Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-08-23
MiddIeburY Commencement.

: are unable to give any report. 1t is spoken
, of. however, as full of valuable thought
forcibly expressed, and urged home with a
large degree of moral earnestness.
On Tuesday morning occurred the Ami
versary Of the Philomathesian Society. The
President OF the Society. David y. Burke Of
the graduating class, introduced as the ora
tor of the day the well known essayist, E.
p. Whipple. of Boston. He announced his
theme to be "Shoddy." After reeiting the
history of the word, and giving its infamous
origin, be proceeded to consider the various
applications that bad been. or might be,
made OF it; tracing and separating the shod-
dy elements in business, morals and litera-
ture. lie showed how it entered into poll
ties before the war, bow it was mixed up
with the conduct of the war, how at last il
appeared on the face of society in the persons
of vain blockheads, who bad grown rich by
fraudulent army contracts, or been SO lucky
as to ''strlke lie lie defined real compe-
tency as consisting in cleanliness Of person,
propriety of dress, the ability to obtain a
good education, and gentility of manners.
But we could not furnish an adequate
brief Of the address. if we would. Like all
Mr.. Whipples efforts, it was scholarly and
elaborate, full of rich thoughts expressed in
finished English.
| At half past two O'Clock came the celebra- /
/ tion of the Philadelphian Society. The ad- /
dress was delivered by the Rev. o. Z. Dag /
/ gett, d. D., of Canandaigua, n. Y. His |
theme was The IDEAL OF Manhood, or the
Model Young Man" Declining to fix the
limits between youth and manhood, TO say
where the one ends and the other begins.
the DR.. went on to cite Alexander, Milton,
Wolf and Henry Martyr, as examples Of
those who had reached maturity and achiey-
ed great things, even in carly life. lie de-
picted the model young man as specially
characterized by these tour qualities ;-aeti-
yity, sensIbility. aspiration and seryice-de-
veloping each Of these heads at considerable
length. The subject was uniolded in an IN
teresting and pleasing way, and the attention
Of the audience secured throughout; the dis
cussion.
The speaking for the PaIkcrian Prize
came in the evening The Freshmen gave
declamauons, the sophomorcs and Juniors
presented original orations. We give the
sched,le.
FRESHMEN.
peclamAtiou-'.Infuenee Of Aihenian LiterA-
ture," Macaulsy, D. p. Mathews, Corn
Observation-Disclosures to the Athenians,'
Kellogg, G. Il. Owen. K, tland.
DeclamatiOn-''NeS England out in the Cold"
Winter, VI Z. Severance, Middebury.
Deolsmation-'The Grea, Republic" Holmes.
+. s. Wellington, Rochester.
sorHoNoRTs-
oratOn-"Claims Ct State NJ E Caly. Mid
bury.
Howe, South Braintree, Mass.
Oraii0n-"Aristocracy Of Blood" II. Nj
chols. Sudbury.
Oraiion-"Virtue Of Silence II. J. Parker,
Danville, C D.
JUNIORS
Oration-.The Genius Of Edgar \ Poe" F. II.
Bidwen, Middlebury
Oration-"ls Settled Purpose a Trusty Guide -
G. " Ellis, Fairhayen.
Oration-"Orier in Variety Uniformity in
Change" y. z. Graves. Clinton, y. c.
Poem--"The Seer Z. Il. Higley, CastletOn.
All the performances were very creditable,
and showed the results of careful trimming
on the part OF the Instructor in elocution.
The prizes were awarded by committee of
three. and fell to the following young men
Owen and Severance cf the freshman Glass,
Nichols and Cady Of the sophomore Class,
IIiglcy and Ellis Of the Junior Glass. Mr..
Higley's poem was highly commended for
It's choice dic:ion and flowing rhythm. II
We do not mistake, we have seen honorable
mention of Hgley's name in connection with
the doings Of the lst Vt. Cav.
Wednesday was Alumni Day. The morn
ing bad been set apart for a commemorative
service in honor Of DR.. Bates, who was Pre-
sident OF the College from ISIS to 1889. \
monument has been erected to his memory
BY the Alumni, at a cost OF about six hun
dred dollars. The stone for it was taken /
/ from Middlebury quarry. ami shaped by /
Middlebury workmen. The design is en-
/ blematic of the life Of the scholar, and on /
each OF the four sides Of the monument are |
engraved appropriate inscriptions. The ex- /,
ercises were to have taken place at the |
cemetery, but the weather being unpIopiti- |
Gus, the procession moved directly from the
College to the Congregational Church. Here,
after prayer by the venerable DR.. Charles
Walker u. Pittsford, President Kitchell in
troduecd Z. J. Pkelps. Esq, OF this city,
who delivered fitting ami discriminating
address, eulogistlc Of the life and services Of
Prcsidoat Bates. lie was followed by Dr.
Truman NJ. Post Of St. Louis, wao took Up
and carried on the theme OF the previous
speaker in his rhetorical and scholarly way.
Both sddresscs were received with great sat
islactIon, and abouuded in beautiful and
eloquent passages. Our space will not al
low us to give fuller report.
At half past ten occurred the anniversary
of the Associated Alumni Rev. Hiram
Mead Of the class of 1850, now of South
Hadley, Mass, delivered the Grafton. His
subject was the extent to which man is
: educated by surrounding influences.
!, Attwo O'Clock PM. came the Alumni
! Dinner, followed by tho. usual toasts and
+; speeches. In the evening President Kitchel
received the graduates and friends of the
! College at his residence
: On Thursday a: 1870 AN, the Rev.
Geo. n. Weber, late OF Lowell, Mass. We