St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-07-23
Commencement at Dartmouth. .

Hanover this week. We find in the Bos-
ION Journal pretty full account of the
proceedings Tuesday, and as several YER
mont boys figured prominently in the ex-
ercises, one Of whom at least (Nlr. Fuller,
the class poet) fitted for college at the
st. Johnsbury academy, we copy largely
from this report
HANOVER, July 20.
The weather has been clear and beau
tiful, and everything thus far is very pro-
pltlous for the exercises of the ami versa
ry All of the trains have been heavily
laden, and it was estimated that 5000
visitors were present this afternoon. There
are indications that an immense crowd
will be in attendance Tomorrow, which
day will be especially devoted to the cen
tcnnial exercises.
The members of the graduating class
formed in front of Reed Hall at 3 p. NJ,
under the marshalship Of Chas. w. Bart
lett of Durham, and, headed by the Ger
mania Band OF Boston, marched to the
huge tent on the Common, in which all
the exercises of the week are to take
place.
President Smith occupied raised seat
in the centre of the platform. The grad
yates were seated at his right, and ON
! the left were stationed the Germanians,
who enlivened the ceremonies with a
number of choice selections.
A large audience was present, in which
there was a considerable number of the
fair sex. Chief Justice Chase occupied
a prominent seat i'll front of the platform.
The exercises were opened by a prayer
by President Smith.
The orator OF the day, Mr.. Rollin o.
| Lin>iy of Alstead, \. H., then came for
ward and delivered in a firm but modest
tone, the class Grafton. He took As his
subject the causes of the spirit OF self sut-
ficicncy which is the leading characters
tie of the public mind, and showed that
/ the two great evils of the time are ma
tional Capitalization and vicious and uu-
equal legislation. He traced the effects
of the growing despotism of politics upon
industry, education and all the interests
of the country, and pleaded for a wiser
conservatism in the conduct of public af-
fairs. The Grafton contained many orig.
inal views, forcibly expressed, and wa.
received with much applause.
The class poem was read by Myror
II. Fuller of Newport, VT. After the
invocation of the muse the subject of til,
poem was announced as 1.-The Time, th,
Country and the Man." and the gloriou:
opportunities of the present to those who
seize them were brought out in vigor.
Gus and cultivated style. Upon retiring tn,
poet was greeted with generous applaus,
and bouquets were thrown upon the plat.
form.
The formal address to the President
was then delivered 10y Charles H. Cook
of Greensboro, VT, TO which Presidenr
Saith responded with words of dignitied
counsel, urging the class to maintain
throughout lie the habits OF sclf-reliancl
and large mindedness which they had
formed at the "Old Homestead
After the address OF President Smith,
which was delivered with much feeling.
the ''Ccutcnnial Poem" was gwen by
Edward T.. Parker of brooklyn, y. IL
The poem was very long and contained
a fire description OF Hanover and the
COLLEGE 81 it appeared a century ago, and
many references 10 the quaint customs OF
the early days of the institution.
This closed the class exercises at III,
tent. The remaining exercises wcr,
near the odd Pine" The brilliant au
/ dience then proceeded i'll Il body, a Httl,
! i'll advance of the students, to the rmi
ncncc lust back of the college buildings
on which stands the classic pine. At til,
base of the hill was placed Il speaker
stand, i'll front OF which the student.
stretched themselves upon the grass t,
listen to the story of their mishaps All,
their destinies, while their friend. gath
cred closely around, or rcclincd turtle
away upon the bluffs, to enjoy the Jolite
of the occasion. Altogether it made W
a charming picture.
The class chronicles were read by ii
Il. Montcith of McIndoc- Falls, Vt.
who apparently succeeded in reviewing
every humorous memory of the Jokes
exploits and foliies of student life, an,
brought out, with a stroke of fun or sa
tire, each peculiar trait and characterised,
of the class.
Next came the class prophecies, which
acre read 10y Sidney y. Phelps of Fran
mgham, Mass, in which the members o
the class were assigned to various impos
sible and absurd vocaiions in life
After these tacetious productions ha,
beed read the class again formed an,
marched to the foot of the old pine, un
derneath which the final exercises wer,
held. There the pipe OF peace was chit
ed, and the members OF the class, range
in Il circle round the tree, smoked to
gether in token OF unity.
The farewell address was given by AL
bert f. Blaisdell of IIaverhill, Mass. AT
ter briefly referring to the two class mate
whose memory all held dear, the speaker
bid his classmates an eloquent farewell
All then joined in singing the farewell
ode, written by James Nj. Drake of Rye
and sung to the air Of "The Old Mount
ain Tree Before giving the final vers,
the class wreath which encircled the tire,
was snatched from its position and quick
ly torn into souvenirs by the eager hand
of the graduates. With this ceremony
the exercises of the day closed, and jus
at sunset the company moved away from
the scene OF the class festivities of 80.
The Commencement Concert given by
the Germania Band in the college church
this evening was well attended Th,
Germanians were assisted by Mrs II. NJ
Smith, Mr.. James Whitney, Mr.. Loui
II. Goering and Mr.. Ernst Weller. Th,
nrnrrlrnmr WIS finely rendprel and mnn,