The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-20
Visited Smith College In
Forenoon.
Programme Of Today's Exer-
cises at Mt. Holyoke.

Holyoke, June l9.-''I am enjoying
this trip very much indeed, aud had no
Idea the country about here was 50 beau
tiful," said President Mckinley today,
as be was seated in rocking chair in
ths observatory on the summit of Mount
Tom. His whole manner and the great
Improvement that Is noticeable in his
face bore out the assertion and were an
earnest Of what results will yet be
accomplished, as far as rest and enjoy
msnt are concerned, before the New
England journey 10 ended. Notwithstand-
Ing that the day had seen a long ana
tedious one, both the President and Mrs.
Mckinley stood the strain incident to the
great denomination at Northampton and
the jorney back to Holyoke very well in
deed. The trip to Mount Tom late in the
afternoon was a welcome schange from
the turmoil Of the morning, while the
quiet, homelike, pleasant evening hour:
were fitting climax to very busy Gay.
Almost the first incident Of the day was
the narrow escape of the Presidents car.
riage from being struck by a runaway
horse, just as they emerged from the
Whiting residence. preparatory to taking
she train for Northampton. But miss IL
as good as a mile and there was twenty
feet to spare in this case, so the only harm
ltions was simply little excitement fol
/ the moment.
The entire morning was taken up with
the visit to Northampton and Smith col
lege. Tho parade was an Interesting fea
ture OF the programme. followed by th'
senior chapel day exercises Of the college
Here the President and his party occupied
the platform and listened 10 the exercise
by the graduating class of $50 younl
women and to resume Of the work o
the year as given by president L. g.
Seelye of the college. During these ser
vices, q beautiful loving-cup of cut glass
Mrs. Mckinley by bethesda chapter, Or
der OF Eastern Star, and later the entir
party, with the exception of Mra Mo
Kinley, were taken for an hours driv
about the city. The only special inoiden
of this drive was when the President. no
ticing a venerable gray haired man seate'
in a chair on the ourbstone, ordered hi
carriage driven near the spot while b
shook hands and spoke o few words (,
the aged gentleman. He as Genera
Benjamin r. Cook, 97 years of age, tn
father Of Captain Frank Cook Of tn
United states cruiser Brooklyn.
President Mckinley was then driven t
the residence of Harry l.. Williams, car
ain of company l, second Massachusetf
volunteers, during the recent war a
which place Mrs. Mckinley had been rest
ing while the'otners were seeing the city
Before they entered the carriages agai
President Mckinley went ont upon th
grounds and shook hands with each msm
ber of.company l. which had done eseor
duty for him during the parade. The tri
back to Holyoke was without incident.
A little entertainment of musica
character was held at the Whiting HON
in the evening, the quartette from th
Second Congregational church and Prof
W. Q. Hammond, the church organisi
furnishing the programme. Incfdentall
few songs were sung by all the compa
ny. Such evenings as these are especiall
| enjoyable to the President. and the song
were mostly of his selection. During th
evening Senator Tyner of Holyoke calle
and introduced Senator Soule of Ney
Bedford, Senator Joy Of Winchester an
Senator Liscomhe of Falmouth to tn
| President.
Tuesday will be given up exclusively I
, the commencement exercises at Mt. Hol
yoke college. Here the President will pre-
sent the graduating class with their d.
plomas, Gov. Roger WolcotT will addret
them and Rev. Justin Smith, u. ID
lpresident of the college board of trustees
will also make an address. The party wi
tlesve EHolyeke at 9.SOland will arrange I
| meat Gov. Wolcott at the railroad station
and he will accompany them to the col
lege. Final arrangements for the journe,
Ito Springfield a.e yet incomplete. Th
President announced today that he wi
remain at Adams as the guest OF Hor
w. b. Plunkett, till Wednesday evening
june 2s, when he will leave for Washing
| ton.
PRESIDENT GETS A DEGREE.
Northampton. Mass, June 19.-An in
. teresting feature of the visit of PresideT
Mckinley to Smith college today. was tn
comforting of the degree Of L. l.. D., upo
him by the board OF trustees, which hel
, q meeting in the afternoon. This is tf
tirst time Smith has conferred an honol
airy degree upon a man. But one othe
honorary degree has been conferred by I'll
eaiIaoa In itQ history.