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The speaking of the
graduating class today has been unusually good. The salutatory
was by Mr. Edwin D. Worcester, Jr., of Albany, who took the “De
Forest” a week ago. Mr. Bradbury Bedell, of Athens, N.Y., had an
excellent address on Thackeray, as a satirist, a reformer, a
novelist, and as a man.
Mr. Oliver Ellsworth
Iugman, of New Haven, took for his subject, “Arabic Learning.”
He claimed that the enthusiasm which the Arabs pursued learning
was owing to their restless novelty desiring character. As it
was by war and conquest that their learning was required, so it
was also, he said, by war and conquest that this learning was
diffused, receiving constantly fresh additions, until in Spain
it burst forth in all its glory, and became a beacon to the
world. It is to the Spanish Arabs that the progress of modern
civilization is due more than to the influence which proceeded
from Rome.
Michel Furst, of
Brooklyn, N.Y., claimed that “Modern Jew” has changed in
character from the traditional idea of him still retained by
many. This change has been effected largely by the reform in his
religion which has been in progress for many years past, and
which is still progressing. The details of this reform were
given, but it was said that this reform were given, but it was
said that this reform were given, but it was said that this
reform is incomplete. The Jews need good preachers, and to get
good preachers they must use their proverbial wealth for the
promotion of education and all exalted purposes.
Mr. Philip Gray Russell,
of New Haven, had an admirable discussion of the subject of “The
Relation of the Government to the Poor.” He considered the case
of the “impotent poor,” the “able-bodied but idle and
improvident poor,” and finally the “able-bodied poor who are
willing to work, but who cannot obtain employment.” He discussed
the propriety of the Government furnishing this last class with
work, and stated several objections. He adverted to the increase
of the numbers of this class, and expressed it as his decided
conviction that, although the withholding of aid to this class
might be attended by results painful to think of, it was very
much better to leave all such persona to be relieved by private
charity.
Mr. M.H. Phelps, of
Elmwood, Ill., took up the revolutionary eloquence of Mirabeau.
He gave an animated description of his first appearance in the
National Assembly. According to Mr. Phelps’ analysis, Mirabeau’s
power consisted in vast natural endowments of body and mind, of
boundless courage, turned to the service of liberty by the
oppressions and sufferings in his early life. He said, in
estimating his character, if was not to be compared with
ordinary standards. He seemed to combine all virtues with all
vices. But measured by the occasion which elicited his powers,
the principles for which he labored, the results he
accomplished, the affection of his countrymen, he assumes a
position of unrivaled eminence among orators.
Mr. E.S. Bottom, of
Norwich, Conn., spoke on the “Puritans and the Hugenots.” Mr.
W.W. Hyde, of Hartford, Conn., took up the “Law as a
Profession.” He said: To be a great and good lawyer is glory
enough for any man. No monument need be desired more enduring or
more illustrious than the one such a man can erect for himself.
Mr. George William Rollins, of Hyde Park, Mass., had for his
subject “Classical Study,” with very interesting analysis of the
beauties of Greek and Roman literature and a comparison between
them. His discussion of the “imaginative element” in classical
literature was particularly fine.
The Valedictory was
delivered by Mr. Arthur T. Hadley, and was marked by strong,
good sense, and a warm feeling of affection for his classmates.
President Porter then
announced that the following honorary degrees had been conferred
by the corporation:
The Honorary Degree of
LL.D. was conferred upon Sir Charles Reed, of the London School
Board; Gen. W.T. Sherman, United States Army, and Yung Wing, the
Chinese Minister, who is a graduate of Yale. The Honorary Degree
of M.A. was conferred upon Hon. Thomas C. Piatt, member of
Congress, Oswego, N.Y., and Mr. Orlando Bump, of Baltimore, Md. |
