Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-11

music al any sort. which often SERVES to az
tract
The Alumni Celebration.
The annual celebration of the Associate
Alumni, took place ON Tuesday afternoon.
The church wa, well filled. After music
by the Band, and prayer by Rev. c. C..
Parker. D. D. of New Jersey. the President
Of the Alumni, Hon. II. y. Ilibhlrl Of
/ Chicago. introduced the orator of the oc-
ca-ion. Rev. y. G.. Clark. d. d. Of Boston.
TIE ADDRESS.
+ Dr. Clark alluded 10 the circumstance
mentioned by billiard in his SIX Months in
I Italy. that Of the villa of the Emperor
lladrian, where once was gathered all that
Z the taste and luxury Of East and West
could bestow. nothing now remains bu;
/ Towering shrub.a species oi>yringa brought
/ bv lladrian from SYRIA. The gorgeous
halls and theatres and lyceum> have passed
away. and only this fragile flower remains
/ faithful 10 the memory of lladran. - l.
/ il with much Of the literature of the past.
/ Some simple ballad or story survives. while
more elaborate works disappear. Nothing
/ Is SO abiding and nothing - ileeting as lit
| erary fame. Not one of a thousand authors
/ outiyes his generation. This l. not because
/ their works are altogether worthless. Most
/ of them doubtless. serve some temporary or
/ local purpose. Having accomplished that
| they pass away. while Milton. Shakespeare,
/ Dante and the blind old bard Of Scio. sing
| in the ear Of every generation. What.
then. Is the vital element of all high litera-
ture. which gives it its abiding power in
the hearts of men?
In answering tins question the speaker
dwet on the distinction between scientific
writings and literature. The sphere OF lit
erature includes all presentations of truth
under forms of the Imagination. IL
appeals to the heart. to the sentiment
of beauty. 10 the sense Of what Is good and
truthful If there were no good or prog
res except material good and progress
there would be no place for literature, or
art, n religion. Literature and art have IN
some respects common field. Literature
may rival art in it, descriptions OF nature.
But there i this difference that literature
permits and even requires moral purpose.
DR.. Clark alluded To literature a. illu>tra-
ting history, and of late years TO its service
under the pens of Dickens. Mrs. Stowe.
Mrs. Browning and others on the side OF
moral reforms lie discussed also the rela-
ton of religion to literature. lie
alluded TO the literary excellence and
value of the Bible. and finally reached the
conclusion that the vital element of litera-
ture i IT. moral purpose. No book l. des-
tined 10 live which does not minister in
sincerity TO the wants of the moral nature.
In fact. the essential element Of all true
culture. life and progress l. the recognition
of the fact that man Is not thing, but an
immortal spirit.
DR.. Clark developed his main thought by
N. . H.. 4
was high in tone and polished in its
rhetoric. lie spoke forty minutes, was lis
tened to with close interest. and was hear |
tily applauded.
The Poem by Rev o. &. Wheeler, of
Grand Isle, followed Mr. Wheeler is no
tyro in yersifcation lie was the poet of
the scmi-centennial celebration in 1851, to
which there was an alusion in the opening |
of his present poem. His poem was the
song OF a rhyming Dlogenes in search of an
honest man. Weare permitted to copy the
0 pening amp closing passages:
Al most score Of years have passed away
Sin &c Brothers met 10 celebrate the day
Vine fifty ears Of varied history
We C losed, ana hands were elasped most lovingly
That never more will clasp aSain on earth,
Anu VI 'iece hlii-ieu' lhuH-t.ii VIA Hiiit
Tho IT 'mulous with age, that no" are hushed
How the old brothers IKE boy together rushed
In that ast greeting How the glossy brown,
The gold an and the raven, with the crown
Of silver hen were blended Ana they sleep
Many ben saih the turf IN slunher deep
The grand old man, who took our hearts and bore
Them to tn throne Of grace, Will pray no more.
Mess they pray in heaven The statesman brave,
His ripened beauty nils IN hunnred grave,
And who. " III such noble record could
BE other than our pride, who always stood
A peer, among the nubcst 81 the land
Death found no stain upon that folded hanf
And some have given up their brave young life
To stay the fearful iratricdal strife.
they left their harps, in quiet classic groves.
For the moaning winds 20 play on, left their loves
And homes-aud now their tangled locks are lying
" here breezes with the orange breath signing.
DR. here at home. their treasured dust is sleeping
Where loye-wreathed flowers, are sweetest fragrance
weeping.
II 1.