New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-14
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE.
COM MENCE MENT WEEK
of The N. Y. Tribune.
MlDDLEBURY, w., Aug 10,

sixty years elnce Gamanel RAINIER ana MS COM
peers animated with strong desire for the education
of the sons of Vermont, funded here a College,
From that time it has kept its way with mutations
as to prosperity until now, three years old, it
can point to over one thousand gradua who have
gone from its halls to act their parts upon the great
siege of human action. OF this number very large
Proportion have been cergymen, probably over one
hs f. many of whom have entered the missionary field,
al some of whom have laid their bones missionary
soil. Among her sons there occur now to me the
names of Sias Wright DR.. n. S. Beman, Gov. W.
Slade, Judge Royce, Senator S. Foot, Sylvester
Larned and Dr. Perkins missionary to the Nestor aus
Mddlebury College has from the first been supported
by private benefaction while the University of Yer
ont at Burlington, has received less support
from the State The contieuty of the latter tony 30
miles dstan has rs matter of course, lesssned the
number Of students in attendance the former. Soms
ten years since mutual advances mads for union
bnt The part split upon the question to which
should be considered the hrdegoom for this inv oyed
tire further fact that the bride mast leave her home
follow the bridegroon's fortunes. Nett Ter party
ould eld aid so, like some other attempted matches
it failed
Some twelve years SINCE owing to VARIOUS causes
The number Of its students very small but under
the allie administration of DIR. Labaree it has steadily
continued &c gain in numbers, having l09 MEMBERS
An effort s bein made to raise SIS 000 for the
purpose of erecting additional college e1iice, to be
appropriated TO Students rooms, and it bas reached
point where success is certain.
The Commencement exercises have taken pace this
week and have been in some features unusu lily
interesting. The BAG ,alaureate by Prof. BosTdmsn
rad not the pleasure of hearing. Tuesday Aug 7,
YVES devoted TO rcises connected with the Phoma
thesian ard PbIladelp ian Soceties-the former of
literary character, being addressed by j. W. Fowler,
esq Of Pouelkeep se, and the latter, of religious
character, by the Rev. Ii. Wilkes of Montreal. Mr..
FOwler's subject was the Versatility of American
IoIl ~ I'D
attent on Of his audience for two hours. Although
d, ubGess a written production, it delivered with
out note or manuscript the peaker standing not be-
bird the efamped quarters OF pulpit but out upon tia
open platform. When will address makers, yes, even
clergy learn that such manner of delivery is the
RIVAL road TO the hearts of their hearers Fancy
lawyer standing up behind wooden box, aud gravely
reading 10 the jury his argument. / heartily com.
mend Mr.. Fowler's example to all public speakers,
who seek TO become rapport with their audience.
But digress. Mr.. Fowler handles bis subject in
mastery STYLE setting forth the peculiar events of
Colonial voutionary history, also the stirring
mature style of orstory combining in an unusual de-
gree The ford and srsumentatve styles AS iilus'ra-
tons of differing yet powerful oraorcA displays
Weakened into existence by the Revolutionary struggle,
he r. erIed TO Patrick Henry and Harrison OTIS nicely
auelyzg their characters and the secret of their pow
or. But coming down TO own day, his descriptions
Of Clay ard Webster were extremely felicitoGs aud
bsvpy. The great Commoner'e fame WAS evidently
Gear to him, and it made the heart Of old Clay
Wing buru within him be portrayed with
ters hard the salient points of dear old Henry Clay,
the Ns Boy Of the Sases, the eloquent senator, the
incoIiu,tsDle patriot The hearty ana repeated re.
oriea Of his audience showed that he bad touched
a ciord witch shall cease to thrill in this
Green Mountain Stste, 81 the etar that never
SITS" at the mention OF that name, which
above all Others, Vermont honors aud loves.
His description Of the more than pincey reception
given TO Mr.. Clay in New York, u one OF tbs later
years of his life very fine; and bis comparison OF
s roy reign the hearts of the American people
10 the petty power of President doing out patronage
TO crowd Ct hungry ofice-seekers brought down the
house with tumultuous applause. MIR. t0Wiers de-
scripon of Mr.. Webster aud his oratoiy was no lees
feiGous An eyewitness ofthat renow ned rencounter
between Webster aud Hayne, his delineations Of the
seer and it's accessories very fine, dagasrreo-
tytpg it before his hearers that they too SEEMED u
ssDd eyewnesses of the same anxious ~ 10 It's lssue
and finally sharing in the triumph which New England
in the person of her favorite SOD on that memorable
day achieved. The address was decided success.
In the afternoon the Philadelphian Society was ad
dressed by the Rev H. Wilkes his sahleGt was .ls
which the Democrats say is represented by vi
Abe" but the irrepressibe conflict between lrntn on
the one side and Psganisn, Mohammedanism,
Pspacy, and Ignorance on the other. some
of his structures upon Papacy and Papists had
bitterness which seemed to indicate that they were
foes with whom he had more than once measured
swords The production gave evidence OF an educated
logical mind and was listened TO with attention.
the evening was occupied in defamation by four
members from each of the three lower cssses for the
Pakersn prizes and gave evidence that this Or tuch OF
education is not neglected The evening was intensely
warm bu; this did not prevent an overh pwlng house
coupossd in large degree, OF the LADS ana las 90
of tits and adjoining towns.
Wednesday, preceded by an intensely warm night,
ould have done no disrf dit TO the torid zone At IN
y clock fine PROCESSION formed at the College, and pre-
coded by Give members of bod .ortn Band marched
10 the church. The graduating class numbered twsGty
and their oratons were in The main, very credtaDe.
Ore yourg gentleman, hCweyer, in speaking upon
the subject II "The love of oti;e, INDUCED III per,
sona dgoecatoTy illusions to Postmaster Fowler aud
r rnapd) Wood of your city, thus seriously marrlng
ybat W nd Cthe rwse have been good ADDRESS, ana
violating the canons of good taste Such personsl an
msdyersona as seems TO me, better become tne po
Iisl bnstiups than Com Hencement day. say ms ne
more freely e ave 10 political athies with the
o. rtemen nsmed.
The nsnal Alumni dinner interviewed between the eZ
ar e In the foreLoon and afternoon, and Just before
te exercs closed drenchiDg rain descended, which
MADE Fad havoc with the gaia dresses, oohhe'S anu
| ribbcps of the fair bellies.
On Wednesday evenipgthe Bandgav @ Concert and
Of nine o'clock the amabe and accompshedlady OF the
President received her friends and the st angeTs 10
town with grace and ease which few possess.
Thurfday has of late yea been devoted to addresses
before he Alumni and to the festivities OF an Alumni
dinrer The address this year was by EDWARD -.
PHELPS esq. of Burlington Vermont, his SUBJECT peliR
"tbe dnties and responsibilities of American scholars.
Mr. Phelps referred as pregnant symptoms of danger
10 our country 10 the al-a( sorbing love OF power
which makes Of almost every man candidate for OIL
fee; 10 the occupancy of many official posts by men
dstirpuished only for their mpudsnce and per.ever-
snce 10 the desyotc sway Of caucus mana9ed ;s !,
ofen il by reckless uuprncped men; TO the fact that
honest CAPABLE men refuse to enter the isis where
corruption rules TO the alarming disregard OF moras
displayed by deiacaOns of men IN oihces OF 1us' anu
urging upon his hesre,s that the y American SCI ia
b6nd resolve go far IA in him lay, to labor for the
fa,;op of higher Dublic sentiment, and the erllca-