Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-26

!
Though long accounts of the Com
mencements at the various coheses are
published in the daily newspapers no"
little they tell, after all. or the nappen-
ings Of the week which come close 10
the hearts of all returning aiumni'
members of the graduating class un-
dergraduates and friends and relatives
who throng the campus during the
eventful days and nights. The news
papers tell. to be sure, such important
things as the names of the graduates.
the prize winners, the class day parts.
speeches Of the alumni dinner'
and in general give running
account Of such things as In
terest the average reader. But there
is much which is below the surface.
much which the average reader would
care little about, and yet which Is the
most important of all to the college
man and his friends. There are the
glories and triumphs of class day. the
class and fraternity reunions. and the
little happenings of the campus and
chapter houses which long remain as
cherished memories with the old
SIdUS, WHO EeluI IVA q "SN"p sAAAA
with the young men IA caps and gowns
who receive their degrees. 1t Is SO at
every college, at every commencement.
and it was so at Bowdoin's commence
ment which occurred last week. The
Journal gives below n few sidelights on
the men and events Of the week, some
Of the interesting little things which
escaped comment and did not find their
way into the newspaper accounts OF the
various days exercises.
Rarely indeed Is y Bowdoin COM
mencement dinner witnessed by a pair
of feminine eyes, but among those who
looked down from the little gallery In
Memorial hall, Thursday AFTERNOON.
and heard the cheers. the songs and
speeches Of 400 or more alumni seated
at the tables below, was Kate Douglass
Wiggil, the famous autho,ess, who mas
the distinction of being one of Bow
doin's two daughters, Sarah Orne
Jcwett. being the other and both having
received the honorary degree of Lift. D..
few years ago. Kate Douglass Wig
gin, or Mrs. Riggs, as she Is known In
private life, was present during the
exercises and enjoyed them thoroughly
During the commencement exercises
Thursday morning, she occupied seat
upon the platform among the trustees
and other dignitaries, and then came
over to Memorial hall as mentioned
above. still wearing her cap and gown
and was the only woman spectator at
the dinner. Mrs. Riggs was greatly
pleased with the class day poem read
by the class poet, Stanley 2. Chase. Of
Portland, Tuesday morning. so much so
that she later sought a meeting with
the young man and praised his poem
most highly. Later in the day, nv
Chase was surprised and greatly
pleased to receive from Mrs. Riggs a
beautiful volume Of LOngfellOw's
poems, with few pleasant words from
her pen written upon the fly leaf.
Late Wednesday afternoon. a party
Of ten members OF the class of 1896
gathered at New Meadows Inn for a
shore dinner. One Of their number was
Clarence E. Baker, who has just re-
turned from 4 five years service in the
Philippines as a teacher. Here is a
good story which he tells about the far
East. certain American general in
the Philippines has established the now
famous Society of the East" which
has three articles in its constitution
and one in it's by laws. The constitu-
ton is made up as follows:
article 1. Every white man who has
been in the East year IS member of
this society.
article .. Two members constitute
a quorum.
article 3. Whenever quorum Is
present drink is in order"
The by laws of this society consist of
this article.
"A mirror shall not he used in count
ing a quorum
Mr.. Baker thoroughly enjoys his
work as a teacher in the Philippines,
and has responsible position as super
intendent Of a large section of the
islands. He will start on the six weeks
return trip in August, though he is
somewhat uncertain where he will
make his home since 4 tornado has
destroyed the city in which he lived.
since he returned to :his country. and
he understands that his own residence
was destroyed. Mr.. i3aker was one of
those American teachers who contrac-
ted romantic marriage at the end of
his first voyage to the Philippines.
falling in love with a California girl
during the voyage across the Pacific
and wedding her upon their arrival in
Manila. Mrs. Baker was with her hus-
band during the commencement season.
Mr. Baker says that in the Philippines,
and in the East. generally. the sympa-
thies of the white men, in general, in
Guiding Americans. Is largely with
Russia during the present war, since
they look upon the japanese as an in
ferior race to be classed with the brown
men Of the Philippines and yellow men
Of China.
The idea Of a ball game with Bates,
Wednesday afternoon. was received
with much favor by the alumni, and al
though there was q constant drizzla
during the whole Of the game the play
ers stuck bravely to It. and the grand
stand was filled with g. wildly enthusi-
astic crowd. 1t has been tie usual pro-
gram during the Commencement week
to have a game between an under
graduate nine and 4 nine composed of