Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-06-23
SUMMER CONVOCATION
Interesting Paper by Prof. Henry
A. Beers, of Yale.


est-"Sp0ts on the Sun"-Mr. Law
renee AbseDt-Mr. Kaspar's Violin
solo-Dr. -Purinton says Sanitary
Conditions are as Good as Elsewhere.
The Summer school Conyocation
was held ia Commencement Hall
Monday evening" beginning some time
between eight o'clock and eight thirty.
In opening the program, DR.. Purinton,
much to the amusement OF the audi
enee, had to admit that mistake had
gone out from the Office OF the Presi-
dent. He reminded them however,
that there are spots on the sun. The
Summer school announcements set
forth that the conyoeation would oc
cur at $50. The notices given TO the
newspapers yesterday said o'clock.
The audience was onhand at that time.
DR. Purinton and the rest of those
who took part in the program were
not. The exercises started when they
arrived. The audience which had
frequently heard DIR. Purihton's views
on getting into the hall on time, en-
joyed the situation immensely.
Prof. Henry A. Beers, Professor OF
English Literature in Yale University
since 1870, an author of several inn
portant works on the subject, was the
cunvocation speaker. His subject
was personal Recollections Of the
opening session of the Concord Sum
mer School of Philosophy In 1879. "
The interesting and distinguished
personality of the man, and the pros
pect of some flrst-hand information ia
regard to movement with which every
one is more or less familiar, made the
audience expectant, and they were
not disappointed.
Prof. Beers paper, for he read from
manuscript, was full of interesting
references.to historical incidents in
and around Concord, personal reminis-
cences and impressions Of It's great
men, illustrative anecdotes, charac-
terizations of the people Of Concord
and of the Summer School of Philo-
sophy. He told of his first meeting
with Emerson, Olcutt. Channings and
others. He told a story of Boston
merchant, who, when called upon at
a gathering devoted to Goethe, arose
and said he guessed Ge-ethe was the
n. P. Willis of Germany.
Prof Beers admitted that he liked
better to wander away for bath in
Walden Pend, the place made famous
by the great Thoreau, then to listen
to the great learned discussions of
philosophy in the Orchard House.
Prof Beers paper was written in
an easy familiar style and every word
of 1t was listened to with intense in
terest by the audience.
The musical part of the program
was interfered with to some extent by
| the unexpected absence OF Mr., John
| Porter Lawrence who was in Wash
| ington and could not return. Dean
Wrightson sang 'Mon Desir," by
| Nevin, and was called back for an en-
core. He sang "Gypsey john" Mr..
Anton Kasper's violin solo, ''Faust
Fantastic by Saraste, brought down
the house, and he was compelled by
the most enthusiastic applause to rem
der a second selection. Miss Foster
was his accompanist, and filled the
place admirably, though she had
never attempted it before, and con-
sented to dose on moments notice.
r The invocation and benediction were
delivered by DR.. M. f. Compton, in
the absence of DR.. Reynolds, the
Chaplain, who is in White sulphur
| Springs to address an educational
meeting.
DR., Purinton made several announce
ments in regard to the summer school,
Among other things he said the at
tendance had been cut down by the
exaggerated reports in regard to to the
prevalence of smallpox and typhoid
fever here. He had received numer-
Gus letters from prospective students
inquiring about conditions, and was
sure the impression prevailed that
there are hundreds of cases of small
pox thousands of typhoid fever here.
Sanitary conditions in Morgan
town, he said, were as good as any
where. There had ib5au q few cases
of smallpox and considerable fever,
but he did not believe there was any
more here than in any other town as
large. He urged those who had come
to write back to their timorous friends
and tell them Morgantown was on the
whole, very healthy place in which
to live.