Bucknell University - L Agenda Yearbook (Lewisburg, PA)

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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.

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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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A YEAR ' S PROGRESS. True to the prediction of last year ' s!, ' Agenda, we are now called upon to record a degree of improvement unparalleled in the history of the University. The strong, steady hand of the new administration has been felt in every department. Advancement in every direction. I. FINANCIALLY. The sudden growth of the College department from 128 to 145 students necessitates an increase in the teaching force. The stupendous task of raising $100,000 to meet this requirement was completed July ist, 1892. This was the greatest triumph in the University ' s histor3 inasmuch as it had been, for a decade before, dependent on the gifts of a single individual, while this vast sum represents the interest of many. The funds of the University have been further increased by the acquisition of the M. B. Livingstone fund, amounting to over $11,000, which is to be used in liquidating the tuition of a definite number of students received by the Pennsylvania Baptist Educa- tion Society. In addition to all this, $500 have been received from the William H. Bachus estate, to be dovoted to purchasing books for the College library. A part of the bequest of the late Silas Evans has also been added to the permanent funds of the University. II. IN THE CURRICULA. It was, however, in the College curricula that the greatest changes were made manifest. The elective system was greatly expanded. This flexibility in choice in the studies of the last years in college marks a great stride for- ward, and gives the student an opportunity, if he so desires, to do part of the work of a professional school while yet in college. The nev electives include Hebrew, Constitutional Law, Roman Law, Latin, Greek, French, German, Animal Histology, Animal Embr3 ' Ology, Plant Histology, and English Bible. The last named of these deserves special notice, since it involves the endow- ment of a new chair at an expense of $40,000, which is now rapidly being :aised. By this step Bucknell has placed herself on a level with many lead- ing American colleges, which very recently have given the Bible its well deserved place in the curricula.