Some Suggestions

We nave had one of the most suceessful commencement weeks in the history of the Universlty. There were several hundred of the alumni present in all depairtments and several reunions of the older classes. Age seéms to increase the interest of the average alumnus in nis alma mater. The senior promenade was somewhat broken up by a sudden storm, but this could not be avoided. The senior reception was a splendid success. The secretary of the Alumni association had a very extensive and fine collection of portralts oí professors and graduates, which was o. source of interest to all during the ■- commencement week. Tl)e older graduates beeame young again in looking at the portraits of their professors taken about 1S60, and some earlier than that date. It is the intention of Mr. l'ivntiss, the secretary of the Alumni ,n, to ultimately make as complete i collection as possible of the alts of the professors and inin the University, and also He alsc Intend make a t:oleetion as far as possibie of uie books riteen by me members of tne Universal facuity and tne graduates. mis wnl in linie maKe quite an nsive uorary. me Dusmess nieeiïufe- ui ne Alumni association was much more largeij o-ttenaeo tnan ever Di and muco interest was exhioited in all maners pertaming to tne assoei&non. x uia not nave ule pietfcUi"tí oí i ing tne address to the graóuating - but hear u very nigniy spoicen ot on all nanas, ï'nis, nowever, was accompanïed dj me universal critioism mat it wa.6 riiUcn tuo long. Why is It mu possible to bring this adcues witnin tne ïimits of tmrty or rorty mi-ñutes. It seems to me thai if the Universlty autnorities wuulu ïiorily the speaker ïnv-ited that the aüdress was not expected 10 be over tmrcy or rorty minutes long, that a great reform nnght be aecomplished. The alumni dinner in the Waterman gymnasium was well attended as usuai. Aiter the usual dinner the acting-pre&idont, Prof. Hutchins, gave a very brief and able resume oí the coming needs of the University. By the way, Prof. Hutchins has been a very candid and succeesful actin-president of tne University, and all are very much pleased with the management of University affaire during the past year. president Hutchins, after nis able statement of the present needs of the University, iiitroduced the following persons, who responded to different sentiments in ielation to the university: Judge Claudius B. Grant, of eur state Supreme court; Prof. Wheeler, of Cornell University; Dr. Jacoby, of Columbia University; ex-Regent Barbour, Major W. C. Ransom, of the class of '48, Judge Wall of the class of '58, and Prof. Freeman, of Wisconsin University, representing the class of '68. The acting-president of the University and the invited guests and speakers were seated at a table at the west end of the gymnasium, the other tables running east and west fro-m this table. We obtained a seat near the center of the audience, expecting to hear the very interesting speeches that are delivered upon these ocasions. The dinners on these occasions are usually very good, but I do not think many of the alumni would attend the alumni dinner solely on that account. Most of them go there to hear the eminent speakers who are invited to respond to toasts upon these occasions. In the center of the audience it was impossible to hear a word that was said by Judge Olaudlus B. Grant, Prof. Wheeler and Dr. Jacoby. The acoustic properties of the gymnasiun) ars such that it is impossible to hear a conversational tone of voice at any great distance froni the speaker. We were seated )ear the center of the audience and were not ableto hear a word spoken by these three eminent gentlemen. We are buund to presume that the speeches of all óf theso gentlemen of a very high erder, both on account of their well knov n reputaüon and also because all seenied pleased who were seated at the same table with them. The remainder of the speakers could be heard very well by most of the audu.-nce. A large number of th eAlumni iinding that they were not abl3 to hear. anything that was said, left the room before the close of the first address. ëo many vvert unable to hear that befure the ciose of the meeting one-half of the audience had left the room. There was another dirT.culty about these, responses. Some of them were quite thirty minutes long. No public speaker should be allowed to speak more than ten minutes in response to a toast. The president should notify the speakers, that a bell will be rung at the end of ten minutes and they are expected to close at once, and this order of affairs should be insisted upon and achered to strictly. Iong experience has demonstrated Lhat men and woraen upon their feet, speaking to a public audience, cannot possibly take any note of time. Indeed, a half hour to a pubic speaker does not seem to be more than ten or flfteen minutes. As it seems impossible, after years of experiment, to have the public speakers regtlate themselves, some means should be taken to regúlate them on behalf of the audiences. ün a hot June afterncon an aurience of the alumni will listen with pleasure to a large number of ten minute speeches, but one or two thirty minute speeches will drive them froni the room, particularly if they do not hear one word, of the long speeches. suggest the following changes to romedy some of these difflculties. Le the table for the president and the invited guests including the speakers, be placed north and south directly in the center of the other tables. Let all the other tables be placed north and south parallel with the visitors' table. Tnis will, of course, place the back of some of tht speakers to a portion of the auditnee, but we can hear them. Next, let eaoh speaker be notified that a bell will be rung at the end of ten minutes, and he is expected to close his remorks immcdiately thereafter. If the alumni address can be reductd to thirty minutes, which it ought to be, the conferring of the degrees would be completed by 12 o'clock and the alumni dinner could commence at halfpast 12 or 1 o'clock, then ampie time would be given for the completion of all exercises at the alumni dinner befcre the leaving of the trains in the afternoon. There is ánother nuisance at these alumni dinners that ought to be stamped out with vigor. The waiters at the table seem to think that it is very funny to slam the doors and rattle the dishes during the responses by the different speakers, and make other annoying demonstrations for the purpose of compelling the meeting to close, so that they can ge thrugh eariier with their duties. We suggest that at least this nuisance can be abated. Let us hope that these reforms may be inaugurated and enforeed at the next commencement of our university. Respectfully.