St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-07-09
Commencement at Radcliffe and
Harvard.
From our own correspondent

colleges, has come and gone! The class
Of '97 are now numbered amongst the
alumni. The young ladies of Radcliffe
had most delightful evening for their
class night reception. The Fay House
was crowded to its utmost capacity and
overlooked outside into the spacious
grounds which had been decorated for
the occasion. Innumerable lines Of lam
terms ran up from all sides to a central
apex in the middle, resembling nam.
moth tent, and the burlap mating cover
ing the grass made the Illusion more
complete There various salads, ice
cream, ices and cake were served with
lavish hand to the guests seated at the
small tables, while the Young Ladies
Glee Club serenajed them with sweet
music In the parlor of the house, men,
bers of the junior class ushered the guests
into the presence of the president, Mrs.
Agassiz, and of the dean, Miss Irwin,
and her assistant, Miss Coe, who were
assisted in receiving by the class officers.
Some of the college professors and their
wives were also present. 1t was vision
OF youth and beauty as you stood in the
main entrance hall and looked forth
upon the lovely young ladies in their
bright airy evening costumes, which con-
trasted with the dark, richer ones of the
more matronly and older ones or with
the black cap and gowns of the seniors,
while here and there delegations OF fine
scholarly looking young men mingled in
the throng, with here and there an old
gray-hared veteran.
Class night at Harvard is regarded as
great society event. 1t not only
attracts hundreds from all the surround
ing towns of Boston, but you will also
find many people from all over the coun-
try. Harvards grassy lawn, shaded by
the grand old elms, with their wide
spreading branches, enclosed by the old
historic halls and new dormitories be-
comes transformed into kind of fairy
land as il by magic. People from neigh
boring towns drive in their carriages to
be either lookerson or to participate in
the promenade concert from 2 to nearly
5 p. M, or engage in the festivities of
The Tree" or attend some of the
numerous spreads given by the seniors
in the different halls, chiefly for their
young lady friends.
At p. m. the procession OF students
from the various classes was formed in
the yard, which marched round the
grounds saluting the old halls, and finally
entered the enclosure where they were
to engage in grand contest in pucking
the roses placed highest on 1.-THE tree"
This year the faculty decreed that stu
dents, who have usually worn old GYM
nasium suits for climbing and looked
some like tramps, should appear in ordi-
nary costumes, and that the flowers
should not be placed so high on the tree
and the number of seats erected for sight
seers was limited to 1000. The ilumi-
nation iii the evening of the hundreds of
lanterns OF varying sizes, shapes and
colors, that were suspended from the
trees in the lawn shed soft mellow
light upon the thousands of persons
grouped round on the grounds, while an
occasional red or fash-light brought out
in brilliant coloring and vivioness the
surging multitude, and it seemed like a
veritable failyland, while there was a
continual human outflow to Sanders
theatre, when there was dancing and
promenading, down to the handsome
gymnasium, which was profusely orna-
mented with evergreen trees, crimson
flowers and festoons of laurel, and the
beautiful law school buildings below
thrown open to guests, where the Man
dolin club played familiar airs. Fair
Harvard" was doing its level best to
entertain her guests most royalty, and
thousands of persons entered into the
spirit with much zest and pleasure.
The commencement exercises for Rad.
cl'fie were held upon Tuesday, June 90,
in Sanders Theatre at 80 p. m. Last
year was the first time that caps and
gowns were adopted by the graduating
class. They had very busy day being
entertained by the dean at breakfast at
10 a. m. at her home and having lunch
at the Vaughn house at p. m. with
graduating exercises at 80 and an
alumni dinner at p. m. They had pre-
viously been given fine class receptions
by both the sophomore and junior classes,
enjoyed an afternoon tea with Miss Alice
Longlellow in her historic home, and
were now ready TO receive their hard
earned honors and diplomas in Sanders
Theatre. A limited number of tickets
admitted friends of the graduates and
then the public filled the building at an
early hour. The 80 graduates occupied
the left side OF the platform, the College
Glee Club the right, while the officers of
both colleges were seated in the center.
A chorus of about 40 young ladies'
sang the 10th ode of the seventh book of
Horace after an invocation by Dean
Hodges. Mrs. Agassiz stated that the