The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-10-25
Bridgeport, HOS MainSt.
Bridgeport, Conn.

gotten that he was once college boy.
l did not get into the Hyperion thea
tire, Wednesday morning, to hear the
address of Justice Brewer, and
to see the comforting of degrees. Il
was not born quite early enough in the
last century for tflat); but the law of
compensation was again shown, and
privileges even if they could not go
with the bridegroom into the feast.
While we were halted on the campus,
waiting for our turn to move, the head
Of the procession and all the dignita-
ries passed Immediately by us. Theo-
dOre Roosevelt and President Hadley
led the way. "Did they cheer Roose-
velt?" See here now. young fellow,
you clearly show that you never saw a
college town by asking question like
that. If a man who is able to write
an A. B. after his name lives to be an
hundred years old, he is always, when
he gets within sight of the campus, still
a college boy; and, though his step
may falter, his lungs are all right.
But, honestly, l was disappointed in
the welcome that was extended to
Roosevelt; l was rather ashamed of
New Haven for that. Why, when he
was running for Governor, and 10000
enthusiastic Brooklynites jammed the
CleFnOlC Avenue MIX anu TOT Ten
minutes yelled themselves hoarse
when the Rough Rider stepped on to
| the platform, tearing the bunting
from the galleries and waving it over
| the crowd, IaIe'S demonstration could
not hold candle to that. But, re-
member, this was amid celebra ton
| when the air of tremendous dignity
given by the ubiquitous presence of
cap and gown was not in harmony with
boisterousness. And then, ah, then,
this explains it all; there was the
That shadow interposed it's blackneSs
into the gaiety of the festivities in
the broad band of Grape on the Presi-
dents hat, and awoke sad memories
in the hearts of the unlocking multi
| tudes as they thought, cit might have
BEEN" 1t might Lave been that
William Mckinley himself had been
there. 1t might have been that the
crowds had been vOciferously cheering
him. 1t might have been that he had
been receiving degree. When will
cease to think of it's greatest of modern
men? Yes, thank God, even in
driving, pushing America, where news
becomes stale and insipid in an hour,
there are some things we do not easily
forget. Roosevelt is looking we'll. He
has taken on quite little avoirdupois
since he made his memorable stump
ing tour. He is fearless, noble man,
well worthy to follow in the footsteps
In that line of nOtableS there were
Mark Twain, whose savage attack on
DR. Ament did not give him such a
glorious mark, Admiral Sampson IF
this dispute with Schley had not been
brought up, and they had just allowed
the world to think of them, as it
wanted to think of them, as great
heroes), Edward Everett Hale 1.-THE old
man is quite lame, but what splendid
Roman of them ally, Justice Brewer
(oh, what dignity adheres to the very
namely and Chauncey Depew, the YER
Satile, smiling, only Depew. But
really do you want to know whom the
college men cheered to the echo, so
that the shouts rolled up and down
the line like the resounding pillows of
a mighty sea? You would not guess
his name, for he did not have so fair
skin as you, he did not have so noble
a birth as you, he did not have one
tenth the chance in life that you have
had. He was negro, not despised, but
holding his place among the kings and
potentateS of earth. He was not lifted
to greatness through heredity; he lift
ed himself by his plodding, by his per-
sistent knocking at the gateway of
Fame. Your fathers thought that
such man had no soul; he has shown
that beneath his coat there is a soul
of the finest mould. Ministers of the
Gospel once preached that such men
were made by God Almighty to serve
the aristocracy of wealth and pride;
he has Illustrated by his illuStri-
Gus deeds the ariStocracy of brains.
If you had been in New Haven and
heard the multitude cheer Booker T.
Washington, you would have said, ga
mans man for a that Yale, even
amid the superb glOries of her great
bi-centennial, hOnored herself by hon
oring with the degree of Phi. D. man
who was born in slavery and whose
parents were bought and sold as slaves.
Otis w. BARKER.
Newtown, Conn.,, October a, 1901.