Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-23
The Plans and Prospects
Of Commencement.
Hundreds Of Alumni Returning
to Enjoy Exercises.
Ius, a Century Since First Bextoin Class
Graduated.

brunswick, Me-, June 23.-iSpeclal).
Tho first class to graduate from Bow
do;n College was the class Of 1906,
fact which gives little additional in
,erest to the graduation exercises Of
tho class Of 1906 which will occur dur
,ng the coming week. Though Bowdoin
ras chartered in 1874 the actual OPEN
iro was delayed until 1902 and conse-
ouently the class Of young men who
entered at that time graduated in 1906.
rhe centennial of the college was cele-
brated with elaborate exercises in 1894
and there was also a special program in
1ao9 in honor Of the Tooth anniversary
Of the opening Of the college, but the
10Oth anniversary of the graduation OF
the first class passes without special
observance, although 1t is assured that
the coming commencement will be eX-
centionalIy interesting and well attend
,d The class of 1906 numbered but
eeven Young men while that of 1906
Numbers s.. and about 90 more will
graduate from the Medical department.
The only member Of the class of 1906
whose name IS familiar to BoWdoin
men of today is George Thorndike vino
rs an undergraduates planted the
Thorndike oak, which stands in the
center of the campus, the shrine OF
generation after generation of college
boys Thorndike went abroad after
graduation and died in Russia in 1911,
the first graduate of the college to die.
beginning with the Baccala laureate
sermon by President Hyde Sunday al
ternOon the commencement exercises
will he in full swing and until the end
Of the week til" beautiful old campus
and the part uf the town adjoining it
will be the scene of constant activities
ana festivities. As usual hundreds OF
alumni will be back. coming not only
from all parts of New England AMI the
East hut also from the far West; ana
the relatives and friends of tao seniors.
particularly friends Of the fair sex, will
be here in sWarms for Glass dag. The
examinations have been all complete!
during the past week, some Of thcm
earlier. in fact, as Prof. McCrcl and
Prof Ham closed up their work ahead
Of time in order t. get an early start
for a summer in Europe. a larS"
number Of the Freshmen and SoDho-
mnrcs nave gone t. their homes. nut
the Juniors all remain to get points for
their own graduation year hence.
The feature Of Monday will be the
Alexander prize speaking in the even
ing III Memorial hail. This takes the
place Of the Junior Prize speaking
which vas feature for GO or 20 years.
This new contest is not limited to the
Juniors. but is open to the three lower
classes. TIE prizes being given by Con-
grCSSman Alexander Of Buffalo, \. y,
"A graduate in the class of 40. The l.
speakers have been selected in preliini-
nary contests. The first prize last
year was won by T.. F. Briggs,
grandson of Senator Frye.
Thursday will be Glass day with all
the traditional exercises and beautiful
customs which many years Of obscrN-
aucr have ,ndcared to the undergradu-
ate heart. 1t is not So much of 4 day
for the returning alumni as the two
following days but to the seniors ana
their friends it is the gala day OF the
week The morning exercises are held
in Memorial hall at 9. the afternoon cX-
crriScS under the Thorndike oak at ,
ana the Glass day ball in Memorial
at 2 /. NJ.
Tho Class day officers Of 'O6 are as
follows. President, Henry p. Chapman
Of Portland; vice president. larry i.
Childs Of Lewiston; secretary and
treasurer. Lewis II. Fox Of Wood
f"rds: marshal, George L. Hatch Of
belfast; orator. Charles w. Hawkes.
worth of Boston: poet. James w.
Scwall, Jr., of Old Town; opening ad-
Del; closing address. Harvey +. Wins
low Of Gardiner: historian. 1tohe L.
Stevens Of Kcnnebunk: chaplain. ITar-
cid =. Booth of NaSsllboro: committee
Of arrangements. Ralph G. Wehhcr Of
Augusta. William II. Stone Of Bidde-
ford ana Fred f. r. Piper of Portland;
committee on pictures. Raymond II.
Williams of Pennington. Currier &.
Continued on Page Twelve)
II