Bucknell University - L Agenda Yearbook (Lewisburg, PA)

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was a glorious Fourth ! We took several days in preparation and, decorated. There was a long board-walk swung across the chasm of Limestone run, along the edge of the wood of the Seminary, along by Bucknell Hall, and up the hill to the Academy building — the only one then built. We had arches of spruce, especially elaborate across the causeway. Ah ! that was a happy evening — the twilight of the evening of the 3d, as we strolled with the girls, who had helped all day in the decorations. What a delightful mem- ory—that third floor of the Academy — the making of the wreaths — the handsome men and the beautiful women— a jolly party, whose fun, and wit and brilliancy sparkle away down here at the end of the long vista of forty years. It is no dim picture, that afternoon, as the decorations were completed, and the westering sun shot his slanting rays in the windows upon that gay group of workers— the heightened tinge upon the cheek, the deepened color of the eye, the soft, shy glance which told that many of those young hearts came very close together that afternoon. We strolled in the twilight to see how our arches looked, and perhaps some waited for the moonlight— and we went to the ice cream saloon — when it was noised around that the town boys were going out to tear down the arches, and an ominous gathering about a certain alley and shop gave the assurance. The girls were hurried home. It was like the Duchess ' ball at Waterloo. The students all boarded in town, and the runners summoned the clans to the Misses Black, on Water street ; and when Miss Polly exclaimed, Dear me, what ' s the matter? and handsome Andy Gregg explained that we were gathering in defense of our rights, she approved. We got out in time, and were duly posted. Toward the noon of night a dark cloud covered the moon, and we heard the tramp of what seemed quite a body of men. As they approached the end of the causeway they saw us ; and there was a consultation and considerable delay. Then there was a whoop, and they flung themselves on the first arch. There was a heated battle, and they were beaten off, and we thought we were victors, when a howl came out of the woods. We were attacked in the rear, and the attack in front was renewed. It lasted some time, but we staid by our arches all night, and went home early in the morning to dress and get patched up for the day. (Note : — I would like to describe that fight. There was 19

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OUR FIRST COMMENCEMENT. BY J. MERRILL LINN, ESQ., CLASS OF 185I, THE FIRST CLASS GRADUATED FROM BUCKXELL. Do you ask how I ' d amuse ine When the long bright summer comes. And welcome leisure woos me To shun life ' s crowded homes? It is not a propos, but the lines came strumming up from an old Dublin University magazine of more than forty years ago. They came up, I say, as I sat here thinking of the First Commencement, and wondering why the dates of Commencements have been variously changed. We who stay here while you are gone, and stroll through the grounds, of summer evenings, have often wondered why you go and leave Xh precincts when they are at their loveliest — the air the balmiest — the rich, green shade the freshest. Ut palata sic Judicia. ' ' It suits the world, I can see — and the words quoted come to help settle the point —but it would seem that a vacation of August and febrile September, until the crisp frost of October stirs vigor in the blood, would be better. Our Commencement was the 20th of August, 1S51. Somewhere about 1856 they were changed to the third week of July. The twentieth Com- mencement, in 1870, was changed to the last week of June. We had a chance to celebrate the Fourth of July at college, which they haven ' t now. We celebrated the Fourth of July, 1850. I am thumbing my old program now, with its memoranda of the heads of discourse — sly remarks to some companion, I don ' i remember whom, with his reply — No ! — It looks as if the replies are in feminine characters — 71 ' importe. Professor S. W. Taylor read the Scripture. We all joined in the national song, Let every heart rejoice and sing, etc. Carroll — wait a moment. I am reminded we were not all there. One ' s eye was too much shaded, although he was to take a prominent part in the singing, and another had a crick in his back. That x8

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fun, broken noses and broken bottles, black eyes and dilapidated raiment.) That is the reason why two of us did not join in that song. Well, Carroll Bilting read the Declaration of Independence. One orator was uncertain, owing to the tumults of the night, whether he could remem- ber his oration, and wrote the heads on his program. Poor, faded, old paper! How many memories you bring up ! How you have blotted out the first Connnencement day ! Ten years later I met many of the companions of our early fray in a more serious war. Some laid down their lives. There are a few left, with ivy and laurel about their brows. Jim Lane ' s exuberant eloquence had for its theme The Declaration of Independence, and graceful Johnny Taggart, whose thrilling tone and pol- ished sentence I well recall, dilated on A Country ' s Memorials and Their Influences. Lane became a celebrated lawyer and judge. Johnny Taggart died in the army. Charles Hayes was a brilliant staff officer, his later study of civil engineering making him very efficient. But if you wish a detail of the first Commencement you must wait while one of that date lingers a while among his old companions.