The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-06-11

naturally where assemblies meet in this great
centennial year. There is no danger, it see ms,
OF dwelling too much on the past. Our rain
ers, says Sir Thomas Browne, "ind their
graves IN our short memories, and sadly tell
us how, too, we shall be buried in our survlv-
ors." The grave, historic cry, God of our
Fathers, ought to have more and more sig
nifcance for us from age to age, and so with
the great deeds that connect the ages.
The occasion on which we meet today con-
tnued the speaker, is happily but one OF many
Elsewhere, ia many places, parents and friends
will meet in the summer sunshine to enjoy
what Mr.. Choate called an emotional hurry; to
express their interest in the new step taken by
those who are dear to them, in the march OF
life How inevitable, variable in details, how
invariable in conclusion is that march; from
the learning to put one foot before the other
(Which Holmes calls learning the mystery of
balanced progression) to the final hour of rest
And yet how much depends In the details of
life on what may be called the civilizing infu-
eLceS. The statisticians tell US the average of
human life is about 80 years. That is to say
the average of human beings have So years in
which to do their work, to receive and impart
influences, be they for good or bad. Now what
divides us, calling ourselves civilized, in mental
and moral condition from the original Celt or
Caffre, except the body of moral and educa-
tional influences which we received from our
ancestry, and with which we enwrap the soul
of the child as the mother enwraps his hmDS
with the swaddling clothes of the cradle!
What is it but home influence, school influence,
the influence Of the temple, the social surround-
ings that go to create that strange aggregation
of emotions and habits that you call national
character. The teachings of schools, though
vital, are preparatory and become important, or
otherwise, as they are used by the parties who
receive them. Great battles rest on the knowl-
edge of details. The A. b. c., the first lessons
in drawing, the acquisition of new language,
drV N
mind may conquer great fields of thought and
expression. But the learner must have the I'M
DERIVING force to make his learning available.
A gentleman boosted to a college president
that bis son had been educated at two colleges.
The reply was, "My father had calf that took
the milk of two COWS and the result was the
biggest calf ever saw" Some people, nber-
ally educated, shed culture as the ducks back
sheds water, and others, with the slightest edu-
cational advantages, have the strongest natural
drift to whatever is beautiful and noble. The
love of the beautiful often creates small CIV
iization around its possessor. This is seen IN
the rural districts of New England OF to day, a
great advance over fifty years ago in this mat.
ter. Believing that the strength and safety or
the country lies manly with Its rural popula-
ton; that all influences arctic be encouraged
that check emigration to the cities with their
intense competitions and their enormous Wild
ening CULTS between rich and poor, great salts.
faction should be taken in the vast increase o.
country homes made attractive by tne taSte
and culture of woman.
There is something wonderful in the power
and duration for good. or for evil, of what may
seem slight influences. A little drop OF altar
of rose will give off its perfume for years; a
contagion communicated by an individual will
desolate continent; the memory of moment
may be the most important point in human
life When Theodore Parker, little boy, about
to throw stone at frog, felt some inward in
fuence restraining him, he asked his mother
what it was. She told him it was God in the
soul, which men call conscience; obey it and it
would increase, and possess and govern his
life; disregard it and it would fade out and
leave him to perish without it, When Sir
Walter Scott, dying, sent for Lockhart, the
brilliantly endowed author said to him 'be ylr-
tuous, be religious, be good man. Nothing
else will give you any comfort when you lie
here" The great genius had discovered in
that supreme hour that the things he had
sought and the things he had failed sufficiently
to seeklassumed in his mind theirtjust relations
and proportions. The speaker closed with
beautiful admOnition to his hearers to remem-
Der that these slight influences were to be care
fully weighed by them, as they might make or
mar their entire future.
At the conclusion of the Grafton the gradual
ing class assembled around the class tree, where
an address was delivered by Rev. w. E. Gibbs
of Portland.
line Alumni assembled Ill INC OeLuiudIy uuilu-
ing at the conclusion of the exercises, where
the following officers were chosen: President.
C. B. Varney; Vice Presidents, f. Hichborn,
Miss True; Secretary and Treasurer, I. w.
Fogler: Chronicler, Miss Hill; Executive Com
mittee, officers, with Virgin, Miss Gullifer and
Mrs. Chenery.
In the evening reception was given at Her
sey Hall to the friends and patrons of the in
stitution, and very enjoyable occasion it was.
In the course of the evening, Mr.. 7. W. Fog
Ter, in behalf of some Of the old pupils. pre-
scented to the institution fine portrait of Mr..
Norton, former teacher of the Seminary,
which Mr. Torrey, in behalf of the Trustees,
accepted with fitting remarks.
During the day the Trustees held meeting
and passed resolutions commencing inlhigh
terms the Principal, Mr.. Dodge, and the course
pursued by him during the past year.
The school will commence August 18th, I'M
der the present management.