The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-28
THE COMMENCEMENT GIRL.
n FIGURE vow IN ETIDENoB OF
WEIGH YALE rs PROUD.

ences rroua the From. GirI-The ordeal IN
R,ttalI Chapel-Ihs Round Or Uproar. cay
sties and EnthusIasm In Rev Haven.
NEW HAVEN, June 27.-The commencement
festivities at Yale, which were ushered In on
Friday Afternoon with the De Forest prize
speaking In Bsttel Chapel. are marked above
all by the annual appearance OF the commence
ment girl. As the New Haven university
brides itself upon originality in all things, 1t is
not surprising that II asserts a certain superi-
orlty in its feminine oommencement visitors
over their sisters at other institutions.
Whether these pretensions are we'll founded or
not. the Yale commencement girl is certainly q
favorable example of her kind.
There ia q general impression that the COM
mencement girl Is little more than a reappear-
Rnce of the prom. girl; an Impression without
the slightest foundation In fact. The prom.
enade girl frequently represents many things to
which her successor cannot lay claim-wealth.
family position, and ambitious distinctions Of
that kind. The Vale man looks upon his prom
enade as moro than the moro occasion to enjoy
himself: It is the time to show what manner OF
man he is and the important figure he cuts in
the world. 1t is moro than likely, therefore,
that he selects his promenade girl rather
from ambitious than personal motives.
The commencement girl, on the other hand.
represents primarily herself. She is interesting
as the Yale mans conception Of what n woman
should be-. There is n liberal sprinkling of
fancees among the commencement visitors.
and n atill larger number who are likely to be
Ranoees before the summer ends. An invitation
to the Senior Prom. at Yale Ia apt to make the
worldly chaperon prick up her ears. No such
significance attaches to the Junior Promenade.
The Senior Promenade. which is the eliminating
social occasion OF the week. has always been
4 "A. IL o., to- fnfArp,olitp NvharaRR tha
Jnnior Promenade ia strictly correct in all its
details Commencement season ia. therefore,
arat NJ all the season of good times.
Tho commencement girl has arrived earlier
tbon uanol this venr. There were n few Of her
on hand even on Monday evening to witness
the formal trnnsfer G. the sophomore fence to
the freshmen. This occasion, intended to be one
of the most amusing of the college year, is really
one NJ the most melancholy. There 10 no moro
suggestive reminder of the decadence of that
time.nonored Tradition of Yale life, Its fence.
IT has been pushed from one place to another. in
consequences of the onward progress of the uni.
vorsitv until now there ia little more than a
to,r ro5s In front NJ Durfee IN offer annually TO
tho Incoming onhomore class. There Ia some
ching ridiculous in the invitation extended by
tha sonhomore orator to the freshmen to sit
-, ~ old roll and m ren,cmber Mt the same
tin,o oil the signi1canoe of tho priyileee-for not
onn.twentieth NJ the class could occupy the
soro. nj the same time. The fence. with its
o,rsf,Tv rounded and freshly painted surface,
49,. ~ corstont ronoir NV the faculty. Ia hardly
: dec.nt successor to the old initiated make.
ohitt IN chanel and Collepe streets that used to
oooormodote hundreds Of Yale men, The
asourd. - rndor1raduates and commencement
80. 80 ala tho r,Indov s.ots NJ Durfee Col.
E.rss , ~"o M or we evening gave little thought to
chic eide NJ tho ouestion. They were moro in.
LUIS !" f"%'"H, 49,. D-t.ht nv
te.ested In the remarks . Jesse D"iBhI Da""'
1900, as he descanted upon the frailties and
to,hIao ~ tho freshmen before him. in many
ioio'es VI u - "a .ho ronIv
cases mentioning them by name ana the ropiy
of Ray Morris, who accepted the trust in the
name of 1901.
1t was not until FRIDAY, though' tnat inc great
commencement invasion OF New Haven began.
yoatord,v and to-dav all the hotels and hoard.
iee'etu"' Vs. 49, "oIi.o.In. ia
ing houses have, under the ehliveh'ng ihnu'
cnce OF the visitors, laid aside their customary
,ar,bro,oss md assumed tho penuine com.
9ouIolene9e ""u rso ~, hnuo haon onooaod
for months in advance by the members of the
senior class. and every precaution is taken to
o ~" -. nnao,;,o 90 oorfor,ah,o Ev.rv
make things homeilke ana cohtorCaoie' T'erS
room is provided with flowers, and commence
ment souvenirs speoial commencement editions
non. S"usan - and tho lire le oronnd
OF the college papers, ana the IKE NJ arounu
In the afternoon the first visit is paid to the
camnus arrayed in its strange commencement
ounpus go ~ nast rsw dors oornonters
splendors. During the past re" days carpenters
have been busy erecting the wooden ampithea'
ire. which hae accommodated for generations the
- - -,
friends or Yale men on their class oay' ana al
ready the members of the senior class have
secured favorable positions for the Monday
seuiou ,oaunttiaa ~ ,ootinr doun thar
afternoon iestlVitles o! '"chihE uo"" 'heii
cards. The large tents erected in front of
Alumni Hall to hold the overflow of the COM
menceIncnt dinner give a circuslike air to the
campus. which is Increased by the peculiar
placards hanging from windows and plasterinG
the old elm trees. These placards announce
wonderful bargains in furniture, rugs. books,
and all the other household goods collected dur
ing four years at Yale. The signs are frequently
cast into political form. and are more often
than not accompanied by illustrations Of the
tempting wares on sale. All these things,
of course, arc immensely enjoyed by
the commencement girl. hut she would be still
further delighted could she hear the auction
sales that take place in the dismantled apart
ments. the chickering's with the old clothes men.
and the not unusual oyerreaching of some con
scientious New Haven lRndlHdy. She would be
particularly amused to see a departing senior
paternally conduct an, incoming freshman into
his room IN Vanderbilt, give him q brief insight
into the splendors OF Yale life and load him
down with advice for his conduct during his col
lege course, concluding by palminR OF upon