front
of the Auditorium, decorated with
the college colors, into which we all
entered and to the lively strains of
music by band in the first car, we
rode up to the University grounds,
where the banquet was given in the
chapel at the top of the building.
But there was some time to wait
before the banquet was ready; it
was spent socially, old friends and
acquaintance meeting each other,
or being presented, as l was, to many
new ones, or visiting the various reci-
tation rooms and the museum. At
last the banquet was ready, and hav-
ing been prepared by the ladies of
che Universalist church, who, | am
told, are celebrated for their achieve
ments in the culinary line, the
repast needs no praise of mine,
and l fully proved my appreciation
of it in a practical manner. Then
cur chairs were turned toward the
stage and we partook of feast of
another kinda feast of reason and
a flow of soul"
President Mas b was POSTMASTER
and filed the position to the salts
faction nd enjoyment of all, inject
ing little witticisms between each
toast to keep us all in happy frame
of mind to listen to the next speaker.