Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-06-23
Closing Exercises at Hopkinton.
For the Buchanan County BULLETIN.
HopKINToN, Iowa, I

of its warmcst friends, brief no.
tice of the exercises which terlni-
mated the labors of the past year
may, pcrchance, be of interest to the
readers of the BULLETIN.
On Friday evening, June 9th,
Prof. Flude's music class gave
concert, to aid in the purchase OF a
Cabinet of shells and specimens,
for the illustration of Natural His
tory. and thus to enable the Insti-
tute to add one more attraction and
advantage to the many it already
affords. Although the night prov
ed unfavorable, still the audience
was good and, all things considered,
the affair passed off quite creditably.
On Monday evening, June 18th,
Rev. VIM. r. Marshall, pastor Of
the First Presbyterian church, Du-
buque, delivered lecture before
the Institute, on the subject, ''The
New Vocation of Learning" The
DR.. made it plain that the labor of
learning was no longer the discov
cry of facts, but that the demand
now made upon it was the applica-
ton of facts already secured, to the
beneliting Of humanity and to the
improvement Of the world. The,
labor of learning must now be OK
ecutive. Although not a unitarian,
yet our lecturer maintained that
learning was valuable only in pro-
portion as it benefited the mass
Of mankind and not as it made in
dividual men magazines Of knowl-
edge which could not possibly ben
eft any but themselves. No sham
learning was now required, such as
is to be met on every hand, but, as
was maintained, learning must now
be able to act, to do. The lecture
was altogether one of the best things
we have heard in long time. In
purity Of style and diction, in brew
ity Of expression and freshness of
thought, in delivery, in a word, in
all points the lecture was excellent,
and its excellence was appreciated
by all who heard it.
On Tuesday evening were what we
may term the closing exercises
proper, consisting Of orations and
essays from students representing
the schools.
The first performer, Mr.. Harvey,
of Delaware, with the subject Gear
ibaldi," by drawing q parallel be-
tween Garibaldi and Washington,
gave us fair view Of the world
renowned Italian, in choice Ian
guage and fine antitheses.
Miss Roberts, Of Waterloo, fol-
lowed, with an essay on 'Earth's
Volume" in which the various de-
partments Of the natural world were
made to show forth their records of
the wisdom and glory of the Crea-
tor. The writer handled her mas
sive subject with an ease and ele-
gance worthy of the highest praise.
Mr.. Lee, Of Eagle, came next with
short, pithy speech on ''The
Choice of a Profession" The adj
vantage Of mental labor seemed to
be the speakers theme. The speech
was nicely written and prettily de-
livcred.
Miss Lucretia Boon then favored
the audience with poem, subject,
''From Shore to Shore" The au
thor described the various fortunes
of an individual soul in its journey
through the world, leaving the shore
Of eternity child and returning to
an opposite shore at the close of
life. The poem was finely written
and full Of beautiful descriptions
and choice sentiments.
Mr.. Leclere, of Rock Dale, fol-
lowed in y strong argumentative
Grafton on the subject Goods Pur-
pose Mans End" showing man to
be the spokesman Of creation. The
performance gave evidence of care
full study and was well delivered.
Miss Doolittle, Of Delhi, pictured
to the audience in a well written
essay "Earth's Battlefelds," cock
tensive with earth itself. The bat
tlefelds Of Carthage, Palestine, ETC.,
were made illustrations of the bat
tie in the heart, between right and
wrong. The writer, in conclusion,
show ed the prospects for the victory
of right, arising from the victory of
Gethscmane. The essay was clear
ly read and was well appreciated.
Mr.. Wylic, of Independence, from
the subject Beyond the Alps lies
Italy" drew the lessons Of persevcr-
ance and energy. The speaker first
described the circumstances Of Ma
poleon's crossing the Alps when the
words Of the subject were uttered,
and then applied the idea to the
students life and work. A good
speech spoken with energy.
Miss Hattie Ditfcnderter, of Hop
kinton, closed the programme with
fine essay on "Litc." The good
sound sense which characterized |
the performance secured the notice
of all and the shrewd practical OBJ
servation thrown in by the way rem
dcred the production very interest
ing. The whole exercise was
attentively listened to by q quiet
audience. Prof. Flude added great
ly to the pleasure of the evening by
some very fine instrumental and vo-
cal music interspersed with the lit
erarv performance. 70 conclude
all, the ladies of Hopkinton gave an
ice cream festival, to aid in defray-
ing the expense of the Cabinet above
mentioned. The festival was sue
cesslul in doing much, but there is
still a deficiency which the institu
ton hopes to make up by the gener-
osity Of it's friends. OBSERVER.
Death of Hon. C.. L. Vallandipham