Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-06-20


and dissemination Of knowledge. Tenney had
an excellent Grafton upon the subject Of in
ventions, detailing in an interesting way the
more important discoveries Of man, all Of which
proved knowledge Of history very creditable in
one 10 young. Corliss' Grafton was based upon
the maxim, Know myself" Putnam gave an
interesting history Of music and harmony, which
he delivered in q pleasant, off-hand style Kilt
redge made an excellent argument for literary
pursuits, believing that ideas thus obtained could
not be made the spoil Of sharpers Dodd's grafton
on Charles the First was, perhaps, the best writ
ten Of any, and was delivered in nm earnest and
forcibe manner. Perry made an effective attack
upon polygamy, and considered that the nation
could not reach the acme Of national greatness
until 1t was swept from the land lIuse, in his
history of Peter the Hermit and his time, showed
much research and an intelligent idea of the sub
iect Stafford had well written Grafton and, as
usual, carried of the palm as nm orator Hill had
classical production showing thorough knowl-
edge Of Roman history, while Pierce gave a
spirited delivery Of n very credtabe theme Miss
Quimby sustained her reputation as one Of the
finest scholars in the academy by her treatment
OF the subject Of life, while her essay read in
distinct and pleasant voice.
The music, which was interspersed throughout
the exercises, was Of a very enjoyable character.
Mr.. A. n. Wheelock gave a fine rendition Of that
famous bass solo, Let all obey" Miss Ellen
Wheaton sang very sweetly the song, "When the
flowing tide comes in" The male quartette,
Messrs. Putnam, Woodruff, Bass and Huse, sang,
Laugh boys, laugh" in very jolly way which
brought down the house, also When the hues
| of a 1ffrht do nd AZ. tba
of music sang a solo very creditably.
III the evening occurred the anniversary of the
" Social Fraternity " with an
ADDRESS by PROFESSOR JOHN x. LORD,
Of Dartmouth College The subject of this ora
ton was Cicero, which the talented speaker ham
died in an interesting and mastery manner No
mere abstract OF the address can begin to do it
justice. The theme was one fit for the genius of
the orator, while the orator was thoroughly con-
versant with his theme, as was plainly shown
The classics have but few more earnest devotees
in New England than Professor Lord, and as a
natural sequence the work of his hand upon so
suitable a subject could not fail to be something
worthy of the author. He held the great Cicero
up to the eyes of his audience in his best light,
and while admitting his faults, did not by that
means lower his subject in the estimation of hi
audience. In opening his address the speaker
sketched, at some length, the history of Rome
previous to the coming of Cicero, down to its inal
fall She was considered "a mistress of every
thing but herself Her riches brought avarice,
and avarice brought indulgence. immortality be.
came rampant; the government became cruel and
oppressive, the people lost all pride, all manliness
and virtue; the heroic element vanished and the
Il. /
store the life of her ancient institutions and six
years before the death Of Cicero she fell before
the mighty genius of Cesar The fruit Of decay.
ing liberties was considered AZ anarchy. and an
archy was despotism. Cesar was absolute, but
his strong hand had Just begun to work wher
death did his work. The assassination was con
sidered as the supremest folly. No other mar
understood so well how to govern the people; hi,
assassination plunged the state into fifteen year,
Of civil war, and her last condition was worse
than the first.
Cicero came to Rome in his early boyhood, ant
soon decided upon oratory the profession bes
suited to his abilities This demanded the com
pleest preparation and diligent pursuit of litera
ture. History, poetry and philosophy became hi
delight He attached himself to one of the great
est iursts Of the day; he took lessons of Roscu
and watched the effect of oratory, in all its fea
lures upon the multitude Never was there
man possessed Of more natural gifts, or one VIII,
cultivated them more. His style of oratory wa
described by the speaker as eXhaustve he gav'
his powers no relaxation whatever while speaking
but every nerve was tense and his whole body wa
exercised to the utmost His appointment an,
career as a Roman Consul were rapidly but intel
! "a bis Ina ui.bm "a sub
quent recall, aud his connection with the party o
Pompeii against that of Caesar. At the asslssina
ton of Caesar he came forward to lead the state
but his qualities Of mind were better suited Il
the times of peace than those o. war His power
rested on his eoquence, learning and persona
nobility. lie bore the same relation to the Roman
masters that Shakespeare did to the drsmatists O
the Elizabethan age. His voice alone bore tn
palm in the Senate, the forum and the court bu
he could not revivify the government of the state
The personal and private characteristics o
Cicero both an orator and man were ably dis
cussed, and his rights to honor and praise in thi
latter day were logically set forth, The vanity O
Cicero was considered as not without reason
while at the same time it was believed to be hi
greatest fault. The speaker closed with perorl
ton whose chief charm was in its modesty.
H.. Il
va "''e' ''''" ''e
RHETORICAL EXERCISES OF GRADUATING CLASS
ihls CLASS NUMBERED teh-sM gentlemen AM
iour understand the following are the names o
the class, with the subjects oil their orations AM
essays
l-Essay :" forsan ct haec em Memmni;se Iuvabit,
2oration. The Railroad Age,
Walter Brooks, ST. Adams Bay.
a6arie. enry Bectei; wamsowwnn er scott
i-oration ....... ..... ..........." True Honor.
p"'iu ny On Locke ,orln'n,
Helen Perrin berlin ''''''
e-ora ion,,..., Fiction esa Power for Good,
7-r..ov :. xo,,,ns hn, t.oys.
Carrie Mandanl, wheel ok, Barr.
S-ora''on' ancient r,; Modern Education
9-Essay. Angel visltatons
JEANNE Aim" WINCH uo'in'h'
Darwin Pan kingsley, Aloafsh Center
Tho oratiors .rd ess.vs ore and ali ware ~
bigb order of mart sustaining well the renpta,io,
for comnosi,ion and ora,orv which R,rre acadam,
students have always held The first e..avs,
Miss Rrn,yn had a var, finally written essa, n,
tho nower ot nemorv This vopng lady receiva,
esnecial mention from the examining committe
for sunerioritv in her studies as brou,ht ont /,
the examination Brool,s had an excellent ora
tion based ON the fast ace i'm which we lived an,
on the race for riches In which all were engaged