New-York tribune., 1903-06-08
LAST DAYS AT VASSAR.
COMMENCEMENT WEEK.
T10o Hundred and TsUenty-tscc
Young Women to Graduate.


thirty-eighth annual commencement, which will
be held on Wednesday The puzzling examina-
tions have been completed, and all seem to be
putting forth their best efforts TO make the
weeks exercises the most successful and most
complete in the history Of this well known edu-
cationaI institution. The commencement speak
ers will be:
Florence Mary Bennett Nantucket Mass
9erIruqe LOUISE LOUISE 6,e7, Rr6oISIjne Ness
F1orence rty Hsnnah. PougSkeepse
susannah Jane McMUrphg. Tacoma. Wash
celia Arnold spicer Providence, r. I
The commencement exercises will be held in
the chapel on Wednesday morning. In the
afternoon there will be meeting Of the trustees,
followed by their annual banquet
Class day will be observed with the usual ap-
propriate exercises on Tuesday. The committee
in charge is composed Of:
Helen Louise whitmore. Brunswick, Me.
Jane Priscilla sousa. New-YOEk City.
Caroline Metcalf Benton, Chicago
Louisa Louisa 1l Shapin l7atze Lake Forest; Ill Ill
The class historian will be Catharine Crystal
Eastman, of Elmira. n. Y; the senior Spade
Mass. and the, junior spade orator Ein be
Jeannette Stuart Taylor. Of New-York City
PRESIDENT TAYLORs BACCALAUREATE
President James NJ Taylor Of Vassar College
preached the baccalaureate sermon before the
graduating class to-day. speaking on the neces-
sity of having high ideal of life in this age OF
commercialism and pleasure seeking, and on the
value Of work for its effect on character. He
considered first the proposition that society is
in need of the moral equivalent of war and that
the educated classes are engaged il seeking
for wealth to lose sight Of the higher ideals
He said:
While it is true that war lifts US above the un-
essential and rouses US to the highest pitch Of
enthusiasm, there are other forces equally great
which move our modern society. The sense of
the brotherhood Of man and international unity
was never so strong as now. Men are giving
themselves also to educational and social work
for the poor, and these activities often require
heroisn equal to that Of the soldier When we
consider all these sources of moral motive power
1t is not necessary TO find the equivalent Of war
fare, but do need TO find ideal Of life
which will Withstand the commercial spirit OF
our age. It is measurably true that the edu-
Gated classes are valuing life more and more by
its material equipment and that they in dan
ger of losing the power Of plain living and high
thinking. There is a growth Of luxury and idle
ness but history shows that the real value Of
life comes from the growth Of the soul This is
the testimony Of the rich well as the poor.
No life is strong which does not grow in moral
attainment. In this age where fdleness is likely
10 follow the requirement Of wealth. the gospel
OF work should be emphasized Work makes one
better and happier. The moral tonic needed is
to come back TO the simple honest ideal of life
that goodness is better than wealth
In the charge to the graduates President Tay-
lor urged them TO give their minds to the things
which are true and eternal. while regarding the
artificial distinctions Of society, to let their
judgments penetrate through to the true founda-
tions Of life TO set their moral standard high. to
give themselves to service literally and happily
wherever their spheres of activity, and. above
all. to keep near to God
There WIFI be many class reunions Monday
Tuesday and Wednesday The class Of '01 is
it being the first experience. 1t is expected that
the reunions will bring hundreds Of the old grad
yates back TO the college.
THE DAISY CHAIN.
Another feature looked forward to with great
interest is the daisy chain" In selecting the
eighteen pretty young women who are 10 carry
the munster chain Of daisies, Caroline Sealy, of
galveston. Tex, the president OF the sophomore
class has been called upon to exercise excep-
tjonal bravery, because there are DID members
of the class. and every one Of them is good look
,re After due deliberation Miss Sealy an
nounces that the following young women have
heen selected not only as the daisy chain girls
hur as the eighteen prettiest girls in the class:
.sar,o, Howell Hamlin, East Bloomfield, n 7.
1TTes Boynton Bradshaw. Chicago
Lillian Madeline saltonstaI; San FRANCISCO
Fla Laura Hi. Danbury Conn
Ruth Anne Merselis. Passaic, y. j.
Fthel Nav McKisson. Toledo.
Mildred McCloskey, Pittsburg
Henrietta Platt NeW-York City
FveIvn Leonard. Grand Rapids
Grace Virginia Mccarthy. Chicago.
Ss-a Yourt Beieruliester, Troy
Gerrrude lana Ballard. Peralta, Cal
Harv De lie Barrere, Columbus. Ohio
Werfha Nav Street. New-H Haven
lillian Wells Atkins, Indianapolis
srI1ia Durfea burlington. Fall River Mass
The marshal will be Martha Hennng. Of Sara
toga Springs.
THE SENIOR CLASS.
The officers and members of this years grad
uating class are
r,-as,d.nt- Elizabeth Burd Thompson. OF ALE
Ehany. Penr
continued on third page.
The historic Hudfon to West Point Newburgh or