St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-06-25
ST. Johnsbury Academy.
COMMENCEMENT Exercises Last Week.

st. Johnsbury Academy.
Commencement Exercises Last Week.
} The commencement concert was CIV
, en- at Music hall Thursday evening by
BlaisdelPs orchestra, assisted 10y Ed
ward X. Hood of Boston, elOcutiOnist
The concert was attended by a fairly
the performance, which consisted of
the program published last week,
heightened by several encores given
Mr.. Hood.
Friday proved to he a beautiful day
for the commencement exercises, which
began at $50 a. III. and continued till Il
little after noon. Academy hall was
crowded and numbers were obliged to
stand. The trustees and teachers oc-
cupied seats on the platform. Above
the stage, in letters of white flowers
on green background, was suspend
ed the class motto, cage quod agis"
which means literally, "Do what You
do" or more freely translated, cat
tend to what yOu are about" The
music, with which the exercises were
interspersed, was given by BlaisdeIl's
orchestra. The opening prayer was
offered by Rev. j. w. IL. Baker of
Pennington Falls, Me-, father of one
of the graduates. The oratiOns and
essays by members of the senior class
were given according to the program
printed in cur last issue, and possessed
IA high average of merit and interest.
Everything passed off with entire
smOOthness. One praisewOrthy feature
of the exercises was the pains taken by
the participants to speak loudly and
distinctly, the result being that with
but single exception, all were easily
heard-a condition of affairs just the
opposite of what is met with in many
schools on graduation day. 1t was Il
very interesting spectacle as the 80
graduates marched upon the platform
to receive their diplomas, keepin
step to the music of the orchestra. Be-
fore receiving them they were address
ed on behalf of the trustees by Rev.
Homer #. Fuller of Worcester, Mass,
former principal of the academy.
Mr.. Fuller began with words of con-
graduation. Speaking from cOnsid-
cradle experience, he said that he
knew of no place in our own or other
lands where the same expenditure of
|
suits, aud in future may be expected
to yield further fruit, as the henetac-
tons of those who have given to this
institution. He especially cOngratu-
lated them on the thorough work they
: had been induced and obliged to do
here, and the opportunities for culture
of the body, mind and heart. He al
so emphasized the value of the decid-
eddy Christian influence of the acade-
my. Finally the speaker referred to
. the class motto as indicating their
purpose to do what they do well. 1t
, has been grandly said that in this
world only God and the angels may be
spectators. We must be workers.
"Do what you do" without fault-find-
ing do it for others. not yourselves
, simply do it on principle -because it
is the right thing to do.
The graduates then marched around
;, the stage and each one received their
diploma from the hand of the veneer
able benefactor of the academy and
=, president of its trustees, Sir Thaddeus
Fairbanks, who sat at the left of the
o platform as they passed him. The ben
, ediction was pronounced by Rev. Mr..
Blakely.
! The alumni association held IA pleas
ant meeting at 2.30 p. M, w. p. Stat
ford, Esq, of the class of 80, presiding.
al Introductory speech, and represen-
> tatives of different classes were called
" upon for remarks, most of the speakers
INDUCING in goOd-natured glorifica-
= tioU of their own classes. The speak
. ers included Lovelaud of '62, Human
: of 80, Robinson of 70, Rev. j. w. III.
Baker of 81, E. l.. HOvey of go, Rev.
Mr.. Morse of Glover, and finally II. }.
y Kemp, class president of '55. A letter
WAS read from Maj. Edward ID. Red
dington of 81. Principal Putney paid
an appreciative tribute to the memory
of Rev. George A. Dutton of the class
:, of 10, whose recent death i'm Mexico
was noticed in these columns last
" week. The following officers were
: chosen for the coming year President
: II. c. Ide vice president, w. z. Stat
ford secretary, Mrs. E. A. Walker
executive committee, Rev. f. +. Fair
= banks, chairman, Mrs. A. E. Rankin
= John Keyes, Miss Edna Stuart, Miss
Julia Ross.
The class of 'S5 seeks to perpetuate
its memory, not by tree or granite
boulder on the school grounds, but 10y
e two vines which are planted Sin beau
y ty side by side" near the north ell
ID trance of the academy building. Til.
IT class exercises were held IN the acad
j.. my yard Friday at 30 p. ~, and Were
=; quite interesting. Frank l.. Knight o
IA Waterbury gave an eloquent class ora
s ton, Alice g. Churchill of Lyme, n
m H., confessed the shortcomings of til,
1t class, Josie n. Kingsley of Alburgl
at Centre foretold the coming fortunes o
II her classmates, aud the exercises q
"A cOm,nenpement dav closed hv fIte SING