Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-11
Randolph Normal School.

| ounuhy evening, january ISL, tns Daccalaureate
sermon was preached by Rev L. o. sherburn Of
White River Junction. His discourse was based
on the parable Of the prodigal son in Luke xv
The sermon was brilliant and scholarly, and the
eager attention Of all present showed that the
preacher was handling an old and we'll worn sub
ject, with such skill a. to intensely interest his
audience.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
were devoted TO examination exercises The OK
aminations Of the graduating classes this year
show, even more markedly than those Of last
year, the benefits OF the real normal work intro
duced here by Mr.. Edison, and prove that the time
he has given to the study Of normal training has
not been spent In vain. Those sent out from this
institution cannot be mere teaching machines but
real live teachers.
On Wednesday evening the large audience In
the Congregational church was much interested
| as well as instructed by Governor Farnham's
practical way Of telling I" How to keep up an in
terest In our studies after we leave school," He
said the mind Is 40 constituted that 1t Is apt to
lose Its elasticity by being continually bent in one
direction. One way Of preventing this is to pur-
sue a definite course Of reading on some practical
subject. He then gave a list OF subjects
Arctic Exploration, Astronomy, Botany, &C.
ology and Mineralogy, Chemistry, Languages,
Natural History and General History. He advo-
Gated taking one Of the above subjects and read
ing 1t up thoroughly as to be well posted on it,
keeping scrap-book In which any item bearing
on the subject may be preserved and so add to the
general stock In reading history he advised
taking up one person, as Cromwell, or one family
as the Stuart family Of England, and becoming
thoroughly acquainted with the subject, and we
shall be to want to extend studies further
in the same direction
Thursday evening the audience at the town
hall was delighted with the finished and grace
full manner in which the competitive speakers
rendered their pieces. The following is the pro-
gramme, which was interpreted with music;
Garnelds Tribute to Lincoln Lorenzo Hubbard
| Strafford Vermont
The widow of Glencoe Angle r. Baker
'' '' '''"'' B i Vermont may " NICE
wihiamstown, Vermont. - '''''''
John Burns Of Gettysburg. Fannie A. Brown
| wllamstown, Vermont
funbrdge, vermont.
| williamstown, Vermont
Mrs. McWiams and the Lightning. .Roxanua NJ, circuit
| Northhed, Vermont.
wilsmstown, Vermont.
The witch's DaushteS ;....:.;......FidaH Smith
The Mule and the Bees william f. Bodge
| Randolph, Vermont.
~ INV t. Pepperili Massachusetts ''''' L. ''N''
The selections were varied and very interest.
ing. The speakers showed that they had had
good training. The task Of the committee of de.
cision, Rev. II. T. Forrest Of Randolph, Principal
F. G. Wheatey Of Springfield and Principal A.
| l.. Hardy OF West Randolph, was not easy one
They announced next morning at the opening ex.
ercises in school their decision, as follows First
in merit, Fida II. Smith Of Sutton second Fanny
A. Brown Of Williamstown; third Frank B. Louget
Of Williamstown fourth, May c. Rice Of Brook.
field; fifth Mary A. Adams Of Williamstown
sixth, Will Z. Blodgett OF Randolph. We trust
that the forty dollars taken as entrance fees and
to be expended on books for the school library
may repay those who must have worked so hard
by giving to them and others much pleasure and
| instruction.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
At an early hour Friday afternoon the towr
hall was wel-flled Prayer was offered by Rev
H. F. Forrest The following programme wa,
carried out, the exercises being nterspersed with
music;
IT,. r...,,, -, o.. ,.,,., ,...
Brookheld, Vermont.
civh service Reform Tnnn,,g: while H. Durkee
Advanced Reading. e. Mouton
chelsea vermont
'" %ilis@stown Vermont AIM" A'"''
The District School. Alicia A. Berry
won.,,, Wa '''"'e Vi s"'D ~r. , u,.,s.
williamstown Vermont.
~
Industrial Education : Irving E. Kimball
j. a. Holland. Ellie H. Slack
springfield vermont
''"A'' Richmond Vermont ''''''e a. Ne0"a''
Light. Emma E. Cushman
Nigh, Brng. on, m. stars Nina T. p.,,.on
| westford Vermont.
Then followed the presentation of Diplomas
parting hymn and bonodction.
Miss Paige gave, in a concise manner, a history
of grammar, beginning as far back as the second
century, BIC, when grammar was taught rather
as the nature OF thought than the form Of Ian.
guage, also some very practical rules for teaching
grammar to younger classes. Mr.. Durkee defined
civil service reform, told some Of the evils which
could be remedied by 1t and how to bring about
a change; first, by having committees appointed
in each state to examine all candidates for public
office; second, by having promotion based OF
merit. Miss Moulton would have those who teach