Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-06-12
Barre Academy.
ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES.

The present week has been Of especial interest
at Barre, as being the celebration Of the twenty
sixth anniversary OF Barre Academy.
This occasion is always interesting, not only to
the good citizens Of Barre, but to thousands of
others throughout the country, who are to-day
reapng the fruits of knowledge attained while
under the benign influence of Barre Academy.
The anniversary annually brings together numer-
Gus representatives of this NUMBER who joyfully
meet to congratulate their alma Mater on the con-
tinuance Of its success under the venerated prin-
cipal and founder, DIR. Jacob s. Spaudng
The annual sermon before the graduating class
was delivered by Rev. Leonard Tenney pastor OF
the Congregational church, on Sunday afternoon.
The text selected was Nehemiah vi: 3. al am do
ing great work. and cannot come down" The
discourse was one particularly adapted to the oc-
cason, discussing, as 1t did, very forcibly and
logically, the circumstances under which the
words of the text were spoken, and the lessons
which might be derived from them for the guild
ance of those just starting in life.
On Monday evening occurred the
PRIZE sPEAKiNG
at the Congregational church, which, despite the
inclemency OF the weather, filed to overflow
ing by the citizens OF the town and visitors from
abroad The speakers, competing for the two
prizes offered by the principal, were composed of
four members each of the Senior and Middle
classes, who were chosen by the students The
prizes were six dollars to the best, and four dol
lars to the second best orator. The names of the
speakers and their subjects were as follows: On
Being Found Guilty of High Treason" from En-
NETT, Albert II. Pierce, Williamstown, Vt. The
Death of Traitor" by Seppard, John W. Cor
don, West Bolton, Vt. 1.-THE Revenge" by Ten
nyson, Eroy Clark, North Hero, Vt; 1.-THE Fall
of Pemberton Mill, by Mrs. i. S. Phelps, Wen
dell p. Stafford, Barre, Vt; Lay Of the Bell +"
by Schiller, George L. Hooker, Barre, VT !;
Death OF Marmion,' by Scott, Elliott r. Wat
son, Wiliamstown, Vt; Irish Aliens" by Shiel
James b. Dodds North Hero, Vt; "a Caudle
Lecture by Jerrold, Benjamin Tenney. Barre Vt.
The exercises OF the evening were opened with
a vocal duet by Messrs. Putnam and Woodruff,
"Sweet Visions of Childhood" accompanied on
the piano by viii A. Wheaton, of Montpelier.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. S. II. Wheeler,
of Waterbury, after which vocal quartette was
rendered by Miss Wheaton, Messrs. Putnam,
Woodruff and Huse. The first speaker, Pierce,
was decamatory in style, and pleasing to the
the dramatic style of oratory, and was partcu-
larry pleasing and effective in the delivery of his
Grafton. Clark was earnest in manner and happy
in the selection of his theme. Stafford, as usual,
won many compliments from the audience for the
ease, grace and effectiveness with which he de-
livered the intensely dramatic account of terrible
calamity. Hooker made very credtable APP
pearance, as did also Watson in the familiar ex-
tract from Scott. Dodds was both earnest and
effective in speech, while Tenney created much
amusement by his admirable rendering of one OF
Mrs Caudles most laughable curtain lectures.
The speaking was interspersed with excellent
musical selections under the lead of Professor
Woodruff the assistant principal of the academy.
The first prize was awarded to Stafford and
the second to Gordon The committee of award
were Messrs. G. L. Stow of Barre, Fred o. French
of Barre, and S. f. Carpenter Of Washington, d. C.
Last evening the exercises were continued by the
RHETORICAL EXERCISES OF MIDDLE CLASS
The following were the speakers, with the sub
ects of their original orations, viz oliver Crom-
well, George r. Huse Waterbury Centre; Turn
ing Points, Elliott b. Watson, Williamstown
The Public Life of Chatham, John W. Gordon
West Bolton; The Value of the Classics, Elroy
Clark, North Hero; "Strilxe while the Iron,
hot" Clarence S. Putnam, Barre; Courage, Geo
l.. Hooker, Barre.
A piano solo by Professor Woodruff opened the
evenings entertainment followed by the invoca
ton by Rev. II. Webster of Barre, after which q
tenor solo was rendered by C. S. Putnam The
first speaker, Huse, delivered well-consideret
defense of Cromwell; Watson acclaimed upon tn,
Importance of right beginnings, after which thu
male quartette consisting of Messrs. Putnam
Woodruff, Bass and Huse, sang Lovely Night
Gordon was both pleasing and effective in delin
eating the career Of Lord Chatham; Clark gave
very earnest plea for classical study, and the duet
| " How Sweet the Hunters Song" was sung fnel
| by Misses Wheaton and Dodge; Putnam gave
| very sensible and wel-deivered production Of
the dangers of delay; Hookers Grafton was inter
esting in its dramatic detail, and delivered in al
earnest and creditable manner. The duet iron
the opera of Lucia d Lamnermoor" enttle
Haste, Crimson Morning." was then rendere
| by Messrs. Putnam and Huse after which the ben
edction was pronounced by Rev. Mr.. Webster.