The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-06-13

Overture-"Siver Bell" SchlepegreI
Kate 8. Chafree, Starksboro.
Oration-The American Marathon,
Charles l.. Barstow, shelburn.
Essay-The Romance of Astronomy,
Edna A. Boardman, Middlebury,
Oraton-Charles Sumner,
arthur E. Cushman, Lincoln.
Selection-"Heart and Hand" Lecocq
Essay--Marston Moor,
Minnie Il. Doud New Haven.
Oraton-Bu. goyne's Invasion,
George 5. Eaton, Russell, Kan.
Essay-1 he Fate of Reformers,
Kate S. Chaflee, Starksboro.
waltz-"Fedora," Bucalossi
Essay-Reading as Means Of Culture.
Essay-Character Building,
Nellie X. Mason, New Haven.
Oration-N ihilism,
Essay-Treasures Hidden in Words,
Minnie f. Smith, Starksboro.
Observation-Disclosures BunStein
acknowledgements of the Consttution-with
Ernest ]. Mott San Francisco, Cal.
Presentation of diplomas.
"Boquet of Melodies" Cduder
Benedction.
Excused.
Mr.. Barstow considered Quebec the
American Marathon. There was drawn
up another army, in another period far
remote from Greece, arranging them
selves against every advantage. before
another plain to decide the destiny of an
other nation. The French. the most de-
bauched in morals, their politics the
loOsest and their religion the most cor
rupt, represent the overrunning hosts of
Darius. Against them, without even the
advantage of position. which was conced-
ed to the Athenians, came the English.
who, If they conquered, were to plant in
America their civilization, their laws and
their culture. AS the battle of Marathon
made Greece ever afterwards the mother
of the civilization of all Europe and with
it the institutions of republican Greece be-
gan to supercede the superstitons and fol-
lies of monarchial Asia, so at Quebec the
crumbling thrones and eflete systems of
the past appeared. but as the fleeing mist
before glorious dawn. and shy this con-
flict it was decided that the decaying in
sttutions of the middle ages should not
prevail in America, but that the powerful
language. just laws and priceless liber-
ties of the English race should be plant
ed forever in the vast domains of the new
world"
The Grafton was the best rhetorical eff
fort of the day.
Miss Boardman in her essay said,
There is as much romance in astronomy
as the stars are beautiful. Giants could
exist in the planetary system and use
their strength unimpeded, The romance
of planetary astronomy cannot be passed
by without abiding to the mysterious in
fiuence which the planets were supposed
to exist over the destinies of men. A
more astonishing sight would be present.
ed by the moon with its inhabitants
moving about in caravan-a necessity
on account of its slow rotation and thin
atmosphere. viii the time ever come
when nothing but a cold Mars will re-
main in the place of the sun: The COM
cts with their erratic movements; the
formation Of the system and the earth ::
the stars-each sun-all are included in
the romance and we can but eXclaim
truly there are more things in heaven
and earth than our philosophers dream
of"
Miss Doud's was historical essay and
was graphic description of the battle
when 1.-THE ardent Republican and the
proud royallst; the stern, reSolute Puri-
tan and the gay, careless Cavalier" faced
each other until 1.-THE sad dusk of evening
shrouds the fatal field. when no longer
friends and foes, but OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ers in death-lie drenched in each others
blood and the wind walls mournfully
their common requiem
Mr.. Eaton followed with well written
and delivered Grafton on Burgoyne's in
vasion. reviewing its progress until 1.-The
remnant of that vast force which had
started from the North with the eXpecta-
ton of completely overpowering the
Americans and sweeping into oblivion
every hope of freedom and independence,
in shame and disgrace marched out of
Ioi Il
This surrender, he said, gave new
life to the patriot cause and changed the
tide of feeling abroad. From this time
the sons of America, having broken the
scepter of the despot and freed them
selves from the yoke of bondage, set
about developing their fair land until now
the vast, rich and fertile land, which a
little more than century ago was held
In bondage by one of the small islands of
the sea, is the mightiest land upon the
globe" She has accomplished more in
two centuries and a half than Rome, who
boosted of having accomplished more
than other nation of her time, accom-
plished in ten.
Miss Chatfee said concerning 1.-The Fate
OF Reformers' that if the greatest bene-
factors of mankind are worthy of the
greatest love and gratitude; if the most
unselfish lives should be the most richly
recompensed; if he who gives all should
receive all, then surely those noble men
who have brought light out of darkness,
who have slain the Hydra of tyranny and
superstition, who have turned back the
sweeping tides of sin and wrong and lift
ed humanity Godward are worthy of and
have received all need of thanks, honor.
love and gratitude. The fate of different
political and religious refOrmers, many
of whom had lost their lives in their
work. was cited, showing that this had
not always been the case. In conclu-
sion, she said that although the reform
ers persisted and the strong hand of au-
thority covered their names with re-
proach, yet their work continued to flow
on in an under current. They made them
selves stepping-stones and their work
platform for succeeding, by which and
on which. men rise to higher things.
Their work, unrecognized by their fellow
men, is fully recognized by the Creator
The first essay of part second. by Miss
Cady, on Reading as Means of Gull