The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-06-27
Vermont Methodist Seminary.

The animal lecture on Tuesday evening be-
fore the Esthetic Society was delivered by
Rev. j. W. Hamilton, D D. and was listened
to by fair audience. While not as profound
as some, it abounded in popular hits and telling
illustrations. His theme was " Placed and
Misplaced People" The central thought of
the lecture seemed to be that we should find
our place and then fill it. The fact of eminence
accidentally secured by some should not pre-
vent US from seeking emnence which shall be
legitimately secured. Whatever our calling,
we should have system consistent with right
principles. system found, it should be
,oorked. The measure Of mans work and
usefulness is the measure of the motive and
power by which he is moved. Two things are
necessary ; an inward, intelligent passionate
and pure impulse and an outward power, super
naturally supplemented The examinations
came on Monday and Tuesday. They were
usually quite fair and showed the real knowl-
edge which the student had of the subject In
most instances thorough work had evidently
been done and good preparation made for
future acquisitions. Some of the teachers are
certainly superior instructors and have special
ability for inspiring the students with love OF
enthusiasm for their studies.
On Wednesday at one O. clock the alumni had
a dinner at the American House. Over sixty
sat down to the wel-loaded tables. At the
close OF the dinner, Rev. I. P Frost, president
of the alumni association called upon Revs
| J. o. Sherburpe, A. L. Cooper, Hon. w. P Dill
J Davenport to represent the five decades in the
| history OF the school. MANY interesting rem
| iuiscences were recalled. Revs Beeman and
| j. o. Sherburne spoke concerning the pro-
posed semi-centennial celebration in 1884 By
| that time it was hoped that the debts of the
| school would be entirely cancelled, endowment
raised to the full sum of $4,000 and the Ii
I brary and apparatus of the school vastly in-
| creased. To do this, much work would be nee
essary, the residences of the old alumni found.
| fha do md nf ha taI
| to them, etc. The regular business meeting of
| the alumni was held in the parlors above. Re-
| organized hy electing T. p Frost president
Mary A. Pomeroy vice-president. George f.
| Smith secretary, and Hattie Nj. Newcomb
| treasurer Elected T. p Frost, W. r. Daven-
| port L, O. Sherburne, Mary A. Pomeroy and
Clara l. Bemis to serve as members of the pro-
| posed alumni library association to be incor-
porated under chapter ninety Of the general
statutes. Two from the faculty and two from
the trustees were also to serve as members of
| said association Elected j. o. Sherburne, W.
f Rocheeau, j. NJ. Hit, Mrs. Daniel Dorches-
ter and Charles w. Wilder to cooperate with
| like committee from the trustees for the pur-
pose Of arranging for the appropriate celebra-
tion of the semi-centennial. Wednesday even
| ing occurred the prize speaking, The chapel
was literally packed, and there were from six
to seven hundred present. The selections
were good and, as whole, finely rendered.
Careful study had been given, the spirit of the
| and vivid personation secured. Nearly every
| piece was good and some were extra. The
| prizes in defamation were taken by Luther
| G. Freeman and Herbert s. Eaton, and the
| prizes in recitation by Jessie L. Ashley and
| Lettie C. Halstead
Commencement proper occurred on Thursday
| at ten o'clock. The house was well filed and
good attention was paid throughout. long
| acquaintance with commencements showed the
| productions to average much higher than usual.
| Soma of daaidad Hfararv nd
| evinced wide reading and careful thought,
| There seemed to be less OF hombast and more
OF sense, less of rhetorical flights and more of
| candid reasoning. The articles were, however,
| crude and immature, as all such productions
must of necessity be. The order Of exercises
was as follows
Piano Trio, Overture to semlramde" Rossini.
Misses wyman, Halsted, MIR. Hadley,.
Plano Solo, Concert Mazurka, Three Graees -. Lange.
Fntn E salutatory Herbert l. Gale Wolcott
Alice i. Kinney, Montpelier
Grafton. This Life the Dawn of our Existence"
r...u Bnel o, campoeil' St. Albaps: ...,..
~' $50 Lizzie Nj Miller, Middeicwn conn
Edgar A. Gcodinough. Montpeier ''''''''
rhno SON. 'folohalse Up 4O NO. l'''''''''' Chopm'
Grafton. "The Betrothal"
Luther G. freeman, Essex Junction
r,.,v Lillian A. Lane MoniRsiey Rsi y.r., r,ma., .
o. Deli A. Cummings, Montpelier '''
Morton l.. Hall, bakersfield
Piano Solo, Valse de Concert" Mattel.
Miss Daley,
- 'Frank l.. Goodspeed, East Warren
Essay Close Observations"
Minnie Y. SwaZey, Montpeler.
Essay. .........." True Manhood" with Valedictory.
Belle ID. Bliss Calais.
Piano Duett, La Chasse Infemae," koelling.
Miss Daley, Mr.. Hadley.
Presentation of Diplomas, Glass Song, Awarding OF
| Prizes, Benediction
Excused
The mathematical prize was awarded to
Josie s. Fisk, the Latin prize TO Lizzie Nj. Bick-
ford, and the scholarship prize for general i'm
| provement to Fred A. Hillery. The floral dec
| orations on the stage were abundant and in
| good taste, and the other decorations and gem
eral arrangements worthy of special mention
| During the past year the institution has made
| great progress in nearly every respect and
| seems to have entered upon career OF greatly
increased usefulness.