Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-04
University Of Vermont.

The high excellence of the baccalaureate discourse
of President Buckham on Sabbath afternoon, and
that of DR. Hovey in the evening, followed a.
they were by the equally meritorous address OF
Hon Robert s. Hale and the Poem of Dr. Cutting
on Tuesday, before the Alumni of the University.
and that of DR. 5 w Thayer, before the Medical
College taken with the almost perfect weather fol
such exercises, made the commencement at Bur-
lington last week an especially memorable one
The graduating class numbered iifteen-nine
In the classical and six in the scientific department
The orations OF the class were upon clearly prac-
teal subjects, and were generally well written
clear and in some cases of marked excellence. II
they had been delivered with little force aud
fire, they would have been received with highest
marks of appreciation. OF these fifteen gradu-
ates. three we've ladies-two in the classic and
one in the scientific course The ladies bore away
the palm, both for scholarship and excellence in
writing And this is shown by the fact that OF
the Ave elected TO the Phi Beta Kappa where the
election turns excellence Of scholarship, two Of
the ladies were taken Also by the Judgment OF
the Faculty in giving Miss Ethel Persis sherman,
OF Montgomery, the place of honor on the stage,
This was assigned to her, rs we understand, both
on account of excellence in scholarship and writ
| ing Her essay or Grafton certainly was received
with the clearest marks of interest and approba-
ton. Next to her, perhaps slightly before her a.
scholar was the young colored man John Henry
Dennison, of Royalton. Mr. Dennison is worthy
OF all praise, If not wonder, for his perseverance
and success in aspiring and overcoming obstacle
in the race for excellence Mr.. Dennison was
born "A slave in Virginia, and grew up there AS a
field hand Twelve years ago he came North,
| ignorant, not knowing letter, and never having
| heard, as he says, the word " College" Without
means or friends, save rs he has made them, he
began course of study, and by good conduct
| and force of character has secured respect-made
his way through the academy and college and
come out with honor We trust he is kind of
first fruits or promise of the elevation of the
into which he was born Nine of the class, seven
gentlemen aud two ladies' received the degree A.
b. in order Three, two gentlemen and one lady
that of " Bachelor of Philosophy three gentle
men that of Civil Engineer"
The honorary degree of Nj, \. was conferred
upon Hon. r S. Taft and l.. L. Laurence, that OF
PHI D. upon Professor Selim IL Peabody, OF
Chicago, and that of LII ID, upon Samuel W
Thayer NJ D., of Burlington This latter was
received with marked applause by the large audi
| enee present
From the College street church, where these ex.
ercises were held, the procession marched in the
usual order, with music to the Van Ness House
where the corporation dinner was served Hon
Robert S. Hale presided at the table and directed
" the feast of reason and flow of soul that fol
lowed whenthe plates were removed, and iittiugly
closed this most exhilarting, instructive and en-
joyabe commencement season
The Art Gallery in connection with the Library Of
the University, increasing Ms it is FROM year Il
year in the number of casts, paintings and stat
uary, all of high art adds greatly To the attractions
and profit of Commencement at Burlington. W.
have never seen elsewhere in Vermont good al
exhibition as that OF last week in the Park Gallery
1t is clearly one of the educational excellences o
the University. 1t is increasingly valued and pat
ronized.