"Alfrede Praestantissime, Felix Ille Miles," Orator Calls Ex-Gov. Smith

"Alfrede praestantissime, felix ille miles." (Most illustrious Alfred, thou happy warrior). Thus was Alfred E. Smith addressed by R. S. Fitzgerald '33 in the Latin Oration at the Commencement exercises this morning. Fitzgerald went on to greet Smith in the following words: "Quamquam carmina de viis Novi Eboraci cantare non possumus, to inquam de tota nostra patria bene meritum, haud minus iuvat salutare." As translated last night, this means something like the following: "Although we cannot sing of the sidewalks (streets) of New York, as thou hast merited well of our country, it is no less a pleasure to greet you."

The Latin Oration, which to those few who can understand it adds a light note to the exercises, is delivered traditionally at the opening of every Commencement. Besides Smith, the orator today addressed "praeses et socii," (President and Fellows); "decani" (deans); "professores, praeceptores, tutoresque" (professors, instructors, and tutors); "gubernator praeclare" (Governor Ely); alumni; "patres matresque"; puellae formosissimae" (most comely maidens); "legati Angliae Galliaeque" (the English and French ambassadors); and finally "praeses noster" (President Lowell again).

Greeting the puellae formosissimae, who are never omitted from the Latin Oration, Fitzgerald said: "Numquam nimirum vos preatermittendae estis, sorores, amicorum sorores, deliciaeque nostrae, quibus ademptis nostra vita aridis in libris inanis inutilisque fuisset. Pro tanta venustate vos ter quaterque salvere iubeo."