The citizen., 1909-06-17
COMMENCEMENT
A Good Time in Spite Of The Rain
Or. Herget's Speech One of The
Best Ever Given In The Tabernacle
"A Fine Graduating Class.


ter with the Commencement Day ex-
erclses here last Wednesday, and that
was thing for which the managers
Of the occasion could not really be
blamed-it rained. Really, 1t was quite
rain. II began early and stayed late,
and Il only let up little at times
SO that people would get out from
shelter so 1t could get at them good.
Then 1t did SO. There probably was
never time when more bedraggled
looking people and more ruined fem
inihe finery could be seen on the
College campus. II was really almost
worth seeing.
The exercises themselves were
fully up to the high standards which
are always expected In Berea. The
graduates were as fine set young
people as could be found, and show
cd to the best advantage the results
OF their long training here. The grad
uating speeches were all worth
hearing and won well deserved ap-
plause. The large audience sat quiet
ly during the three hour meeting and
listened attentiveiy thru-out. and as
the presentation Of diplomas came
nearer the crowd gathered. filling the
Tabernacle to its utmost. The CO.
veted parchments were presented by
Pres. Frost, who gave each with a
few appropriate words of compliment
and encouragement and the recipients
we're loudly applauded as they took
their seats.
II was about this time that the
rain really began. There had been
a few showers previously but now the
rain really came down. Pres. Frost
had taken the stand to present
degree OF honor to State Supt. Crabbe,
on whom the Trustees had conferr-
ed the degree of Doctor OF Laws, but
his voice was so drowned out by the
torrents OF water that he had to stop.
. Music was called for and the audience
Joined In singing couple OF well
known hymns. The shower had pass
ed by that time and he went ON
and conferred the degree on our
honored state superintendent Mr..
Crabbe thanked Pres. Frost and
Berea College in a few we'll chosen
words. and was loudly applauded.
II had been planned to lay the
corner stone Of the new mems dor
mitory, Pearsons's Hall. after the
exercises in the Tabernacle, but the
rain made II impossible for the crowd
to go out and attend the ceremony
30 IL was decided to have the Grafton
delivered In the Tabernacle. and
postpone the actual laying of the
corner stone till better weather. DIR.
w. T.. Barton OF Chicago, known TO
most OF our readers, was then called,
and in the face of the rising Storm
delivered an address in his usual elc-
quent and helpful style. Pres. Frost
exhibited the small metal box which
was 20 be laid under the corner stone,
and gave a list of its contents-among
which was a copy OF the special Com
mencement issue OF the Citizen.
The rain let up a little-just en-
ough to encourage people TO start
TO get to their basket dinners, or
to 20 home. When they were all
well started the worst shower OF
the day come on-and 1t came quick.
Every body ducked for the nearest
shelter, and while some got into
places of comfort and safety, others
were caught in porches and door ways
and other places where there was
only a little protection-not any
where near enough for the people
that we're looking for 1t. Coat tails
and skirts stuck out and caught the
drips. and here and there about half
n man was left out In the wet. And
then Il rained-and rained and ram
ed and rained and rained. After
that It rained some more. The rain
came from first one side then the
other Now 1t would let up a httie'
ana Intn IL NOuA0 eOA@f~ eN''-- -
relsfull. When 1t let up people start
ed for home--when 1t came on again
they dashed back to their shelters
After a while they got so hungry
they braved the rain and went out
for something to eat. Finally, when
every one was more or less Wet
and some were wet thru. the rain
quit. But the clouds hung low, ana
STAYED around threatening more dam
age. Out the Scaffold Cane Pike,
few miles from town, there was
hardly drop fell. The weather man
really must have had 1t in for Be
rea-but Kingston got 1t even worse,
and over in Garrard there was real
cloudburst. Water was so high that
many bridges washed out, and good
many people stayed over with friends,
because they found 1t impossible TO
qat hOmp