Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-18
tcenslnued from Page one)

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.,,,. a. Longfellow. Utterly indif-
ss s', Z, the crowds Of followers of
y, rreat national sport swirling by,
- - suaniard stood still, took of his
- ana remained for some minutes
.hsre In the street bareheaded, thus
,.ndsrins In his own courteous way
~ homage to Americas best beloved
,oet. This afternoon in the midst of
.Irmni reunions and our own sports
IA sanea and all the gay festivity
h Commencement, the College pauses
4 pay her tribute to her two great
sons
sThe occasion Is unique. Never be-
~ n American history has any
Shsr college or university celebrated
N centenary Of the graduation in the
ana class Of two illustrious sons.
IA 70 this afternoon Bowdoin well
1srbes here her sons and her friends
v,ih very real delight. At small
oslJere such as ours every gathering
~ about It something Of a family
atmosphere, and 1t is gratifying to
hvs With us this afternoon daugh-
~. nieces, nephews, grandchildren to
share IN our pleasure and In the praise
q offer to their famous kinsmen. This
VA brings back memories not only
\ 1875 but Of the 50th anniversary
\ that class In 1875 when from this
nv spot was heard for the first time
M college poem '.Morituri Saluta-
rus, which will be, we doubt not, as
immortal as the college.
sWa have heard a great deal these
mst two months of what the present
rnerstion Of writers and poets and
s,itics think Of Longfellow and Iiaw-
horne. Could these great spirits
neak today, I wonder what would
shev think Of us? Hawthorne wrote at
M best prose that not only has never
zen Sxcelled by any other American
Int that IN the judgment OF SO severe
critic a. the English statesman ana
,bthof zoe Morley has not been sur
mssed IN the English language. Would
4. ereat fomancer think our genera
tor has maintained the high standards
4 workmanship, as great regard Tor
hsantv u phrase and of style, as Keen
msieIt into moral truth? Longfeilow.
/, doubt not, IL read in more homes OF
mellSh. speaking people the worlo
ver than IL any other poet Of our
sorue, Would he look on the work of
many 81 cur best known poets as car
mig On the high traditions Of early
Nsw England poetry, or as In many
ass straining after strange enects,
xritten up to the minute, but not Tor
tAs ages? It were ungracious per-
iaps to continue these queries: but 1t
b challenge to wonder If amid the
ut Of writer's today there Is even
he whose centenary will be celebrated
Win equal enthusiasm in POPS? And
fxnkly this college is q little impa-
| tknt Of criticism that fails to see the
uduring quality Of such devotion to
| 1T d both Hawthorne ana Longfellow
throughout their literary careers dis
/ played Bowdoin does not claim to
hare made either poet or novelist; but
having had an important share In their
Development, like native city or state,
q like . proud mother she takes
pids that in 4 peculiar sense they be-
bng also to her.
d. Bliss Perry. who received the
honorary degree Of Doctor of Litera-
turs from Bowdoin in 1904, spoke on
Tongfellow and Hawthorne" his ad-
tfsn being in part as followss
xoagfellow ana hawthorne
The anniversary which we cele-
ltate today Is In one sense local ana
PROVINCIAL One hundred years ago
tRo boys, somewhat inconspicuous
Members Of a class Of less than 40,
vws graduated from what was then a
struggling college, on the edge of the
vildarness. Today the wilderness Is
sune, the college has grown into Q IA
nous seat Of learning, and every BOW
euin man, every son Of New England,
- his moments Of respectful regard
ir the memory Of Hawthorne and
lAnsfsllow and the lucky class OF
|ist5,
This Is not an hour for technical
literary criticism. That has its place
md Its time, Of course. happen 10
eHn, on bit of land In northern New
England. some white pines. An ex-
PVT botanist could point out to me In
ATTN words precisely why my pines
w not spruces nor sequoias. But
NOV already that pine Is pine, by
aoking at 1t. And 1 know that Long
alow is not Browning or a Goethe
= Dante, and that Hawthorne ID
VIA Balzac or .Thackeray or a Toll
Aoi; In other words. that nobody Is
mebody else. Longfellow and Haw-
acfne are just themselves. There Is
nsnlng spectral or fictitious about
mem They are as authentic as
~ Of primeval pines. There is room
M many varieties of opinion about
h men. There Is room for !, every
80, except the one objectionable
sood Of condescension. And perhaps
sn that ought to be pardoned, for
aN Of the disiliusioned Americans
- cynical immigrants who patronize
agfellow and Hawthorne seem never
nave read their books.
nevertheless there IL one fact
sa'en We must face today. The part
sen New England plays In the ma
ia lie Is growing year by year
conspicuous. and the authors who
our literature in the second and
quarters of the 18th century
I~{e uuQueStio iona h1v list Crottt1d 40 y