Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-26
BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.
Graduating Exercises in the Howard Opera
IIOusp,

Graduating Exercises in the Howard Opera
House.
The annual exercises of the graduating
class of the High school were held in the
Howard Opera house, last Friday,
Although admission to the hall was by
ticket of invitation only, the house was
crowded at an early hour, many taking
seats in the gallery after the main au
dience room was completely filled. The
audience, as usual, was mainly composed
of ladies. On the stage were Principal
Landon, superintendent Wheeler and
members of the school board, Mayor
Woodbury., the president of the college
and members of the faculty, representa-
tives of the clergy, prominent citizens and
invited guests from other towns Excel
lent music for the occasion was furnished
by the Howard Opera house orchestra.
The exercises began promptly at two
O'Clock and were about two hours and Il
half in length. In spite of the long list of
speakers the audience paid the closest
attention to each, and testified it's interest
and appreciation by warm applause.
Nearly every speaker received handsome
floral tributes. The speakers all showed,
we think, remarkable degree of maturity
and carefulness of preparation in their
productions, and-as was remarked by IL
prominent educator present-the average
I
that of most High school exhibitions. We
have remarked IL growth i'll the dignity
and appropriateness of the graduating
exercises of our High school within the
past few years, and yesterdays exercises
were no exception to this gratifying ten
dency The honOrs were quite equally
divided between the young lady and gen
tlemen speakers, for while the former
had exceptionally graceful and well writ
ten essays, the young gentlemen, asa rule,
handled their subjects with II thoughtful
ness and practical power which won the
attention of the audience from the first.
The first speaker, Mr. Ward b. Dodds,
gave Il practical study of the power of
observation, and its advantage both for
the enjoyment and the achievement of the
best things of life Miss Ella NJ. Stacy
described the boyhood of some represen-
tatiVe men whom the world delights to
honor, and showed how their success in
manhood depended upon the habits of
studiOusneSS and fidelity to purpose eS-
tablished in youth. Mr. Ernest r. Flet-
cher quite captured his audience by hiseX-
ceedingly appropriate and well-written
Grafton on the character of Lafayette. y
HIS allusion to the statue of Lafayette in
this city, and also to its donor, Mr.
John p. Howard, was in excellent
taste, and was very cordially
received by the audience. "The Monu-
ments of Antquity'' was an instructive
and pleasant essay on the ARCHITECTURAL re-
mains of the principal nations of the
world, by Miss Nellie o. Dole. Mr.. Will
liam \, Weller showed in an able Grafton
how the war policy of England has always
been inspired by greed of territory. In
anglo maniacs' Miss Harriet +. Mills ap-
piled some scathing and yet witty and
well-timed criticism to the dude element
in American society. Miss Grace Farms
worth showed the value of public libraries
/ as an educational and moral force in our
communities and Mr., Allen b. Nichols
applied the lessons of practical and natur-
al economy to intellectual, national and
social lite. The Grafton on public Opin-
ion by Mr.. John +. Allen was a strong,
well-reasoned and wellwritten produc-
ton, showing both thought and judgment
in its preparation. One of the best speak
erS OF the afternoon was Miss Josephine
NJ, Arcand, who delivered Il spirited and
thoroughly original essay on Enthusiasm
lis Vital Force Her voice and
delivery were the best we have heard
from a young lady on the stage in a
long time, and the "enthuslasm' with
which she entered into her subject was
contagious and brought down the house.
The next speaker, Miss Bessie NJ Hood,
showed how natural and true to lite and
history the women of Shakespeare are
an interesting and thoughtful essay, well
delivered. Edward 5. Frary described
how The Spade and the disposition to
use it has entered into all Investigation
whether in the natural or intellectual
world. The closing essay, "The Modern
Turk, by Miss Anna l.. Dyke was we'll
written description of the degraded con
ditlon of social lite among the Turks, and
Il plea Tor education as the only means OF
raising woman to her proper station in
life. Music by the orchestra was in.
terspersed throughout the programme
After the speaking, the class, numbering
thirty, marched upon the stage and re
ceived their diplomas at the hands of Su
perintendent Wheeler. Among the flora
decorations on the stage was a beautiful
star bearing the class year, a Tyre, and 4
magnificent basket of roses. A class ode
was written for the occasion by Mr.. sam
uel u. Ayers OF the graduating class