Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-02
Glass Exprcises.

premium was awarded.
Glass Exercises.
At the close of the exercises of graduation at
the Technical school, Wednesday afternoon, the
classes of III and ~ met together, and, taking
the class tree of u, marched to point on the
road leading to the institute, where the class
tree of II was already placed. Around this the
class formed, 70 acting as escort, and proceeded
to dedicate it, the ceremonies consisting Of a
short address by II. c. Armsby, and song by
the class. Mr.. Armsby spoke as follows:
Fello,o Classmates; In all ages of the world
it has been customary TO Sgnalize great events,
and those which appeal to some deep-seated
emotion of the heart, by the erection of some
monument, which, as often rs seen, shall bring
before the beholder the memory of the past.
History is full of such instances, which it
would he Il waste of time to mention. Nor are
such monuments without their use; they serve
to elevate, for the moment our thoughts above
the commonplace experiences of everyday life
into the higher regions of sentiment and emo
ton, and TO keep alive the memories of past eX-
pericnccS and achievements which might other
wise be seldom remembered In proof of this
need only mention Bunker Hill monument"
which, although it has no pretensiOns to archi-
tectural beauty or grace, no American can gaze
upon unmoved.
Webster, speaking of this monument, says:
Human beings are composed, not of reason
only, but of Imagination also, and sentiment,
and that is neither wasted nor misappled which
is appropriated to the purpose of giving right
direction to sentiments, and opening proper
springs of feeling in the heart" These few
words give the reason of our presence here to-
day.
Something less than four years ago the class
of II of the Worcester Free Institute began its
course. We came here, many of us, strangers
to each other, and having few interests in com
mon. We spent together three of the most
pleasant and most important years of our lives;
years which we shall always look back upon
with pleasure, and which have been fruitful of
influences which will affect the whole course of
our lives. In them we, who came together
strangers, have become the closest friends and
our alma mater has been invested with an in
tcrest which no outsider can feel.
In view of these facts, it seems desirable that
these years should have some memorial-sOme-
thing which as often as seen shall recall their
pleasant associations; and believe that, in the
words which | have quoted, chat is neither
wasted nor misapplied" which is appropriated
to this purpose.
Other classes have the same feelings, and it
has seemed desirable that each class as it leaves
the institute shall leave behind it something
which shall be a memorial of its stay here,
when rs a class it shall have been forgotten by
tablish the custom of planting class tree.
1t seems proper, then, that II, the first class
to graduate from this institute, should be repre-
senIed as well as later classes, and should be the
first to perform this ceremony, and for that pur-
pose we come here to-day as guests of the class
OF II. And here let me, in the name of my
class, extend to them our hearty thanks for their
courtesy to MS, for the cheerful manner in
which they have co-operated with us, and for
their own endeavors to render this occasion a
pleasant one. We call to mind our pleasant re-
lations with them in the past, and extend to
them our best wishes for the future.
The tree we have selected is an elm; it is young,
like the class it represents, and like it, 100 pre-
SenS little to attract the careless observer but it
has in it a life power, which, acting untram-
meled, will raise it 10 the tree of which Beecher
says, Its towering massive trunk, its over
archng top, facile, wind-borne and elastic. -.
united form a type of true manhood; broad at
the root, firm in the trunk, and yielding at the
top, yet returning again after every impulse into
position and symmetry"
So, too, we believe that II has in it a life
force which, if unimpeded in its action, will cause
it TO develop from the sapling TO the tree; from
youth, and comparative weakness, TO maturity,
strength, and usefulness
Fellow classmates, acting for you now name
TINS the claSS-tree of II. May IFS roots ever
strike deeper and its top rise higher until,
hrmly rooted in mother earth and tossing its
DIdHCllGS nl1il III air, IL SUaIl lHUCeu NC lIUp
of beauty and a joy forever"
SO too may we prosper, and as the tree sends
its roots down until they lay hold of the firm
rock and find the hidden spring, and then
spreads its branches abroad defying the drought
OF summer and the fierce blast of winter, let us
on the sure foundation of character raise the
supcrstructure of noble lives so that when We
have all passed away this tree may recall not
names alone, but deeds. And while we live let
II recall to our minds the pleasant scenes of the
past and be prophecy and inspiration for the
future. And now, as we stand united together
a band OF brothers, may the union of hands be
but symbol of the union of hearts which shall
endure long after the former is dissolved
We stand here as one; may the pleasant ties
that now bind us together be severed only in
death.
At the close of the address the class Joined
hands and sung the following song to the tune
of "Auld Lang Syne:"
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mindS
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o. auld lang synef
Wen wake again the joys Of old,
The joys Of old SO dear,
And memory with her chain of gold
Shall closer bind us here.
We meet to-day upon the spot
Where oft we used to come,
Around our class tree now we stand
The elm of IL
Wen wake again the Joys of old
The joys Of old so dear,
And memory with her chain OF gold
Shall closer bind us here.
At the conclusion of these exercises three
cheers were given by both classes for the tree
and for each other, after which II escorted 70
to the spot selected for their tree. After the
tree was set, the following song was sung to
music composed by member of the class:
Away now we sail