The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1884-07-11
ar Correspond dent.

County GieaninSs.
TFrom our Regular Correspondent.
MIDDLEBURY, July 8.
The great summer event of 1884 has come
and gone, and the eighty-third consecutive
class has gone out from Middlebury college
into the wide, wide world, TO float with the tide
or swim against the stream Of life. The atten-
dance of alumni from abroad during commence
ment week was larger than it was last year,
and the number of the older graduates OF the
institution present was a special feature OF the
week. Several alumni were here whose gradu-
alton days date away back in the twentles ana
thirties, and four members OF the class OF 1853
came back to visit their alma mater after half a
century of warfare with the world. The Oldest
of the visiting graduates was Professor Ihomas
J Conant, D d, of Brooklyn, N Y, who gradu-
ated Just sixty-one years ago, in the class OF
1928.
Tuesday was alumni day. In the morning
the preliminary meeting Of the Associated Alum
nj was held at the college chapel, after which
the annual address was delivered at the Con-
gregational church. TIL orator Of the day was
the Hon Eliza D Sherman Of Chicago, a gradu-
ate of the class of 1860. Mr. Sherman has at
tanned to considerable prominence in the legal
profession in Chicago and his address was On a
semi-protessional theme, his subject pelng the
administration of Justice" He was followed
by Professor James A b stone OF kalamazoo
Mich. of he class of 1884, who made a very IN
t~eresting, off-hand address, retailing numerous
incidents of his college life and giving a history
of some of the members OF the class since their
graduation. The alumni dinner followed and
was attended by a large company OF ladies' ana
gentlemen. After the regular and orderly DEM
clifton of the eatables, about two hours and a
,..le ,,ora ,Javofa1 IN cnnpph MAKING. and there
were big talks and little talks altogether too nu-
merous to mention. But the victuals were good
and the speeches were good, and those VINO
were present went away well satisfied with the
quantity and quality of both bills of fare: !,
Tuesday evening came the rke and MeirlIl
prize speaking, by members of the freshman
and sophomore classes. The Parkerian prize
speaking has for many years been the most
popular feature of the exercises OF commence
ment week. Formerly there were four Park
erian prizes, two for freshman and two sopho.
more competitors, but last year the proceeds OF
a fund from the estate of the late DR. Thomas A
Merrill, d d, which had been devised to furnish
nrizes for the sophomore contests, became
available for that purpose, and the whole fark-
eriau prize fund was thereupon assigned TO the
speakers from the freshman class. Inc prlze
Speaking this year drew out an immense audl-
ence, as indeed it always does, and q me even
inrs' entertainment was the result. Inc music
far the occasion was furnished by the odd
male ouartette, composed OF Messrs Cnarlero
Murkland. III b Boice, b I Churchill and DR.
William II Sheldon, all of whom have re-
Gently been students in our college. Their sing
ing was extremely fine and delighted the audi
ence as it was wont 10 10 o. ou. o
As a matter of course the speaking was I'M
usualIv excellent. il always Is. BY hall past
nine ii was all over with and the judges retired 10
consider their verdict, about wnlch
thew were so long occupied 'ha'
60 long that the audience exhibited mucn I'M
patience. Finally they returned ana the lnpa
tience of the audience was enanssu " ;ndsos
when the chairman of the committee ol Juuses
announccd the award of the p ICES IN a voice 50
- ,hat very few could hear a word ne sald,
al most All of those present went home IN -
norance of the names ofthe prize winners; lne
nrizes were awarded as follows; Freshman u
first prize John S lelie; seconu, IN pasI =
CLARK Sophmores, first prize, wins . mss
loud Marion III Dana third, A watson var
nev. fourth, Jesse A Ellsworth. VI eouise
,hs-s vas the usual dissatisfaction Win Tue
awards. each speakers special lrlehls tulnAs
,bst he ourht TO have received the hrst prize ~
his class. but il is probable thai tns commune mH
decided the contests pretty nearly nshi. hO"'
ever the speakers who were le1t out If, -
In the matter of prizes were q h'Lsniy y.
sn-intled with boquets as their more successih
Wednesdav was chiefly graduates day, be
ING commencement day proper: nan pa
! eiSb. In Inc morning the annual business meet
inc of the Associated Alumni was heI9. ~
ne -roiogieal report for the year waAnA 49,,
FRA BTainerd. and il appears from the reporl
,Lst eleven Of Middle6ury's graduates an
snaun 10 have died within the yeaT, as follows
Rsniamin Nixon. class Of 10, William = hal
a. of 30. Rev Giles Pratt, class OF Z3, Kes
amsss stuart. class of -, Rev Edwin + Hst
ssid- Class OF %, Rev Washington kooseyeIa
ciass Of 20. Rev Samuel Milington WOOL "a "a.
"a 81 Svlyanus Bates. class OF ~ heN JONI
- S1,;,h class az as. Prof Moses arstOn- eias'
~ 20 and william J Fish, class OF as.
L.x&1