Ma
THE HESPERIAN.
French statesman in a production that, counting both thought
and delivery, was above the average. Miss Lillus Peck,
the favorite of the Lincoln public then gave one of her sweet
est solos, and the first exhibition of the Philodicean society
was ended.
Chancellor Manatt issued invitations to the members of the
senior class and their friends to partake of a one o'clock lunch,
Saturday June 6th at his house, and when thehourwasathand
the parlors were filled. Mrs. Manatt deserves credit for under
standing the art of entertaining to its nicest details. Some
seventy-five guests were present and every one was made to
feel perfectly at home. The refreshments were served in the
most elegant style and completely satisfied the "inner man."
Such occasions are not only pleasant but have the extra merit of
establishing agreeable social relations between the Chancellor
and the friends of the graduating class. The fact that Chan
cellor, and Mrs. Manatt are evidently making an effort to ex
tend their circle of acquaintances as widely as possible bodes
nothingbut good to the University.
On Saturday evening occured the ninth exhibition of the
UniversityUnion. The usual delay until nearly nine o'clock
was made before commencing the exercises. The fault lay
entirely with the audience, as there were very few present un
til after 8:30. Every entertainment during the entire Com
mencement has been begun later than the specified time, and
the Hesperian cannot help remarking right here that reform
is necessary in this matter. The exercises of the evening
opened with a piano duet by Miss Minnie Cochran and Dr.
I'alin Saxby, who were enthusiastically applauded. Owing
to sickness, Mr. W. F. Wiggens was unable to give his ora
tion on "The Civil Service," and the first literary numberwas
an eulogy by E. C. Wiggenhorn. The subject, "Prince Bis
marck," was a happy one, and its treatment gives Mr. Wiggen
horn a place among the best writers of the University. Much
of the force of the article was lost by low and indistinct deliv
ery, and the necessity of receiving several promptings from a
man behind the scenes who had charge of his manuscript.
The pluck of Mr. Wiggenhorn in deciding to commit and re
cite an exercise that is generally read, was commendable.
"The fall of the Alamo," a poem by Miss Awana H. K. Paint
er was one of the prominent events of the evening- Her ap
pearance was striking, and she held the entire attention of the
house during the rendition of her interesting story in verse.
Miss Lillian Chamberlain of Omaha, came before Lincoln
people for the first time with a vocal solo, "Sing Sweet Bird,"
and received a hearty encore. The debate on the question
"Is an aggressive policy safe and honorable for England in
the present crisis?" was opened by Anson H. Biglow, who
held that England should be bold and defiant in her dealings
with Russia. Mr. Bigelow is one of the latest matriculates of
the University, and is known to very few of the students, but
his appearance on this programme brought him forward as a
man of much ability and promise. His debate was prepared
on two weeks notice a fact that entirely excuses any defects
that might be found in his production. In delivery he was
more finished than any other gentleman on the class, and al
though he lost himself several times the promting was neatly
done attracting but little attention. In reply Mr. H.T.Conlee
was fierce and almost abusive. His appearance was not as good
as that of his opponent, and to draw attention from his awk
wardness he became enthused and made the hall ring with de
nunciations of British policy. With great vigor he proceeded
to twist the tail of the British lion, and as he warmed up to
his work was vigorously applauded by a large number of
Irish sympathizers who occupied seats in various parts of the
house. When he retired a noisy demonstration proved that he
had made an' effective speech. Miss Chamberlain again favor
ed the audience with a song "The Flower Girl," which was
received with appreciation. The oration of the evening was
given by Miss Nora. E. Gage on "The Mistakes of a Cen
tury." Competent critics pronounce this to be one of the
finest literary articles af the Commencement, and we regret
that it is impossible for us to give a synopsis. The delivery
of Miss Gage was easy but hardly forcible enough to impress
upon her hearers the fact that her production was an extraor
dinary one. Miss Rheta Childc who recited "The Lorelli"
took the house by storm. Her musical voice and graceful
bearing, added to artistic knowledge of her selection and
much dramatic ability, made her exercise almost unapproach
able. She was vigorously applauded both at the opening and
close of her reading. Dr. Palin Saxby closed the programme
with one of his popular solos, and the audience dispersed, ful
ly pleased with the entertainment furnished them by the Uni
versty Union.
On Sunday evening the 7th of June the Opera House was
completely filled with the audience that assembled to hear
Chancellor Manatt's Baccalaureate address to the graduating
class. His subject was "Materialism in Modern Science" and
though, as he observed, he is "a professor neither of physical
nor metaphysical science" his study of the subject had been
most thorough, and the address was scholarly and interesting.
At five o'clock on Monday, June, 8th, the members of the
classes of '85 and '86, assembled at the residence of Mrs.
C. H. Gere and after an hour of pleasant conversation,
the guests were ushered into the dining room
where an exquisitely prepared collection awaited
the upper-class cyclone that was about to demolish it.
The two dozen students who gathered around the board did
ample justice to the entertainment and Mrs. Gere was com
plimented in the way most pleasing to a hostess. It seems
that the feast was in honor of Will Owen Jones, who has
successfully finished his Junior year. We look anxiously
forward to the time when Mr. Jones shall complete his Senior
year.
The last society exhibition of the commencement was that of
the Palladians, given on Monday evening to a large audience.
The curtain went up promptly and the officers of the society
did their best to begin on time, but the first members on the
programme did not care to be sacrificed before empty bench
es, hence the regulation wait of ten minutes was made before
the first number was announced. This was a piano solo,
"Cachvucha Caprice," artistically executed by Mrs. Julia T.
Beebe. Miss Anna L. Keys came next with a descriptive es
say on "The Land of the Pharoahs." It was an unambitious
production, intended rather to please and interest than to
show deep thought. Mios Keys appeared well, and read
distinctly enough to be heard, though the noise made by the
crowd of late comers was greatly to her disadvantage. Wm E.
Johnson followed with a "Discursus" on "De Philosophia
Horatiana." This was a well thought-out euiogy of the
"grand old pagan," Horace, but the peculiar style of Mr.
Johnson is hardly appropriate for such an occasion. The pub
lic expect literary ponderosity and feels insulted when a per
former sugar coats his deep thought with humor of whatever
order. Mr. Johnson's delivery was good, and he would make
an effective speaker if it were easier for him to be dignified.
Miss Jessie Wolfe's recitation, a selection from Tennyson's