Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-16

closed
day the 9th inst. tho students have all do.
parted. and solitude reiens tbrougbout Tho
halls Of the institution. The exercises were
attended with unusual interest and ,cSaf. and
deserve 10 be recorded as the most suocessful in
the history of the Seminary. Year after year
the same place has been the scene of the same
pleasant gathering of tho friends and patrons
of the institution Mt about this season. The
class Of ladies and gentlemen are ever fitted by
the opportunities of their school life TO grace the
graduating occasion, to add their names to
the roll of honor, and take their place among
those men and women whose education NAV
well be considered as laid upon tho broadcast
and deepest foundations.
| We have the fullest confidence in the future
prosperity and success of this institution. Its
prospects are Frightening year by wear. lie
Alumni are becoming larger and larger at each
Commencement, and time cannot fail TO add 10
the honored position IL holdsamong the institu-
tons Of learning in our commonwealth. A foun-
tain has here been opened which will never cease
To flow. A light has been kindled here which
will never 20 out. Generation after generation
will here he trained for the duties and respon-
sibilities Of life. Here will be laid the fonndn.
tions of an education that sbnll affect the pros.
perty and happiness of families and commu-
mites, os long az law, and government and So
cial order subsst among Us.
The rhetorical exercises of the graduating
class took place on Wednesday morning. before
a crowded auditory The number Of graduates
was thirteen, the largest class ever sent out
from the Institution, and their Gne appearance
was the subject Of common remark. The young
gentlemen who came to the rostrum were very
good specimens Of nature and culture, and
displayed clean-cut, scholarly work, good sense
and vigor in their orations. The young ladies
were all dressed in white, with embems Of
purity and beauty interviewer in their hair. and
their ESSAYS showed an inward adjoining far
superior 10 the outward
There were several orations and essays of
more than ordinary merit which we cannot
forbear to mention. The Latin grafton of John
NJ. Comstock. Of Barre, was exceedingly fine.
the speaker eyncng very good degree Of &C.
quaintanee with the language. " A Plea for
Woman, by j. +. Riley, Of Schuyler Falls. N
Y, was fine effort, and as it embraced a
theme which is receiving considerable atten-
| ton from profound minds lust now. excited a
good deal Of interest: and il was well delivered.
| The essay Of Miss Mary r Porter, Of Alstead
n H., upon The Spiritof Discovery, e was one
Of the best compositions Of the day. It showed
thorough knowledge of history. careful study
and preparatiop. and was delivered in a man
ner that was model of elocutionary power.
Many hands were required to gather up the
I floral trophies offered at its close to the fair
essayest. Glass Chronicles" by Miss Flora
/ c. Eaton. Of Montpelier. was exceedingly good
containing an amusing record Of the doings OF
the class during the past year, and embracing
/ Jokes and hits best appreciated by those n
timately acquainted with the class. The
/ Law of COMPENSATION, by Miss Ida A. Ellis, OF
Bethel was a worthy production, deserving
much praise for the proof it contained of care
I fol study and thought, and for the easy flow.
/ ing style in which it was written. The vale
dictorv. by Miss Laura A. Kent, of Calais, was
rich treat, containing fine sentiments and
| tender illusions. and closing with feeling ad.
dress to the trustees, teachers and classmates
which reached all hearts. All Of the young
ladies were honored with boquets from their
friends and admirers, and several received a
great profusion of them.
At the close of the rhetorical exercises the
new PRINCIPAL, Prof. F. NJ. Halves, addressed
the graduating class, speaking in compliment.
ary terms of their conduct and scholarship
and giving words of cheer and encouragement
for their future, regretting at the same time
the loss sustained by the school in their de-
parture. The presentation of diplomas was
made By Hon. Heman Carpenter, of Mortified
in few wel-chosen words, which evident
Is came from the heart, and needed no urging
TO be spoken on this Uccasiou. The audvuv'
were then dismissed, with a reminder of the
exercises which were to take place in the after
noon.
At quarter before two O'Clock large as
sembly gathered to listen to the annual address
by Prof W. X. Shipman, Of Tufts college. L
was calm, earnest, practical address upoT
The Uses Of the Imagination to the Student,
Of which we should be glad to give an abstract
but should we attempt it our limits woul,
compel us to condense it into so brief spac