EUROPE 303 



of the Graduating Exercises for Radcliffe in Sanders 

 Theatre. I think my usual correspondents must 

 have meant to heighten my pleasure in this most un- 

 looked-for piece of news, for no one has ever suggested 

 the transfer of the Radcliffe Commencement to 

 Memorial Hall, and yet I am sure there must have 

 been much discussion and deliberation between our 

 Academic Board and the Corporation before the 

 two decided upon the matter. There could not be 

 a more positive recognition of Radcliffe by Harvard 

 than this. It sets the seal upon our final adoption. 

 It really has made me feel very happy. When I 

 think of our first little Commencement with four 

 graduates in Ellen Gurney's library and of this 

 consummation I can hardly believe it. She and 

 Gurney have gone beyond college ceremonies and 

 have entered upon new Commencements, — but 

 I wish they knew it. I really longed for their sym- 

 pathy. 



I feel more and more satisfied that it was well 

 for me to be away this year. It has given Miss Irwin 

 an independent ground. Of course I should never 

 have hampered her in any way, but she w^ould 

 naturally have deferred to me as the older officer. 

 But I am so glad about the ceremonies at Sanders 

 Theatre. They seem to me to have been concluded 

 very simply with quiet dignity. The fact that our 

 Commencement is transferred in this way to the 

 place where all the Memorial days of the University 

 are kept will settle many doubtful questions about 

 the occasion which were always coming up on its 



