The Washington herald., 1909-04-14

hundred yards in length, so that about
the time the front Of the student process
sion entered the hall the front OF the
faculty started down the Rotunda steps.
CynOsure of Eyes.
The students did not wear costumes. and
in consequence The faculty had the salts
faction Of knowing that the women and
children. with now and then a specimen OF
the male species, that fianked the lawn
under the arcades on either side were di-
recting most OF their admiring gaze upon
them. With their flowing robes. their -tas-
seled caps, and their ample sleeves and
hoods that displayed every color of the
rainbow, they marched with stately pride
down the green lawn, bordered by the dou-
bic rows Of budding trees serene in their
learning and dignity. the fit cynosu-e OF
the assembled thrOngs. In spite OF this.
however. a number Of the pretties. girls.
as usual, persisted in following the stu
dent procession into the hall ahead of
the distinguished professors. Such is
life
Full many prof IS dressed to blush unseen.
And daunt his pumes behind tie fleeing fair
While some raw soph freshman green
Dotn know that she VIII chase him any7Fhere
The shade Of the democratic jefferson
hpvers near at such times. and thinks
of how things were done in his day; and
yet he is nightly delighted with the
spirit Of progress and the constant
working out OF his fundamental ideas.
He would as soon have demanded that a
man should always wear the coat that fit
him when boy, as to expect that laws
and institutions should never be modified
20 meet the changing conditions of de-
velopment, must be highly gratihed IN
the spirit 70 observe the perfected graces
that are being 80 naturally and properly
assumed by his youngest and dearest
child
After filing into the auditorium to the
sounding pipes Of the great organ, the
president, faculty, and distinguished
guests took their accustomed .,iaces on
the large platform The students clus-
tered about them upon the rising tiers
Of the amphitheater. while the admiring
women, the visiting alumni, and the men
from the city found places as near and
as comfortable as possible. The addresses
were listened to with intense interest.
the presidents statement was followed
item by item, and finally the organ
sounded the recessional: the professions
moved out in reverse order. and the rest
Of the audience followed at its cOnven-
ience-
Annual Meetings Held.
For a number Of years It has been the
custom Of the alumni, who have or
ganizations in all Of the great cities and
many Of the smaller ones in the United
States, to select Founders Day as the
time for holding their annual business
and social meetings. For example. the
chapter in St. Louis, with It's eighty
three members. the Washington CITY
Chapter, with its $50 members. the Rich
mond and the New York City chapters.
with a membership Of $50 and 265. re-
spectively, generally have a meeting on
April l5 for the election Of officers and
delegates 70 the annual meeting OF the
general association. the business session
being followed by a banquet OF other
social function. II is a happy and grow
ing custom for the local chapters and
the class secretaries to telegraph a, mes
sage of greeting to the alma mater. this
message being sent early enough IN the
day 70 be read from the platform dur
ing the celebration exercises. which be-
gin at 12:15 p m These customs were
generally observed to-day in the various
cities.
The social features OF Founders Dav
were more emphasized to-day at the uni
versity than ever before, for one OF the
chief objects Of the celebration was. as in
previous years. TO bring the institution
and all her sons into a closer and more
vital and more organic relationship. In
the evening a reception was given by the
faculty 10 guests and alumni in the
rooms Of the Colonade Club. on the west
lawn. The clubhouse is perhaps the most
historic building at the university, as