The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-20

Graduates Present Ranging
From Silvery Haired Old
Men to Youths

New York. March 10-With songs
oil the football field and the boatrace
course. with a deafening cheer and
rousing chorus of Here's TO Old Yale,
Drink Her Down." President Taft war
greeted tonight as the fret Yale presf
dent OF the United States by moro
than 1,5O0 graduates OF the university
The graduates came from all over the
country. They ranged from silvery-
haired old men, whose degrees bear
the date of SO down, TO tho youths
Who left their alma mater only last
June.
Tho dinner was served at the Wal
dorf-Astoria. The immense ball room
was decorated with a lavish wealth
OF flowers. From the ceilings count
less chains of pink blooms fell In
graceful loops. The balcony guards
and the sidewalks were entwined with
roses. The speakers table, at which
Hadley, OF Yale. and other distin-
guished graduates, was canopied with
artificial representatives OF the Gle.
ments of old age Back Of the table
vas huge drop curtain bearing n
painting of the old brick row, which
vas reality In President Tafts stu
dent days, but which is now mostly a
memory.
In front of the curtain and back oil
the speakers was a replica of the old
Yale fence. The representation of the
old barrier was complete down TO the
last detail Many of the initials, in
cluding the wv II. T." OF Mr. Tart
and the "A. T. H" OF President Had
ley were faithfully reproduced
An orchestra played Yale anthems
throughout the evening and the sing
Ing OF the rollicking songs was led by
a glee club of 80 graduates seated at
a center table.
President Taft was probably the
happiest man at the dinner. which
was given entirely in his honor. He
was not hailed as president. however.
but as "Bill'-the salutation which
punctuated the cheering as he en-
tered.
The only set speeches OF the even
ing were made by President Taft and
President Hadley. The latter spoke
first. responding to the toast Meath
the Elms," while the former, speaking
entirely extemporaneously, had for
bis subject, For God for Country
and for Yale"
There were other informal speeches.
Among the guests at the dinner were
Henry w Taft and Horace D. TAFT,
brothers of the president.
While the dinner was being served
many graduates. including a host from
his class OF rs. made their way to the
presidents table, shook hands with
him and slapped him on the back and
removed the acquaintance of college
days.
The toast of the evening ran:
But now tonight we are boys once
more:
Who cares how the fates have spun ?
A pledge TO the mothers OF years ten
score,
A pledge TO their favorite son.
Here's wishing her wealth and wish
ing him health.
Long life and an easy trail,
With the heels Of the glass, fill up and
pass,
10 tn6 DUST OIL El1uu ale.
AS the 1,5OO graduates joined In a
mighty chorus, the rafters rung with
the college songs: Yale VIII Win"
ELI Yale" Should Fortune Prove IN
kind" Stand by Your Glasses" "Old
Mountain Tree" The Old Brick Row
and Bright College Years"
The precautlon taken to guard the
president tonight exceeding anything
of the kind ever before seen In this
city. Large squads of policemen were
thrown about the hotel. Inside the
corridors fairly swarmed with detec-
tives. secret service men and special
watchmen
Just before President Taft spoke the
lights in the ballroom were dimmed
and a screened calcium sent a flood
of blue rays upon the speakers table
Through the windows of the "Old
Brick Row" lights cleaned. Then be-
gan a yell Of "Oh. Fresh, Put Out That
Light" 1t was caught up all over the
room.
II was nearly IL o'clock when Mr..
Taft began to speak, and as he was
leaving on the midnight train for
Washington his remarks necessarily
were brief He confined himself al
most entirely to eulogy of Yale and
OF the Yale spirit. which he declared
had been a guiding influence in his
lie.
Mr.. Taft said he was carrying the
Yale spirit with him TO the discharge
of his duties as president
and" he added. ut is a great deal
better to leave that office with the
plaudits of your countrymen than to
enter it. The opportunities for mis-