Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-07-20
The Honors at Beloit College Commence
ment.

We copy from the STATE JearRct
the following reference 70 James ~.
and Edward d. Eaton, Of Lancaster,
who bore away the honors ~ The
late commencement exercises Vi Be-
lott College:
BELoIT PERsoNALs.-In connection
with our notice Of Beloit College
Commencement, the fact that two
young men of the same family-James
ID. Eaton, who had the valedictory,
and Edward d. Eaton, who took the
Freshman Defamation the Lewis
ann Stanley prizes-bors off all the
honors, is worthy of remark, and an
illustration. of the old adage that
"blood will tell" Twenty three
years ago young clergyman and
his wife, with education and accom-
plishments fitting them to adorn the
highest circles IN the land, and with
q rare refinement Of nature, came to
Lancaster, then very small village,
and since then, except three years Of
the war, when the husband was chap
lain in the army, on very meagre sal
airy, have ministered to small church
there, training up family Of sons, in
a model way, of whom they may well
be proud, though we are sure neither
they nor their sons will be pulled up.
With what keen pleasure must they
have realized this year the proverb
that "a wise son maketh a glad faith
err"
We also copy from the report of
the Commencement exercises by Mr..
Page of the Journal, the following
brief synopses Of the valedictory ora
ton by James D. Eaton, and notice
of the prize defamation by Edward,
his younger brother:
"THE MODEL SCEPTIC," with the VALE
DIcToRY ADDREssEs-by James ID. Eaton,
Lancaster, youngest of the class.
Though the speaker was by no means well,
and hence hardly able to do himself Justice in
delivery, his frank, genial face and pleasant
eye won him favor, and he was listened to
very attentively. Starting out with Bacon's
assertion that he would rather believe all
fables than that the world and universe were
WituOul q 6OfCAllHS HC tOOh tic
word sceptic back to its original meaning,
and said that while inquiry and questioning
was natural to us, the sceptIc was distinguish
ed from the false by the absence of that flip
pancy which seemed not 10 realize the mo-
mentous nature OF the questions dealt with but
sought the temple of truth with uncov ared
head and profound reverence, Boosting no self
wisdom, and seeking for the sure rock of GER
tanIty the sham sceptic regarded doubling
as the mark of strong mind, while the model
sceptic was impatient of doubts, hating them
as intruders, meets opposition with honest
weapons, seeing, hearing, interrogatIng for
! himself, anxious TO know the truih and solve
the profound questions which life invo' we'd,
yet ready to receive what is plainly revealed.
| For the doubts and difcu ties OF such one he
could nave sympathy and would bid him have
patienc till we come into be clearer light
and remember that il was faith which ruled
the world and was al the bottom OF al z eat
enterprises. Such scephcism Vas usefu 10
| quicken the search for truths winch else NIGH
remain undiscovered,
THE FAMINE" ny LoNGFELLow ~Ej
ward d. Eaton, OF Lancaster.
We never heard any professional 2 ocution
lists approach this rendering OF this pas =
from Hiawatha. Its words were so uttered
with such Intensity of expression, such pro-
| nuncldloH, ds 10 De VIVA y cures 8hd OTllS
wildly before the audience the horrors de Inc
ated so that they could see the dreary waste o.
snow in the forest, the anguish of Hiawatha
the death fright of MInnehaha, and strangest o.
all hea. The echoes of which the poet tells
the Introduction of which into such recita-
ton was new feature. Again and again be
sent thrill along the nerves of his hearers
! The whole was done with rare skill, and YET
was acting rather than oratory.