Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-06-19
Vermont Methodist Seminary.


| Wednesday afternoon Of last week. They were
held in the chapel instead Of out-of-doors, with
the exception OF the class Grafton. The report OF
the class historian was the first on the programme
| The youngest member was found 10 be seventeen
and the oldest twenty-five years Of age The
solidest weighs one hundred and sixty-seven
| pounds and the most ETHEREAL one hundred and
eight pounds. Other interesting statistics were
also given. Glass prophecies by Miss wyman and
+. H. Page. The future Of every member was
predicted in laughable manner. Miss Pierce
read short selection, after which the class poem
was delivered by II. @. Blake. II was full Of good
thoughts and earnest advice and evinced consd-
cradle poetical talent. After music the class and
audience adjourned to the vicinity Of the class
tree on the campus, where Alfred Joubert mounted
a box and delivered stirring and eloquent adj
dress to his classmates. Fame he said, was
not what we should strive for, but rather the
possession Of good name among our fellow
men. He is the best man who Is truest to him
self and who aims not to be famous, but to be hon
ored and beloved. The speaker closed with an
earnest exhortation to all the members of the
class to make it their highest ambition not to OBJ
tain great NAME but an honored and respected
name. After the Grafton, the class records were
placed in box and buried at the roots Of the tree
short piece Of music then closed the exercises
| Of the day.
On Wednesday evening occurred the prize
| speaking. The stage was handsomely trimmed
with evergreen, and directly over the center was
the motto: Non nequidqudm pdrdti." The ex-
ercises opened with prayer by Rev. Mr.. Merrill,
| of Williamstown then followed an anthem by
| double quartette w H. Herrick recited "The
Vagabonds;' it is difficult piece but the speaker
did well; little less forcing Of the utterance and
an attitude more free and easy--more vagabond-
| ish would have been an improvement Myra
Tower rected 1.-THE Polish Boy" her tones in
| the main were good but she marred the pathetic
portions Of the poem, we think, by striking too
high key. f. L. Laird did excellently in rem
| derng The Curse OF Regulus," and put an APP
propriate vim into his words and gestures. G. L.
Adams, in " Pyramids not all Egyptian" evinced
| good idea of oratory, and gives promise Of yet
| better things in the future. Hattie NJ. Newcomb
told of &C. The Young Gray Head" and shows some
ability AZ a reader Alice M. Eddy, of Bellows
| Falls, carried off the palm among the young
| ladies; her rendering of "How he Saved st.
Michaels" was decided success-her manner
easy, her voice good her whole appearance on the
stage calculated to inspire confidence the part
| of the audience. H. G. Blake acclaimed "Monas
Waters" in good STYLE and has made much
progress in that line since we heard him last year
| Ida + Hanson read "0ur Folks " in a pleasing
| manner, though her voice was too low some Of
| the time. J. G. Wing sustained his reputation as
speaker in Unjust National Acquisition" we
| think he rather excelled among the young gentle
men. Flora NJ Terrill read well Jamie Doug
lass" and II. +. Reynolds rendered English Vic
tories and Irish Aliens with energy. Josie B.
| Gill read (Which Shall it be?" but her tones
were so very low as scarcely to be heard by ma
| iority Of the audience, Fred w. Granger closed
the exercises by declaiming the Fate OF vir-
| gna," and he did it up in good shape, too. With
further cultivation he will become an excellent
| speaker Music was interspersed throughout the
evening-both vocal and instrumental.
Thursday morning, at ten O'clock a large audi
ence assembled in the chapel to listen to the CON-
mencement exercises Of the graduating class
| After music, prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr.
| Sherburne. The Latin salutatory, by T.. II. Mar
tin, well delivered, and proved as interesting
| as usual to the audience. T. w. Page presented
| the first Grafton of the day. on " Progress" The
| speaker dwelt more particularly upon the growth
Of nations. Contrasted the present Of country
with its past. Then went back and raked up the
nations Of antiquity. Went on to notice the
progress of humanity in various ways Mankind
| is elimination of centuries of progress Ten
| dency Of age to progress too far. Condoned the
| false systems Of advanced" religions. Next
Miss S. A. Wyman spoke of Eighteen Christian
| Centuries" Much like preceding Grafton. Best
results in all ages produced by Christian infu-
ences Spoke of Romes apostacy and subsequent
ruin, also noticed important results Of Christ
| coming.
Piano solo by A. A. Hadley. Next Grafton
The World our Workshop" by g. T.. Adams
| This Grafton was delivered in very clear and
| forcibe manner. The first thought presented was
of the necessity OF action. Tolive is to act Need
not complain of lack of suitable sphere in which
| to exercise our talents Resolute will and I'M
| fiinching purpose command success dayichere
Need of better education to obtain perfect success
| We commence life too much as II we were entering
| upon race, with only one heat to run, and rush
| heedlessly through. Consequently we do not find
| the places intended for us. Square men get into
| round holes and round men into square holes
+. W. Draper next appeared to present some
| thoughts about " Dry Pumps" The pump how
ever painted and adorned, brings up no better
| water than plain buckets. So men Of the finest
| appearance are not always the most serviceable
Need of the nation is not for good looking but
good acting men. Political demagogues are too
plenty while honest individuals are too scarce
Nevertheless good men should not despse and
ignore politics. The only way for the nation to
stand is for every honorable freeman in it to in
terest himself in its affairs and vote at its elections
| A. Joubert then noticed some of the Character
| ist Of tha Am fnth
our own is great. Heroes and patrons of preced-
ing ages the teachers Of to-day. One characteris-
tic of the present era is the higher position occu-
pied by woman. The speaker argued that al
though woman should be encouraged in all at
tempts to RISE she should not be given the right
| of suffrage. In legislative assemblies one man
represents many others so the husband should be
| the representative of the wife. "On Stills" by
II. G. Blake Immense power of ambition is felt
in all ages, and is necessary TO advancement The
young man who wishes for success needs to be
aspiring, and not fear to look too high; While it
is mistake TO spoil good farmer to make poor
teacher or preacher it is much worse 10 spoil
good lawyer or doctor speaker to make a dis
contentcd and unhappy farmer Man should i'm
prove all his opportunities. Friends or money
lost may be regained but lost opportunities are
gone forever Saddest failures made by men of
no ambition.
Miss A. L. Stiles presented an essay upon The
Power and Influence Of the Press" The power
| OF the press unlimited. One pen-stroke OF a writer
| may blast the reputation of the greatest man or
| raise TO honor the humbest one. The literature
| of the day needs improving. The publication of
| sensational novels should be prohibited by law.
| Parents and teachers should take more pains in
| selection of readng-matter for children Editors
and publishers ought to be more careful that the
| influence OF the press is for the right.
"Our Foreigners was the subject upon which
| l.. H. Martin spoke. He noticed the different
classes OF immigrants who flock TO our shores
and the influence they WELD, Bad effect caused
| by the advent Of foreigners who have been edu-
Gated under monarchical government Their in
fuence over our Republican institutions not ad-
| vantageous Cinnamon best class OF aliens in
our country Very practical Grafton. Next A. IL.
| Powers gave the reasons A" Business Failures" In
| the first place. many enter upon mercantile pur-
| suit who are not fitted for it, Business men are
| born not made. Loss OF faith in mankind one re-
suit of these failures. Only when men work for
pay and not for plumber, will prosperity return to
| our industries
| Then Y. H. Page delivered polished Grafton on
American Character" After noticing the gen
era American character he went on to speak of
the peculiarities Of the Northerners, Southerners