All the little mischiefs that we undertook,
Taught us all profoundly scientific lore,

And to love our studies daily more and more.
Long may he live to honor his Alma Mater's call,
Our noble state geologist, our loved Professor Hall!

Then there was sober House, now preacher in Siam,
And Smith, who first controlled and all our plans began ;
With Saunders, so sedate and innocent in face-

Yet, even in a frolic, foremost in the race;

Rude, witty Woodruff, ever sharp and sly,

With schemes of fun and jollity lurking in his eye;

Stout, thoughtful Crocker, studious and discreet,
Born to " go West" and fill a judge's seat;
Van Rensselaer, a son of the old patroon,
Related also to the man i' the moon,
With many others since of wealth and fame,
But quite too numerous for me to name.
Lastly myself-but such a stammering youth,
'T was hard at times for me to speak the truth!
And much I owe to good Professor Hall,
Who helped me when I could not speak at all.

But all is over now, and forty years

Have closed the records of our hopes and fears,
Ambitious passions and the boisterous joys
That marked our college life when we were boys;
Gone, those sweet visits to the neighboring school,
Where fair young ladies fell in love by rule,
While we assisted in the chemist's art,
And heard their lessons with an amorous heart;
Or, at the church, the sermon less would prize
Than the bright glances of their sparkling eyes.

Thus memory loves to dwell upon the past,
On scenes too fragile and too fair to last,

But let us turn to that memorial stone

So lately raised for him whose virtues shone
Conspicuous along our youth's career,
And now demands a tributary tear.

Sleep, noble Eaton ! in thine honored rest,
No anxious cares to pain thy peaceful breast,
But grateful words in granite shall proclaim
Our lasting reverence for thy worthy name!
All honor to our Alma Mater, where

Grand monuments of skill their source declare.

The Pulpit, Law and Medicine here combine
And lay their laurels on her hallowed shrine.
Her Architects and Engineers with pride,
Point to their paths o'er many a roaring tide ;
Niagara and Brooklyn long will tell

How science here matures her students well,
And sends them forth to bless the waiting earth,
And make their country prouder for their birth;
While now one brilliant more adorns her crown,
In her illustrious present chief, Charles Drowne,
And may he long enjoy his merited renown.

Professor Nason then stated that contrary to the usual order of exercises, he wished to announce and introduce first, the class of '74 graduates elect. He therefore called upon Mr. Enrique C. Zegarra of that class, who presented to the association a petition addressed to Professor W. L. Adams signed by all the students of the Institute.

"We, the undersigned members of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, having the good of the Institution at heart, and believing that its best interests demand the continuance of Professor W. L. Adams in the chair of geodesy and road engineering, would respectfully request him to reconsider his reported determination to withdraw from the faculty."

The petition elicited long continued applause, showing the heart of the petitioners to be in their work, and the hearts of the assembly to be with them.

Professor Nason moved that the names of the faculty and the entire alumni association be considered as appended to the list of these petitioners.

The motion was seconded and carried with unbounded applause.

Professor Adams being called upon, said that it was as much a surprise as a pleasure to him to learn that he had succeeded so well in finding his way to the hearts of his

pupils. He thanked them for the kind expression of their feelings and their interest in his continued connection with the Institute.

William Gurley, president of the association spoke in favor of the petitioners, adding that he knew of no one who could better fill the chair of Geodesy and Road Engineering than Professor Adams.

The petition was adopted as the sentiment of the entire association.

Professor Nason after giving a short sketch of the life and services of his predecessor in the chair of chemistry, Professor William Elderhorst announced his desire to have placed for him a memorial window in the Hall of the Institute. A large number of the former pupils and friends of Professor Elderhorst being present, the amount needed, $140, was immediately subscribed.

Hon. John H. White, of New York, then compared his being called upon for a speech, after this week of festivities, to another dinner after the excellent one just participated in by those present. He said, however, he would notice the fact that it appeared to him very much of a fraud to call him a graduate, when he looked over the present curriculum, for he learned in one year what the students now learn in four. He thought this looked like retrograding instead of advancing.

Speeches of congratulation, incident and reminiscences were made by W. W. Walker, and C. E. Martin, of the class of 1856, Professor E. N. Horsford, class of 1838, Clark Fisher, Chief Engineer United States navy, class of 1858, Rev. Dr. William Irvin, of Troy, Professor W. H. Searles, class of 1860, Professor David M. Greene, Division Engineer New York State Canals, class of 1851, and Frederic Grinnell, Esq., class of 1855.

Professor Nason then made a short speech, in which he alluded to the valuable services of the present Director of the Institute, Professor Charles Drowne, and paid a very handsome compliment to the former Director of the Institute, Professor B. Franklin Greene, of the Bureau of Steam Navigation at Washington, D. C.

The following committee was then appointed for the excursion to Saratoga: Hon. J. H. White, Professor E. N. Horsford, Professor D. M. Greene, Hon. Norman Stratton, and Charles P. Perkins, Esq.

A resolution was then adopted instructing the Secretary to prepare and publish as soon as convenient full records of the proceedings of this semi-centennial celebration of the Institute.

The exercises continued until a late hour in the afternoon, when the alumni and students separated with the fraternal tie that binds them together, as sons of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, renewed and strengthened by this agreeable occasion of social intercourse.

The music for the occasion was furnished by Doring's band, and was all that could be desired.

Report of Academic Board, Prof. CHARLES DROWNE, Director. POLKA-Pizzicato,

Address to Graduates by Hon. JAMES FORSYTH, President. WALTZ-Wiener Wald,

Benediction, by Rev. GEORGE N. WEBBER, D. D.