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The Commencement Dinner

The Commencement Dinner image
Parent Issue
Day
3
Month
July
Year
1895
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The commencenient program is ende( for the fifty-first time. Following the commencement proper in universitj hall yesterday moro ing, carne the clos ing number of tlie week, the commence ment feast, in Waterman gymnasium Those who attended the dinner formec in line jnst after the conferring of the degrees and marched to the scène of the hanquet with appetites well whetted by the long exercises in university hall The gymnasium presented an enticiüg appearance. Across the west end 'was laid the speakers' table, while from i at right angles extended four long tables the length of the big building with a capacity for seating flve hundred Every cover was turned, and some were turned away, while others laid an im promptu table by the side of the others Some of the fresh baby alumni demon strated that President Hall's remarks made later on in the program, were no applicable in the west, however, it may be in the east. He said that to a great many college men the world was ready a "sucked orange," they were never freshmén, they knew the waya of the world too well. Tlie haby alumni yesterday attempted to take seats at the table always provided for the worthies, at the head of the banquet tables. They were foiled in their atteinpt by the vigilance of some of the attendants, and they had to take seats at the farther end of the hall, being a proper fulfillment of the scripture that "he who will be flrst shall be last." When the seniors - no longer seniors but alumni - had exchanged places with the speakers, Eev. Henry Tatlock asked the blessing and the gustatory part of the program was soon over. President Angelí, as usual, on these occasions, acted the part of the toastmaster. The first one he called upon for a talk was Edmund Fish, the only representative of the class of 1845. He spoke only for a moment, simply giving the younger element an opportunity to see whatsort of stuff the men of the muidle of the century were made of. Following him, C. S. Carter, of Milwaukee, spoke in behalf of the class of 1870, wbich held a banquet and reunión here Wednesday evening, about twenty of the class being present. President Charles Kendall Adams, of ;he University of Wiscensin, was next called apon. He scored the late legisature for its parsimony and then gave an eloquent eulogy of President Angelí. Michigan's university owed more to hree men than to any others. They were Superintendent of Instruction Pierce, iu office in 1837, President Tapian and President Angelí. He thought t would be the proper thing to endow the presidency of the university and give Dr. Angelí the appointment for ife. Then it would be the right thing o do to endow a chair of inter-national law and let President Angelí occupy that so long as he lived. Finally he would like to see a system of fellowships and scholarships begun in celebration of the twenty-rifth anniversarv of President Angell's occupancy of the executive chair. It was a just and glowing tribute to Michigan's grand president. President J. Stanley Hall, of Clark University, Worcester, 3Iass., was one of the best speakers of the afternoon. Speaking extemporaneously, he held the company spell-bound for flfteen minutes or longer. He deplored the spirit already alluded to, that to most college men in the east at least, life had no interest, and the f resumen, the sophomores and the juniors were bound to have no real interest in the proceedings of the world. In fact, thev considered it beneath their dignity to appear to take any interest. Govemor John T. Eich waa present and Toastmaster Augeli would not excuse him fróm duty. He made a good speech, taking the qpportunity to defend the action of the leijislature and his own in vetoing the university billIt was his duty to look upon all the state institutions as equal, so far as favors were coucerned. The tax rolls must be kept down. The state was alrëady deep in debt, and he could do nothing except wliat he liad done. He avowed his loyalty to the university and said tha't he would stand by it so long as he stood by his honor aad his country. He was loudly applauded when he coneluded. Senator J. E. McLaughlin, of Detroit, one of the university's staunchest friends, spoke. He had sympathy for the governor, for he knew the position in which lie had been placed. He was glad to note from the governor's speech that he didnotcarry the idea that the university must henceforth get along without state aid. He hoped that time wonld liever come. The last speaker was Supt. Nightingale, of Chicago, who spoke eloquently of the secondary schools. President Angelí asked Dean D'Ooge to start the the doxology and with that glorious old tune the commencement exercises of 1895 passed into history and the class into the world.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier