The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-05
OLD WABASH BOYS.
Those of the "Forties" the Guests at
the Annual Dinner.

The annual dinner of the 'Old Wabash
boys, which took place at the Commercial
Club at s o'clock last night, was an inter-
esting event. Men who have watched the
growth of the institution and have been.
identified with the interests of Wabash
College since the early forties sat with
those who have but recently left its classic
walls. The boys of the forties" We're the
guests of honor.
Rev. George L. Macintosh presided as
POSTMASTER At his left sat George S. Bur
roughs, president of the college At the
right hand of the POSTMASTER Prof. John l..
Campbell, of the chair of mathematics, OPP
cupied a place. Near him was General
John A. Coburn, one of the boys of the
''forties.'' Close by this group was w. A.
Ketcham, attorney general of the state. At
the far end of the table was DR.. l.. l..
Todd and seated at the table here and there
were many of the most prominent men of
the State, all included in the list of the
boys of the "forties.''
After dinner had been served cigars and
coffee were brought and the guests took up
the programme of toasts. General Coburn
was the first speaker but like the orators
who followed him he made little pretense
at sticking to his text. The speakers took
advantage of the lines from Lewis Carroll
printed on the programme "A discussion
may be raised upon any point at any dis
tance from that point" Gen. Coburn was to
talk of Tom Brown but instead he talked
of Wabash College and of things that are
to be expected of the men who have ac-
quired learning at such institutions. 1.-THE
men of colleges, the men of education ana
thought are the men who have got to rescue
| this country" said General Coburn. The
abandonment of free government is going
on all over the country, he thought, and he
referred to the city OF Indianapolis. where
the mayor is in absolute control of the peo-
pies rights. General Coburn predicted that
the greatest trial the country will have will
be the struggle as to whether we shall drift
back into despotism.
General Lew Wallace was to have re-
sponded to the toast, Hugh Wynne,' and
Prof. John Collett was assigned to the
topic GIL Bias" but neither was present
and the POSTMASTER stated that President
Burroughs would take UP both topics. In
stead, DR.. Burroughs talked of Wabash in
it's old days and of the things that have
made it what it is. He paid high tributes
to the venerable ex-President futile and
to the memory of Professors Mills and
Hovey, whose names are associated with
the tenderest recollections of Wabash. DR..
Burroughs said he brought message from
DR.. futile, who had asked him to shake
the hands of the Wabash boys. President
Burroughs spoke of a prayer delivered by
ings ago. He prayed that the Nation might
have peace, but that it's people be loyal 10
the country, whether the country have
peace or not. OF the three hundred Wa
bash men of the fOrtieS, President Bur
roughs said that but twenty-five are known
of to-day 1t was in the forties that the
a n college
Prof. John /. Campbell had the topic
| Guy Mannering." He said he had never
the things of the past were as good as
| those of the present. The hog and nomlny
| Ice cream and cigars of to-day. But Prof.
| Campbell departed from his rule on this oc-
casion and told in a reminiscent way OF
| the Gays of Wabash College, when he, as
| a young man, knew the institution. Prof.
| Campbell was followed by J. L. Kings
bury, whose subject was 'Huckleberry
Finn" The speaker, in a dry, humorous
| way, compared the inimitable Finn with
| the average young man who enters Wa
| bash College. 1t pleased the speaker to
| comment satirically on his early days in
| Wabash College, and of his boarding house
| experience. DR.. Wilmer F. Christian, whose
| topic was John Halifax" also talked Of
his college days and the associations of
Edward Daniels discussed the mooted
| question at issue between the state and
| nonstate educational institutions. He is in
| favor of adopting the NeW York
1 plan or eQucdIlOn. lie WOulu uO away
| with the appropriations entirely and
have board of regents appointed to
! State. Mr.. Daniels spoke of the State Uni
versity, comparing the institution to "a
renegade turkey which sticks it's head I'M
| der the feathers of the State already nest
| ling thriving brood of common schools"
| Mr.. Daniels asserted that the Indiana Uni
| versity is not a corporation, as many sup
| pose, but instead it is a private institution:
| Mr.. Danielss topic was a popular one, and
| he was applauded frequently.
| Rev. M. M. Lawson had Arthur Bonni-
| castle" for his topic, and r. n. Todd dis
| cussed Elsie Venner." Gen. J. R. Carna-
| han, whose toast was Lorna Doone" was
| not present.
The men present last night We're President
| George 8. Burroughs Prof. John L. Camp
| bell, Gen. John A. Coburn John e. Cleland,
| w A. Keteham; John A. Finch; Rev. N; M.
Lawson, NJ. V. McGilliard, G. w. Stradlng,
| Harry j. Milligan. Edward Daniels, Albert
Baker A; W. Wishard. Byron =. Prunk,
H. o. Allen Reginald Sullivan. Frank
Cleland, George G, Calvert, Robert N. Todd,
| L. L. Todd. Rev. NJ. L. Haines..