Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-06-21
THE PRESIDENT
Bestows the Diplomas at Mt.
HoIyoke College.
Surprised by Being Made a Doctor
of Civil Law
Breaks His Resolve and Makes First Speech
OF Eastern Trip.

South Hadley Mass. June 20.-This
was what might be appropriately call
"a honor day here. Mt. Holyoke Col
lege was honored by the presence, at
its commencement exercises. Of Will
liam Mckinley, President Of the United
States, and in turn it honored him by
comforting upon him the degree Of doc
tor of civil laws This is the first time
that such a degree has ever been con-
ferred upon a man at Mt. Holyoke and
it came as a complete surprise to the
President. 50 much of a surprise, in
deed. that he was forced to deviate
from the determination which he had
expressed, not to make an address Of
any kind during his Eastern trip and
to thank the faculty and trustees for
the honor they did him.
Mt. Holyoke, in comforting degree
upon the President. followed closely
after Smith College at Northampton.
the trustees Of which, at a very late
hour On Monday night. informed the
President that they had voted to con
fer upon him the degree Of Ii. y.
The President, today. sent the follow
ing acknowledgement to President
See1eye of Smith College:
Receive for yourselves and the trus-
tees my high regard for the honor con-
ferred upon me. Mrs. Mckinley joins
me in hearty congratulations to the
class Of go
The President and his party reached
here at 10 o'clock on the parlor Electric
car ROckridmon. Gov. WOlcott and the
other distinguished guests were in
Cludcd among the number. Rev. DIR.
j. /. Il. Trask and Rev. Judson Smith,
d. d., Of the board of trustees. were
waiting at the entrance to the college
grounds as the Electric drew up. The
seniors in cap and gown had formed in
parallel lines, between which the visi-
tors passed as they were escorted to the
chapel.
AS the President leaning on the arm
Of DR.. Smith, appeared at the entrance,
the audience which thronged the place
arose and a wave Of applause filled the
room. The President and other gentle
men Of the party proceeded to the plat
form. Mrs. Mckinley Mrs. Wolcott
and the other ladies were given seats
at tho right. The seniors occupied the
front rows. Miss Grace Mckinley hav-
the rear.
The exercises We're opened by DR..
Smith, president Of the board Of trus-
tees. Dr.. Smith welcomed the guests
and introduced COY. Wolcott, who was
received with great applause.
When Gov. Wolcott had finished.
while the chorus was singing, President
Mckinley was escorted to the front of
the platform by Mrs. Mead, the presi-
dent Of the college. Upon table near
at hand lay the diplomas The Presi-
dent raised one and the name it bore
was that Of his niece, Miss Grace Nc
kinley. The young lady advanced, re
ceived the diploma and shook hands
with the President
AS the last diploma was presented
and the President was about to resume
his seat, DR.. Trask arose and address
ing President Mckinley, announced
that Mount Holyoke college wished to
confer upon him the degree Of doctor
Of civil laws. The President accepted
the honor in the following words:
Mrs. Mead. Ladies and Gentlemen:
II cannot refrain from making acknowi
edgement in this presence Of the very dis
JinEuiShed honor which the board Of trus-
tees and officers Of this institution have
been pleased to confer upon me. ] want
to assure the young ladies of the gradu-
1tng class that ! am both delighted ana
honpred to he member Of the class Of
-. Massachusetts has been ana is firsj
IN many things. but is nothing more than
in educational institutions.
"l count myself most fortunate to have
been privileged. yesterday. 10 ,loOk upon
the faces of the graduates of Smith Col
egc. that glorious institution of learning
for the education o. women. and I counr
myself most fortunate, today, to look
upon the faces Of the graduates of this
glOriOusly historic institution that has
done so much for the exaltation OF wo-
men and whose influence is felt not oniv |
n Massachusetts but in eery part Of our
common country.
Mount Holyoke is more than 90 years |
Dld, today, and the influence Of this insti- /
ution in moulding and shaping the citi- |
zens Of the nation can never be told
~ am glad that we are demonstrating |
II the United States today. that the boy |
shall have no more advantage than the /
girl and that the Mount HOlynke AMI (
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