RADCLIFFE COLLEGE 351 
our old school. So it has always seemed to me. But 
for the school, the college (so far as I am concerned) 
would never have existed. The training of the school 
prepared me for the later work and has always been 
associated with it in my thought. Mr. Ropes brought 
this out (associating with it the influence of Agassiz 
as a teacher) in the most delightful way. The giving 
of degrees followed in the usual way, but I did not 
make my address. 
When all the official ceremony was over, Miss 
Irwin, Mrs. Whitman and I drove in together to the 
Vendome where the Alumnz dinner took place — 
170 women, I think, Dean Briggs, the only man! 
After dinner I opened the speaking with a short 
address; others followed, but I must tell you that our 
ceremonies were interrupted by a very pretty inci- 
dent. We received a message from the Harvard class 
of ’83; they were having their annual dinner in an 
adjoining hall and would like to send us greeting. 
Of course this was accepted with great pleasure. 
Presently half a dozen of these gentlemen (some of 
whom I knew) came in, bringing three or four of the 
most superb baskets of roses (Jacqueminots) that I 
have ever seen. The first was presented to me, the 
others at other parts of the company. They then in- 
troduced themselves as the class of ’83, wished us 
everything for the future fortunes of Radcliffe and 
a pleasant evening on this our graduating day, and 
bade us good-bye. Nothing could be more friendly 
or more dignified and respectful; it struck me as a 
new note never sounded before, — a sort of frater- 
