In the afternoon, the Class of '63 gathered under the old elms for the last time. Provision, more ample than usual, had been made for the seating of friends, and we did not see a single lady in lack of a fine view. The Band of the 22d New York Regiment opened the exercises with impressive music. The pipes of peace and future remembrance were scattered, and amid fumes of smoke, roars of laughter, and clapping of hands, the Class histories were read by the historians of the four divisions, Messrs. Barnard, Cooper, Johnston, and Southworth. They were very interesting, and in some cases quite witty. Many of the Class had left College for the war, and of the many who yet remained, there were not a few whose jolly student-life afforded ample material for joke and fun. Next came the parting, which was most affecting and public. The ivy was then planted beside the Library wall, after which the Class proceeded to bid farewell to the various Colleges. And now they had only to withdraw from the procession in small groups, breathing silently their hopes and purposes for the future, and the Class of '63 were done with their College life. Speaking for the DeForest. On Friday P. M., June 26th, at 24 o'clock, the six gentlemen, of the Class of '63, who had received Townsend premiums for excellence in English Composition, spoke for the DeForest Gold Medal. The programme of exercises was as follows: I. Tennyson. His characteristics as a poet. HORACE WEBSTER FOWLER, Utica, N. Y. II. Loyalty to the State and allegiance to an individual compared. III. Tennyson. His characteristics as a poet. SAMUEL WILLOUGHBY DUFFIELD, Adrian, Mich. IV. Loyalty to the State and allegiance to an individual compared. GEORGE WALTER ALLEN, Worcester, Mass. V. Loyalty to the State and allegiance to an individual compared. WILLIAM GRAHAM SUMNER, Hartford, Conn. VI. Loyalty to the State and allegiance to an individual compared. GEORGE SCOVILL HAMLIN, Sharon, Conn. After consultation, the Faculty awarded the Medal to Mr. LEANDER T. CHAMBERLAIN. It is fitting that in the pages of that Magazine to which he was a valued contributor, notice should also be taken of the fact, that the reward of highest scholarship in his class, was also won by him. The essays were of an uncommonly high order. Clyuna Presentation. At a meeting of the Glyuna, held June 17th, a magnificent present was made Mr. H. Wallis, the late efficient Capt. of the Club, consisting of a pair of fieldglasses, elegantly mounted, valued at $60. Mr. Wallis had always protected most faithfully the interests of the Club, and was rewarded not only by this proof of their grateful regard, but by the fact that Glyuna now holds the champion flags, for her supreme excellence in barge and shell races. Admiral Foote's Burial. Yale helped bury a hero, on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 30th, and here records that high privilege. It was the most magnificent pageant New Haven has ever witnessed. So said the oldest citizens. The remains of the late Admiral Foote, at half past 10 A. M., amidst the firing of cannon, were laid in state at the State House. There was scarcely a student who did not go over, and from the peaceful countenance of the Christian soldier, gain sweet though mournful assurance of approaching victory. "Surely, a war bereaving the country of such men, must end in the triumph of the Right," said all. It seemed as if he were an intimate relative of every family in the city. They all came and bid his loved form a tearful farewell, until, in the Renewal at the Last Day, it shall arise in glory incorruptible. At half past 2 P. M. the Funeral Services commenced at Dr. Bacon's church, of which the Admiral had been a member. It was filled to its closest ca. pacity. The body of the house was reserved for the various dignitaries, who were to comprise the procession. All the South aisle was reserved for the Faculty and Students of Yale. The exercises were conducted by Drs. Bacon, Dutton, Cleaveland and Harwood. At the close, the Burial Tune of New England's dead, was sung. Its deep, pathetic inspiration, as it mournfully surged forth from the inmost recesses of sad hearts, there gathered together, and as in slow and measured tone, it left the church, to carry comfort to the mourners without, has stamped itself, ineffaceably, on every one who was present. After the exercises, the procession formed, amidst firing of cannon and tolling of bells. It was at least a mile long, and marched through the principal streets of the city, to the Old Cemetery, where, with the usual salute, his remains were committed to their kindred dust. Editor's Table. A crowded Memorabilia has forced us to a brief chat with you. We have no celebration of Pow-wow to record for this year, although the city papers have been snarling over it. We have however but a word to say with reference to the custom: that although we do not approve of, or recommend certain of its past characteristics, yet, as an institution, we will not, as far as in us lies, give it up. The common sense of this custom is irrefutable, its proper observance sacred upon the Freshmen, and we need only add that our most hearty and sincere approval and support attend the masterly argument for its continuance which the pages this issue present. Comprehensive and mature thought has there nobly devoted its strength in defense of the usage. We trust that the article will provoke the attention of the college world, and that we shall soon have the pleasure of inserting some propositions of reform. We have only a word more, and our monthly labor is ended, and that—pardon us-is with respect to ourselves. We allude to it in this place, because as yet we see no especial reason for taking more distinctive notice of it. It is but due to every board of Editors, that the College world should have an accurate knowledge of the limits within which rests their responsibility. The present board would have it understood, then, that each Editor is responsible alone for the article which appears over his own initials, and for the Memorabilia and Editor's Table of that number of whose publication he may have the management. For the remaining matter of each Magazine, the whole board become accountable thus far; the articles shall be, in their collective opinion, at least worthy of insertion. EXCHANGES.-Our usual Exchanges are received. ERRATUM. The time of the Glyuna shell, in the late race, noticed in our last issue, was incorrectly stated,-it should have been 19 m. 4 s. instead of 19 m. 44 s. Stray Thoughts on Conversation. CONVERSATION is generally admitted to rank among the fine arts. Some men who have won high honors in fields of literary labor, have gained their greatest reputation in this. Dr. Johnson's sturdy strength shone out brighter in the [every-day talk chronicled by Boswell, than in all his ponderous essays. Many of Coleridge's best things are in his "Table-Talk." Probably not many of us will be Johnsons or Coleridges, either in conversation or on paper. But while it is to be trusted that few of us will help to crowd the world's literary population with the productions of our brains, it is very certain that we shall all spend a good many of our mundane hours in conversation, of one kind or another. So some straggling ideas as to how conversation should be conducted, may be not without interest; and, for obvious reasons, I shall speak of the subject more particularly with reference to our situation as students. First, as to matter. Now we are boys, or at most in the transition period; so we neither expect nor desire to have as high or as wide a range of topics as fully developed men. Even among these last too, except in very rare cases, comparatively trivial things must absorb a considerable part of their thoughts and words. Men are so VOL. XXVIII. 41 |