Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-07-10
did effect. 1t was. all in al. grand
Grafton and was frequently interrupted. and
followed by prolonged and hearty applause.

did effect. It was. al in al. grand
Grafton and was frequently inscfrup'ea. ma
followed by prolonged and hearty applause.
oRxrloN OF COL srRAGrE.
After acknowledging the compliment
which is paid 70 every speaker when an au-
dience gathers together to hear him for an
hour, the speaker stated the subject OF his
discourse to be one of the giants in the world
of thought. John Milton, who was for years
a teacher of BOYS in London He gave a
rapid sketch of the times In which Milton
lived, and of the great events winch mad oc-
CURED within short time oil his pirfh. the
Spanish armada, the battle OF lvry, winch
set the crown of France firmly on the head
Of Henry of Navarro, the union OF the
crowns Of England and Scotland, the discov-
cry of Australia, the settlement OF James
town. and the landing from the Mayhower.
IL was a time when II meant some
thing to dissent from the Established
Church. 1t was not long since John
Rogers had been burned Tor opInlon's sake
at Smithfieid whose execution Milton might
have seen. But little Is known OF his child
hood. He went to St RAM S ocnool, IN
London, and TO Cambridge. where ne wrote
Latin poems said to be unsurpassed by any
E1Ill-0 writer u oAct tAAc-
poems of which the Hymn of the Nativity
j. among the best known. He displayed
astounding proficiency in study, but never
liked the curriculum. There Is a story that
he was forged. but its only foundation is a
remark in an old author which leaves 1t
uncertain whether tutor logged Milton or
Milton dorped q tutor He certainly. how
ever. underwent at least q rustlcation.
lie declined TO enter into the church,
not being able consc'entiously TO do so. He
graduated in 1925, but did not abandon his
studies. He did not feel as too many
do now. that ne had stripped the tree Of
knowledge but spent the next ten years
il close study. during this time he wrote
Comus. L'Allerro and II Penser0so and
Lvcidas. the appreciation Of which has been
said to be a sure test OF poetic taste. On
his mothers death his father furnished him
means TO travel and ne visited Italy, where
he met Galileo. who had been for years the
victim Of the Inousition- lie was SO ont
spoken here IN hostility 10 religious lntoler-
ance that his friends feared for his lite.
But the Italian scholars made much OF him
and their compliments were noteworthy.
While here he heard OF the civil connections
IN England and at once turned MS steps
homewards, thinking It base. as he said, 10
be travelling abroad while liberty was II
peril at home.
After an eloquent description OF what
Milton was at tins thirtieih year Of his age,
the orator then briefly sketched the progress
Of the events which had brought the upri--
ing OF the Parliament against Charles l.,
at which time Milton returned 10 England
10 take part IN the struggle, which he did
with MS pen, while he was keeplnga school
in London. This schOol-keeping gave to
Col. Sprague occasion for hne passage IN
praise OF the avOcati0n of the teacher. Nil
ton views on religious federation were
shown 10 have been Tar in advance OF hls
time and although Roger Williams was
the first to embody such views IN a constitu-
ton Milton had proclaimed them before
him.
Inc speaker next gave an account OF Mil
ton cOurishID and marriage and was not
especially complimentary - Mistress Mary
Powell, mo seems 10 have been little suited
To her husband, personally. and. her family
being OF the opposite party, soon leit nm,
which led % thu writing by Milton OF ms
famous treatise on marriage, II winch &c
views on divorce, which have been
EN- bodied IL the legislation Of many OF our
States. though the question can hardly be
said a. yet 10 be settled. After the battle OF
Naseby, when the parliamentary cause wa
ms wIie's friends leeme0 u best
thar she should be reconcIled II him, and
though she had been away two year. ne
took her back. and with her. almost her
whole family. lie continued MS school,
and wrote a treatise on q system OF educa-
ZION, IN which he omitted one thing. winch,
said the speaker, " YOU here have remedIed.
~. 10 I'd
girls lie did not believe ID II He taught
bis daughters T. read Latin, but n0t 10
Il, saying that one tongue was
enough Tor C woman
Our space doe not allow u % give
even meaEre abstract Of the rest OF this
eloquent grafton The tragic event OF the
ieaIh of Charies l.. was described. and
The writing by Milton Of ms treatise
lu the tenure Of pablc authority.
Ehjcu was II IT declaration Of prIn-
,ipleS the precursor Of many things
10 or own Declaration Of Independence.
md also Ms Ic0nOclastes. and his reply u
which was 50 Overwhelming That
salmasIus was SAID o. have sIckene1 and
iied OF il. and which Milton wrote dellbe-
ate.y, knowing that he was called upon - +
moose between the voice Of duty and the
o-s of his sight. which the writing Of that
work caused. Then followed painful pic
ure o.; the times Of Charles Second, when /
Milton was hunted for his lie, wa
edaced 70 poverty and blIndness. bot F.
mt Of the troubles OF which time came 4
he noble poem Of Paradise Lost And the 4
ration closed with an eloquent setting /
orth OF the life Of Milton a. al encourage [
nent TO every one who felt the call OF pat Z
IOtism and duty. and who was striving 70 .
ccomplisA something which should be OF .
ONE good ID the world