Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-06-27

washington coullIy'I - oue L4"ules
Boarding School, the other a mixed school.
AT one, nine young ladies received diplo-
mas, at the other, twenty-five young men
and ladies were graduated.
We never fail to be interested on such
occasions. We mark the evident culture
with interest. We mark the prevailing
character of thought in the essays and ORA
tions with intense interest, for these gradu-
ates will inevitably be teachers-the edu-
Gated are to be the educators. And il is
grand to look upon young, maturing life
so full of possibility and purpose and
hope.
But we must mole some things not in
best taste. The young ladies at both
schools appeared like dolls-living dolls
direct from the miliner's band box. Every
one was fixed up in white for the occasion.
Now it is unnatural that all be dressed in
white. We like angels well enough, but
we object to limitations. For pleasing Of.
feet lack of uniformity would be better.
And then there was wolul lack of
simplicity in the dress of the lady gradu-
ates. This is practical, every day, work
| ing world, and somehow it is felt that
graduating dress, which is so good for
nothing else, is not fit for the occasion
when young woman steps out upon the
arena of active life. And we have sus-
picion that it costs many mother and
father dear to furnish the wherewith for
what is only frippery and folly for gradu-
ating day. We look 10 the Faculty in the
Seminary to correct this evil.
In this respect our observation marked
u great contrast in favor of the young
men. They were simply attired. An evil
dent attempt to dress is always offensive to
purest and best taste. Neatness and SIM
plicily are always pleasing.
Comparing the separate and mixed
schools as we saw them in the graduating
themes we pronounce in favor of co educa.
ton. Boys and girls are children and
pIaymates together. The family circle
brings men and women under the same
roof and to the same table. Nature does
not dictate that young men and young
women be colonized in separate schools.
They need in order to best culture 10 ex-
plore the fields of knowledge together
The average boy sees a good deal less than
everything within the boundary of vision,
and so also the average girl alone sees but
in part. The masculine and the feminine
minds need each other in the recitation
rooms. And, ms we judged, the young
ladies in the mixed schools gave evidence
of better brain work. There is sense in
which culture consists in thinking the
thoughts of others. Many crude notion
is corrected by seeing how others look al
it.
AT one of the commandments every act
was cheered by company of boys and
Doors in the gallery. At the mixed school
not one hideous and rude instance Of
or clapping occurred. The APP
pIause of attention is indeed the best COM
pliment that Can be given TO any speaker
The bouquet feature of the graduating
exercises was exceedingly and excessively
prominent at both institutions. At the
Ladies Seminary spry little boy was en-
ployed to run out on the stage and pick
up the shower of bouquets which greeted
every speaker. To our minds it was rath-
er monotonous to see man stand up and
throw from six to dozen bouquets rs
each lady resumed her seat. And instead
of piling the bouquets upon the ladies' laps
we would suggest that next time the boy
have basket for each lady's bouquets, and
filling it, put it down beside her. At the
other school the marshal of the day stood
in the aisle and took bouquet from the
hand of some friend of the person speak
ing and after each essay or Grafton went
mechanically and majestically up and pre-
sented the floral tribute. The inventor oil
this custom did very poetic thing, but
the poetry was exhausted long ago. A
spontaneous tribute is rich compliment,
but prepared applause is too thin. 1t is
too evident that these floral tributes have
no relation to the excellence of the speech
or reading.
Another note we made was upon the
value of speaking well. Ordinarily an
eloquent thought is necessary, in order to
eloquent words and manner. And an
eloquent occasion has sometimes made an
ordinary man eloquent. But this world
does like good talking. The subject, the
thought and the occasion being equal, the
good talker has great advantage. At
least three-fourths of the people are taken
captive at good takers will. The praise
given to graduates on commencement day
depends very largely upon how they do it
Say what men will in derision, yet 1t re.
mains true that the gift of CAB is one of
the greatest gifts" b.