The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
GOVERNOR JOHNSON WILL
 DRAW MANY HUNDREDS
To Be One of the Most Notable Tn the History of the Grand Old lnstitu- tion-Many Brilliant So-
 claI Entertainments.
BY HUGH ROBERTS.

IuSCdioOSas May Eo-Nopecisaa.i -l ho 1908 commencement of the University of Alabama, celebrating the seventy-sixth anniversary of it's founding, promises to be one of the most notable in the long and honorable history of the great insti- tuition.
 Already from every section of Alabama people have come to Tuscaloosa-old alumni 10 drink again from the springs of youth and to revel with memory; poli- ticians to appear to advantage before the multitudes and perhaps to greet voter with smile and handshake; fair women to anticipate in the merrymaking of the enst ng week.
 And more are coming. The indications are, in fact, thac the attendance this year will be greater than that of last when the seventy-fifth anniversary was cele- brated on such an elaborate scale. It is certainty that the largest crowd that ever attended university commence ment will be here Tuesday, when John A. Johnson, governor of Minnesota. and until quite recently presidential possi- bility, delivers the alumni oration. In spite of Governor Johnson's defeat at the
 
 popular in this state. and there are hum dreds coming for the purpose of hearing his address Tuesday.
 special train will be operated from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa Tuesday. and it is the understanding that many hun dreds of the Magic City's citizens will be here. It is understood, too, that special train will be run from Montgom- cry to Tuscaloosa, and that this will bring the statesmen of the Capital City and of the wire grass section
 All in all, a record breaking attendance Is anticipated.
 Tuscaloosa Making Merry.
 Tuscaloosa as is customary with this typical ante-bellum town, with it's learn ing. it's refinement and warm hospitality, has prepared a right royal welcome for the visitors.
 Tuscaloosa was never decorated more gorgeously than today. From every home in the city "Crimson- Whte," the colors of the university, are floating, and from the majority a fraternity pennant, with it's gold, it's blue or it's red. stands out in bold relief.
 The visitors are welcomed. Tusca- loosa is extending the glad hand to every comer the hand. in fact, which is extended every year, a custom which has made the university commencements the most popular in the south. rD
 The visitors have found the university beautiful The buildings are decorated from top to bottom and the great oaks with their luxurious foliage never ap- peared to better advantage. The old alumni-and many of them are present, some having graduated as far back as 1sss-wili make themselves at home on the campus, where in years gone they upheld the honor of Alabama on the dia- mond and the gridiron, or, wandering un- der the trees of historic fame with some maiden of the long ago, planned the union of their goods and hopes for future hap piness.
 It is a period of reminiscence with the old alumni It is a period which few of the older generation care to forego, and to enioy hundreds have showed aside the business of hard year" for the purpose of dreaming again the dreams Of their 1878, 1883, 1888, 1893, 1898, 1905 and lsoS.
 The Class Reunion.
 feature of university commencements is the reunion of the classes. This year sees the coming together of those classes which were graduated Tn 1863, lSbS, lSI5 1883, 1SS8 1893, 1898, 1903 and l9OS
 Each class, under the direction or committee made up from it's membership, has planned some celebration. The ma iority will gather around banquet boards, and there recall scenes and events long since passed, tell stories that all will re- member, and laugh heartily over the remi- niscence that returns each season with more tender touch.
 The ..old veterans of the university, as is the custom, will take charge of the alumni banquet Wednesday at noon. It Is around this hilarious board that every former and graduate student of the uni- yersty finds welcome, has right, in other words to sit. It is around this board that men with fowery language praise the beauty of Alabama woman hood or inspire tears with their tender references to the old scholars that have gone before. It Is around this board that the wits chase these tears with oft repeated peals of laughter. It is around this board that men in public life will be called upon to explain their official ac- lions. Governor Conner wy unquesionably he given an opportunity ' clucidate those few chapters in the vo' lme of railroad rate reform which he has not as yet touched upon, and Judge Mayfeld will be allowed to publicly congratulate himself on his success in the recent state pri- mary. Ed Robinson of Mobile, an elo-. nuent man who generally reserves his elo- ouence for the alumni banquet, will be on hand: Will Bankhead. who is never hap rier than when with old classmates on the local campus, has already arrived, and for Hugh Morrow. the quiet, one of the warm est friends that the university numbers among it's 10000 alumni. IS reserved a spe- cial seat.
 President Abercrombies reception occurs tomorrow night. and on the same even ing the Alabama chapter of Phi Delta Theta entertains with german. Tues cav evening the L. T. E., Tuscaloosas social club the entertainments of which are famous from one end of the state