Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/467

penned with his own hand in the Minutes, portray to us the spirit of their performance, and as he was able to put on paper such a picture of the present scene, we can realize what they must have been in influence and interest to those who partici- pated in them. His power of description was that of the pencil of the painter, and though the Minutes record year by year the like story, yet each has its variety and its significance. One would like to record all of them here, but in print they would not con- vey that living interest which the Minutes written in his own clear and decided hand do, touched up as they may be with some interlineation which adds force to the tale. But none of the later Commencements can equal that of 1766, just described, in interest, and we cannot suffer ourselves to linger over them, with however the single exception of that of 1768, which Dr. Smith records " may be considered as the Birth Day of Medical Honors in America." Even he could not with his eyes of a Seer predict what a great day this Commencement of 1 768 was to the College, and how fruitful this Birth Day of Medical honors was of reputation and dignity to the College in those long after years for which he was doing his share in erecting the edifice.