They who, on a tiny clearing pared from the edge of the woods, built here, most probably from the timber hewed from the trees they felled, our earliest hall, with the solitude of ocean behind them, the mystery of forest before them, and all about them a desolation, must surely (si quis animis celestibus locus) share our gladness and our gratitude at the fulfilment of their vision. If we could have but preserved the humble roof which housed so great a future, Mr. Ruskin himself would almost have admitted that no castle or cathedral was ever richer in sacred associations, in pathos of the past, and in moral significance. They who reared it had the sublime prescience of that courage which fears only God, and could say confidently in the face of all discouragement and doubt: "He hath led us forth into a large place: because he delighted in me he hath delivered me." We cannot honor them too much; we can repay them only by showing, as occasions rise, that we do not undervalue the worth of their example.

Brethren of the alumni, it now becomes my duty to welcome in your name the guests who have come, some of them so far, to share our congratulations and hopes to-day. I cannot name them all and give to each his fitting phrase. Thrice welcome to them all, and, as fitting, first to those from abroad, representatives of illustrious universities, that were old in usefulness and fame when ours was in its cradle, and next, to those of our own land, from colleges and universities which, if not daughters of Harvard are young enough to be so, and are one with her in heart and hope. I said that I should single out none by name, but I should not represent you fitly if I gave in special greeting to the gentleman who brings the message of John Harvard's College Emmanuel. The welcome we give him could not be warmer than that which we offer to his colleagues, but we cannot help feeling that in pressing his hand our own instinctively closes a little more tightly as with a sense of nearer kindred. There is also one other name of which it would be indecorous not to make an exception. You all know that I can mean only the president of our country. His presence is a signal honor to us all, and to us all I may say a personal gratification. We have no politics here, but the sons of Harvard all belong to the party which admires courage, strength of purpose and fidelity to duty, and which respects, wherever he may be found, the

Justum et tenacem propositi virum.

who knows how to withstand the

Civium ardor prava jubentium.

He has left the helm of state to be with us here, and so long as it is intrusted to his hands we are sure that, should the storm come, he will say with Seneca's pilot, "O, Neptune, you may save me if you will; you may sink me if you will; but, whatever happen, I shall keep my rudder true."

At the conclusion, every man and woman in the house arose and cheered and did homage to the great orator of the day.

After another beautiful interlude by the chorus, Dr. Holmes read his poem in loud and clear tones, which must have surprised many who did not know how vigorous and hearty our beloved poet still is.

HOLMES' POEM.While in their still retreats our scholars turn

The mildewed pages of the past, to learn

With ceaseless labor of the sleepless brain

What once has been and ne'er shall be again,

We reap the harvest of their patient toil

And find a fragrance in their midnight oil,