The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-06-20

Witnessed by Large Cfowd-Ray
 Morris of This City the Speaker for
 1901.
 The annual fence orations of the fresh
 man and sophomore classes of Yale uni
 Versity were held last evening on the
 historic fence in front of Durfee hall in
 the campus.
 This event is one of the features of
 the closing days of college, the occasion
 being the presentation of the fence by
 the sophomore class to the freshman
 class.
 The orations began at o'clock and
 were very largely attended. There were
 many ladies present, they being sur
 rounded with sofa pillows in the Win-
 dows of Durfee hall.
 The speakers were: For the class of
 1901, Ray Morris of New Haven; for 1902, Mason Trowbridge of Chicago.
 Their remarks were very witty and
 were generously applauded by every one. The speakers stood on platform
 erected about the sophomore class and
 at the conclusion of TroWbridge's ora-
 ton the freshmen were allowed for the first time to "sit on the fence" This is
 considered a great honor for the fresh- men and each year the day is eagerly waited for. If the freshman class wins the first home baseball game with the Harvard freshmen they are allowed the privilege of sitting on the fence imme- diately after the game. This year they were unsuccessful, so the privilege was deferred until last night At the con- cl,1sion the classes took their respective fences and sang college and class songs. Mr. Morris oration was as follows:
 Gentlemen of the class of 1902: We are assembled here tonight to see you take the fence. This is not the first time. gentlemen of the class Of 1902. There was another night, night when our country cousins left their dog wag- ons behind then and came from Sheff. town to the utmost parts of Pierson to see you. Where were you then? Where indeed, but searching every nook and cranny In every harbor and cove from southern York street to the place where Elm meets Jake's and flows onward to the sound, looking for spots where an honest man CUulu u NcRS el uS- plorable state of affairs for the honest, hard working sophomores thus to be de- prived of their meat, and suggests to me a country funeral l once heard of. It was in hilly country, and the hearse was run away with, rather early in the game. The sexton in the church yard was ignorant of this, and when the rest of the party arrived he said to the un- dertaker "All ready?" Nope" the un- dertaker replied, shortly. What's the matter?" inquired the sexton. No corpse,'' said the undertaken. Do you see the point, gentlemen of 1902? We inquired of your number what the trouble was, and he said that there were one or two members of the freshman faculty who had not been notified, though most extraordinary efforts had been made to reach them, and the feel ing throughout the class was strong for having them all know about it. Be sides, King Norton had issued an inn perial proclamation, under his own hand and seal, and the king can do no wrong. But the time for excuses is rapidly passing, gentlemen, and if any among your number knows any reason why you should not take the fence to- night let him speak out, or forever hold his peace.
 I trust you are prepared to furnish us with a little light entertainment in re- turn for our kindness. You have eev- eral performers among your number who are strong in vaudeville stunts. There are Courty Barnes and Jay Pick ,l,it heats at backing shoes over in Pierson, evenings at 7:30, and Wednesday mati- nees at 3. I have been fortunate in se- curing the services of Jake for referee in a final contest tonight, and MT. Pop Collins has kindly consented to serve as rubber. In fact, this is one of the things that Mr. Collins does best. EX- perts say his neck is nearly a parasang longer than it was before he took up residence in the Roxbury, Chapel street side
 There are lots of bright boys in your class; we are almost afraid some of | them will prove a shining mark for the | gods, and be stopped in their happy | play by a thunderbolt from the dean. Dignified Rod Potter is one of the | OllSuleSl UUyS we nave ever SePll. DO | bright, in fact, that he was compelled | to move out of Divinity for reflecting fight into a professors room. They | ell me Hal Sherman was pretty bright, oo, when he first appeared in his new green golf trousers. But they were lry-docked after their trial trip, it seems, and Hal's friends have taken off heir dark glasses
 I learn from statistics obtained at | he bursar's office that your class excels n humor. Now this is splendid, gentle nen. It is very creditable that twen- mould have started in heeling the Rec ,rd, even if most of them did change ,ver to the News scrap book, after the irst few days. Paul Jones has top cred t in the scrap book, now. How appro- ,riate that Paul Jones should be crapper, and how strange that he is lot called Fighting Paul" But he is lot the only writer of rag time songs. We have this from Swinehart. Bob father died Wednesday, ged ninety" and from Lyman Spitzer "A large tree in front of Lawrence hall vas dug up yesterday" and from Norm Jason "The wives of Harvard under raduates have formed a club"
 Norm, the only living man who can 7alk like his brother, is very strong at linking out the answers to obscure When asked by a young adv friend what Eyes first straw hat