Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-27
AT OLD B0WDOIN.
Class Day Exercises Under the
Thorndike Oak.
A Perfect Day for the Seniors and
Their Many Friends.
Many Alumni in Attendance-The Programme
for Wednesday and Thursday.

celebrated, today, by 1900 ana its
friends. 1t is the first of the three
great days of commencement week ana
it is the great social day of the week.
Not 50 many alumni, especially the
older ones, are back as on Wednesday
and Thursday. but more fond parents
and more pretty sisters and sweet
hearts grace the campus than on tn"
other days. And there is nothing dur
ing the college year more picturesque
than the afternoon exercises under the
old ThOrndike oak. and the promenade
concert On the Illuminated campus in
the evening. The beautiful campus Is
at its loveliest at this season, ana
every tree and path ana familiar nook
has a greeting for the visitor and re
turning alumni.
Today's exercises Were in two parts.
The morning exercises were i'm Me
mortal hall, at 10 o'clock. where the
Grafton by AIbro l.. Burnel Of West
brook, ana the poem by Jam S +. Web
Der of Bath. We're given. The class
president. Arthur l.. wood Of Portland,
presided. and the class marshal,
Charles q. Willard of Newcastle, led
the slow procession of a seniors in Gag
ana gown to their seats on the stage.
The prayer was by the chaplain. &.
&. Robinson Of Brewer. Tn" hall was
were filled ana the exercises We're Of an
exceptionally high character. Mir Bur
nell in his Grafton dealt with the theme
of civil courage. The class poet. Mr..
Wchhcr, last year the editor of tha
Quill and a writer IF much ability. read
Z graceful production. The music FIN
these exercises ana FIR the whole day
was furnished by thu Lynn Band For
many years The Salem cadet Band has
been hcra at every class day. but il
had another engagement. this year, and
the Lynn Band proves an excellent
substitute.
There was much regret over the alb
scncH from the class ranks of two 81
the most prominent and popular mem
bers. Percy A. Habb. the editor Of the
Orient. who left as soon as he took his
last examination t. accept 4 position
in Colorado: ana Harry .. Bacon. who
is lying dangerously sick with the ty-
phoid fever in the Maine General hos
ptll in Portland. Bacon has been base
bail captain for two season ana one Of
thr best athletes in tn" State. He was
taken to the hospital. last Friday. He
is very popular in college and the af-
lection in which his class holds him
was shown by several references by
he speakers # the day.
At 3 =. NJ. the second section of the
I III u a.
Thorndike oak. which stands in the
center Of the campus and which was
planted almost century ago by a
member Of Bowdoin's first class.
George ThOrndike. who was the first
graduate of the college to die and who
is buried in Russia. The decorations
Of the platform ana enclosure We're
very pretty ana with the hundreds Of
beautiful summer costumes Worn by
the fair visitors made a striking scene.
1t was perfect day for the out Of door
exercises and 1900 was voted a fortu-
nate class. Islay +. Mccormick of
Boothbay Harbor. delivered the open
ing address. Harold +. West Of Lewis
ton. the class history. Malcolm G. Syl-
vestrr Of North Bridgton. the class
prophecy, ana Alfred w. Levensaler Of
Thomast0n. the parting address. Tn"
speakers were well selected and each
was frequently interrupted by APP
phase. The hits of the historian and
prophet We're much appreciated. After
the parts, the class formed circle.
sitting on the grass und L the trees ana
passed around an enormous pipe Of
peace Of which each man took a Whit.
The familiarity shown with the pro
cess no doubt shocked numerous par
entS and sisters. Then the class ode,
written by Frederick {. Lee of New
castle to the air Of Mcndalss0hn's De
parture" was sung, after which the
class fell in behind the band and made
the round Of the campus. stopping in
front Of each building and han To give
it three rousing cheers. IN front of
Memorial a circle was formed around
which each man passed in turn shaking
the hand of every claSsmate. This
service was an impressive
one both to the seniors and the spec
tutors.
This evening. the class day ban is in
progress in Town hall ana il is
social affair From 5 to ., a
prone made concert WAS enjoyed on
the illuminated campus. The commit
tee in charge of the days exercises is
made up Of Robert s. Edwards Of Bos-
ton. James +. Knight Of Rockland, and
James T.. Parsons Of Yarmouth.
: Scores Of young alumni. graduated
during the past 10 years, are back, to-
day, and hundreds of the older ones
will come thronging back, Wednesday
and Thursday. BoWdoin alumni are
famous for their loyalty and crowds of
them are always back at commence
ment time. The alumni athletes are
making plans for the base ball game
Wednesday afternoon, ana as the col
lece nine will be weakened by the loss
Of Can't. Bacon, the alumni have high
hopes of winning. Among the men who
won games for Bowdoin on the diamond
in years gone by, who are already
back. are noticed, Plaistcd "a, Will
hanson. 'SS. Sykes. 81, Hull. ~. Fair
banks. %. Stanwood, '9S Fogg, SO,
KnowIton, 80. and Dana, 90 A lot
more will show up, tomorrow, and the