News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-01-24
The Normal School.
REPORT OF THE CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT JOHNSON, JAN.

REPORT OF THE CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT JOHNSON, JAN.
1877, 1889.
Those people, if such still exist, who persist
in thinking and saying that Normal schoo
is mo good" ought to be privileged to at
tend the closing exercises, from the Baccalau
reate sermon on Sunday clear through the
band concert on Thursday evening, to see
that the school is doing good work for its
pupils, morally, intellectually, and socially
The examinations, both written and oral, are
said to have reflected great credit on the
graduating class. None of the twelve were
expected to fail, and none did fail.
On Wednesday evening large audience
crowded Normal hall to hear the speaking by
the B class. To the inspiring music of the
band, the ten young ladies and three young
men who composed the class marched in and
took their seats on the stage at the back oil
which, in letters of gold on a white ground
appeared their class motto, eve will win with
help from on high" William A. Atwell OF
johnson, opened the speaking by declama-
ton, Glove of Country" a theme which can
never grow old. Clara E. Stiles of Fairfax
told what happens ''When The House is Alone
by ITSELF and all nervous people can testify
that it was true as preaching" Next Miss
Daggett sang Longfellows beautiful 'FThe
Day is Done" and the poem lost none of its
beauty in the singing. Estella E. Balch OF
johnson, recited "The Miller of Dee" an ex-
cellent lesson for people who NEEDLE in other
peoples affairs, and thereby come to grief
C.. Lillian Beals of East Hardwick, gave
1.-The Overflow of Great River, 1877" a
touching episode from real life. Misses Allen
and Goodrich next favored the audience with
piano duet in a manner which showed both
good proficiency in music and painstaking
practice. Eta l.. Stowe of Milton, told 'The
Minister'S Grievances" and the familiar
names brought in sufficed ''to bring down the
house" Kate Teller of Westford gave an
excellent temperance lecture in "a Bridal
Wine-cup." Edison NJ. Stevens of Eden Mills
very well rendered ''The Gridiron," a bootless
endeavor of q shipwrecked Irishman to Dor
row a gridiron of a polite Frenchman. The
class next sang a college song, 1.-THE Fisher
man." Julia E. Ferry of Cambridge recited
''Money Musk, a memory of old-time husk-
ing frolics. Bertha r. Daggett of Newport,
rendered in a mastery manner ''The Bells of
Lynn, a difficult piece finely intoned. Achsa
L. Allen of North Hyde Park gave, 1.-THE
Sinner and the Waits touching appeal to
the benevolence which should be found in every
human heart. Elva S. Farman of Westfeld,
recited the longest piece of the evening Mary,
Queen of Scots" so clearly and forcibly
spoken as to hold the undivided attention
of the house Ada l.. Goodrich of West Berk-
shire gave TennysGn's The Brook, pleas
ing mixture of recitation and sweet song,
which must have required long and unwearied
practice.
The exercises closed with "Aunt Jemima's
OOurUSnlp DF CldPd l.. lllley OF I Hlf1d&, a
humorous story too funny for anything"
Where all did so well, comparisons would be
out of place. The dramatic and evolutionary
power shown in the various pieces indicated
that painstaking drill had been bestowed on
them and to good effect. Almost without
exception the pieces were thoroughly COM
mitted and given in distinct tones. These
young people and the teachers who drilled
them deserve warm words of praise,
Thursday afternoon the hall was again
filed to listen to the graduation exercises,
After prayer by Rev. Mr.. Smith and music by
the band, Grant Fancher of Johnson gave us
pleasant Words of Welcome" His closing
words, We are sure you will bid US Godspeed
on our way" could but find an echo in the
hearts all through that crowded house. Clara
E. Benton of Enosburgh gave us an essay on
9 Memory" Many wonderful instances of it
were given. Memory might be better deYelr
Oped if pencil and paper were not SO conven-
lent. The secret of a strong memory is the
habit of using our minds intelligently. And,
since nothing written on memOrys walls can
be entirely etfaced, we should be careful to
only place there pictures of the good, the true
and the beautiful Mary A Lewis of Hard
wick, essay, "Our Life-Work." Most of the
members of this class have chosen teaching
for their life7work. il is universally conceded
that those succeed best in any work, whatever
it be, who attach the greatest Importance to
il. Our schoOl-days at johnson while we
pleasant and we trust profitable 90 US. Life
s but titting-school and death should be
he grandeSt commencement a human soul
AN realize, Our Class Motto by Nida E. |
Ieorge OF Stowe, spoken entirely from men,
Try, with no paper in hand. Life has often |
,een compared to voyage. If it is worth |
While to take this voyage at all, it is best to |
make it as much of a success as possible. If |
re study the lives of those who have made the |
reatest success, we shall find that they never
rifted with the tide. We can never stand |
till in this voyage; unless we are rowing I'D
re shall be drifting down. Defamation by |
,dward A. Heath of Johnson, " European
truggles for Freedom" An appropriate sub
ct IN these days of socialists and anarchists
Essay, Queen Elizabeth" by Alma E. Per-
ms of OhnsOn. A clear concise history in a |
W words of the noted queen and her times.
! reviewing her life and its ingloriOus end we
re again reminded that "The paths of glory
ad but to the grave" Next followed a
Hunting Song y finely rendered by the school
ssay, 1.-The Mountain of Knowledge" by
iorence E. GILES of Barton Landing, who
as taken the coursein three terms. As when
caring the top long before we are there, so in
imbing the mountain of knowledge the
gher we climb the more heights we shall see
7yond. The element of decision is one which
yery person must possess who expects to
imb to any desirable height The best guide
ook in climbing this mountain is the Bible,
Grafton, "The Country Bow" by Melville
Maurice of Cambridge. Most of the great
EN- of our nation were once country boys.
every walk of life the country boy is always .
und at the top. Washington, Webster, Lin
lin, SAKE, Whittier, Burritt, Garfield, and
lrly country life cOnspired to make them the
'eat men they afterwards became. GLASS
istory," by Mary L. Wheeler of Fairfax.
wen of the class were teachers before coming c
IRE; but, being dissatisfied with their work ,
me here to be better fitted. The class rep
sents five counties and eight towns. Politi- t
i preferences, nine Republicans, three Demo- ,
ats and one Prohibitionist.
Essay, Clouds, by Minerva A. Gordon of S
)uth Hero, spoken from memory. Few f
rthly scenes would long attract US were
ey deprived of the shadow and variety of
e beautiful clouds. The clouds that some
mes seem to overshadow our lives are only I
essings in disguise. The silver lining event
lily comes in sight Naledictory by Lillian
Beecher of Johnson. The giant trees of q
llifOrnia were once mere sapplngs-so small T
at child could uproot them. Patient, :
eady growth through the centuries has 1
ade them what they are. The positions
Id to-day by the most prominent men and
omen of our land were not attained without [;
ng-continued and patient efforts. At the t
Dse are a few cordial words to the fellow /
ldents, grateful ones to the teachers, and s
nder ones to the graduating class.
After parting song by the class, our new s.
ate Superintendent, Edwin W. Palmer of L
gave US few earnest words on
e subject of right education. Prof. Camp I
Il then presented the graduates certificates s;
tn a few well-chosen words and the audi y
ce was dismissed with the benedction.
l.
THE CALENDAR CRoP.-At this sea- =
N of the year the calendar harvest t.
at its height. From time immemo- Is
al calendars have been considered m
indispensable article, but if our ..
andfathers could see the produc- N
ms in this line in these later DAYS q
cir establishment would be indie hi
ribable. The calendar issued by
. W. Aver & Son, newspaper adj
rtisiDg agents. Philadelphia, is an
cellent one and each succeeding .
ar brings an increasing demand for r
Combining beauty of color and n
ish, it is also so plain that the va ST
,us dates can be read with comfort. s.
II counting house or home it has not IL
en- surpassed, if equaled. On re- Il