Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-08-06

conducted me about, and entertained me with
his ready explanations, as other duties of
Commencement demanded his attention. l
have spent the forenoon very pleasantly in
these examinations, and have no doubt they
will greatly facilitate my future studies.
To-day, Tuesday, is "Class Day" the exer-
cises of which are to commence at o'clock,
7. NJ. will give you a brief account of
them after they are closed. The regular or
der of Commencement exercises is now cir
culating, and is as follows This. Tuesday,
evening at o'clock, an Address before the
Theological Society. by Rev DIR. Cheever.
At 10 o'clock Wednesday, an Grafton will
be delivered before the Literary Societies, by
DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes of Boston. also
Poem by William Pitt Palmer, Esq, of
New York. At o'clock p NJ, on Wednes-
day, the Alumni dinner. In the evening will
be given a Concert by Dodworth's Band. and
on Thursday will be the speaking Of the grad
uating class X. l.. p.
HANOVER, ~ H.. July 81,
o'clock p. NJ.
Mr.. EpiToR:-I promised in my letter Of
this forenoon to give you an account of tho
exercises of "Class Day" but fear that
shall hardly be able to do them justice in the
brief time | have to write before the evening
exercises. at which VIC arc to be addressed by
DR. Cheover Of New York. All the exercises
of "Class Day are conducted by the gradu-
ating class. None of the officers Of the Col
lepc participate unless invited to do so, ex-
cept the President in his closing address.
At 3 o'clock the audience having previous
ly assembled in the College Church, the SEN
iors, led by one of their number. Mr.. A. w.
! Fisher Of Danvile, VT. entered the Church,
moving to the music of Dodworths Band,
and seated themselves on the stage. Prayer
was offered by Professor /. W Patterson, and
after music the Marshal announced that tho
Grafton written by George K Bartholomew.
of Hartford, VT, would, in consequence of
the sudden severe illness of the writer, be
read by class-mate, ]. w. Hudson of Grove
land, Mass. The reader took the stand, and
after very modestly craving indulgence for the
long periods he might be compelled to make,
owing to the indistinctness of the chirography,
and the shortness of time he had had for the
study of it, proceeded to read, in clear and
distinct manner, an Grafton, of half an hours
length on "Indiyiduality as an Essential Ele-
ment of Character" The Address showed
keenness of perception, and ability to reason
logically and pointedly upon abstract truths
and the propositions were well supported by
scientific and sustained facts individuality
was nut out inc Ol
one own heart and mind. lie whose thoughts
were his own was individual not that they
must be absolutely original, but must be the
result of reasoning upon admitted facts. All
truths not directly revealed to us must be
sought out in this way. Hugh Miller, in
childhood, shattered to splinters the first play
wagon that was presented to him, in search
for a truth in the rubbish and this foreshad-
owed the searching and penetrating character
istics that so distinguished him in later years.
But cannot devote more space to this pre-
duction without doing injustice to those which
followed.
Samuel C. Beane, of Gambia, N. H., fol-
lowed with Poem, which, in the Judgment
of your correspondent, though he is no poet,
did the writer great credit. After invoking,
as all poets do, the Sacred Nine, he proceeded
in humorous way to narrate many events in
the early and later history of the College,
which were undoubtedly much better under
stood by those who have become familiar
with its history than by me. But | could
hardly help relishing the pithy hits and allu-
sons.
The Chronicles by G. d. Pike of Tops
field, Mass, was numerous review of the
experiences of the Senior Glass, in every year
of their College course. And the Prophe-
cies, by Edwin b. Frost of Hartford, VT, was
production, in the samo strain, of the future
destiny of the members Of the class calling
by name all those who, by lot, are to speak
on Commencement Day proper. There is,
learn, considerable hostility among some of
the students to this method Of selecting the
speakers for that occasion. They say that
many of their best speakers are thrust out in
this way. Hence the Prophet was cutting in
his predictions of the wonderful careers that
those fortunate geniuses we're to pass through.
However, he used all alike, and all seemed to
relish the fun. Undoubtedly the Faculty see
good cause for selecting the speakers in this
way.
The closing exercise at the Church was a
beautiful Ode. composed by Charles A.
Thompson of East Windsor Hill, Conn, and
sung by the whole class, to the air, "Araby's
Daughter"
After the boncdiction, the class marched to
the yard in front Of the Presidents house,
where parting Address to the President was
pronounced by Alfred Lance of Peterboro,
n. II. The President responded very feel
ingly, but in closing remarked characterist-
ically, that it had been often said that one
man had turned the world upside down. II
one mind could do this, what ought to be ex-
peoted from the united strength of the class
before him. He thought the world needed
turning upside doign, that it might come right
side up. This remark caused no little merri-
mont Thus closed the exercises of "Class
Day"
Though some Of the incidents alluded toin
these exercises were calculated to impress the
hcarer with seriousness. especially that of the
death of one of their number few months
since, yet their general tendency was to in
spire all with genial good humor. But the
bell Is now ringing to call us to the Address
Of DIR. Cheoyer, and | must close.
II. l.. p.
HANoyER, N. H., July 2S.
Ma. Enron As shall leave on my re-
turn to Stowe this afternoon, and as l wish
to embody all / shall say of DR.. Cheever's
Address, last night, before the Theological
Society and that of DIR. Holmes. and the
Poom of Mr.. Palmer, before the Literary So
cioties to-day, in one letter, | shall be more
brief with each than should like to be, had
the time to devote to them.
But first, as TO DIR. Cheoyer. When the
New York Observer, year or two ago, some
II,l na