The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-06-19
NUMBER 25.

OI bub mountain anu ODIalne0 n nne view.
About half-past twelve a banquet of ex-
cellent merit, representing the combined
culinary talent Of the circle, was served and
enjoyed after which Mrs. II. N Cross in-
troduced the after-dinner speakers, who
presented and replied to toasts as follows:
bers," responded to by Mrs. Lang; Miss
Mary Fisk, "Our Guests" response from
Mrs. j. A. DeBoer, r. al; Mrs. John Peck,
" The Chautauqua Baby" response ade
by Mrs. Cross; Mrs. G. II. Shipman, fhe
Railroad" response made by Mrs. Rich
ardson. The toast "The Chautauqua
Circle " was answered with salute DIVA
ing handkerchiefs by the members present.
A temporary adjournment was then voted,
and the company scattered in search of
various pleasures. AT the station a large
number assembled to await the up.train on
which other guests were expected. While
there the ladies and their guests sang col
lege songs, old ballads and southern melo-
dies, and Mrs. Frank Pitkin was several
times obliged to repeat favorite song, TO
which she played her own accompaniment.
The train brought Mr.. Arthur Farwell and
the great fig cake which, in the hurry of
the early departure, had been forgotten.
AT half-past two p. NJ. the woods were re-
sought and the real exercises of the day
were begun at the stand The membership
roll was called by Mrs Denny and each
member, in her turn, arose and gave Sc
lected quotation from a Greek author.
circle, and was followed by the programme
of the day. The salutatory address was de-
livered by Mrs. e. NJ. Denny, who, after
cordially welcoming the members and guests
of the circle, went on to say: "Gentlemen
are not excluded from the association. The
circle is not joke, as some have supposed,
but represents four years of persistent study,
and properly ranks as an institution of
learning. 1t supplies the place Of a college;
is, in fact, home college. The members
lar1x, md OF, al u
jects of information and present their own
conclusions through channels calculated to
carry them into useful practice. Much joy
exists both in the acts of seeking and of
holding knowledge, and, in this society,
the search after truth is ennobled by its
being done in a perfectly voluntary and
united way. The circle serves as balance
between domestic and social duties. The
course includes the studies most desired
for general culture. The subjects of Greek
history, literature, mythology and ancient
Greek life, zoology, chemistry, together
with philanthropy and religious literature,
have been studied during the past year.
! Though much is forgotten, the general effect
is fruitful and source of pleasure" The
speaker concluded with a warm tribute to
the tireless, cheerful and successful labOrs
of the president, Mrs, Cummns, and with
extending an invitation to her audience to
join the circle. An admirable resume of
Stockton's " Ames Kilbright " was then
u
it seems, referred to " a materialzed spirit,
! called up at a private seance, and being
temporarily forgotten, under the material
iZing influence became flesh and blood. 1t
proves an impossible task to dematerialize
him and so man, drowned one hundred
two years ago, is left on their hands, and of
no use to them, since he is unable to recall
his spiritual existence. Kilbright in due
| time studies law, falls in love and is to be
married, but, through the formula of
| laarna1 10 atar ria1; cd
materalizes within the space of the three
hours before his marriage and finally per-
mitted to complete his natural life." "A
True Ghost Story" written by Mrs. Cross,
followed, and then Miss Helen Burpee gave
a selected reading. Miss Mary Northey sang
the ballad, Tit for Tat" She was accom-
panied on the banjo by Mrs Frank Pitkin,
and received hearty applause. Mrs. j. A.
DeBoer read an essay entitled Idea
Hunters" that being the name of the class.
1t put forth the thought that man is begin
ming to appreciate the demands of the mind
and soul, as well as those of the body, and
sustained the position by quotation from
mans history as man. A charmingly COM
posed sketch, quietly named "A Picnic "
was then presented by Miss Lou Boyce.
The gods and goddesses of high Olympus
were the personages, each appropriately
characterized with his or her ideal function
in most feicitous manner. They go forth
to enjoy banquet in a truly modern way,
"
ally, to all appearances, overturns a cup of
nectar upon the robe of stately Juno. Mi
nerva screams so loudly that Father zeus is
obliged to solemnly reprove her for acting
too much like mortal" This paper was
deservedly received with much appreciation.
| Mrs. Mary L. Cummns read the valedictory
essay, and was listened TO with great atten-
ton. The subject was Dreams" She
clearly contrasted the slight value attached
to dreams to-day with the exalted place
which they had in ancient theosophy, when
the word of the Lord often came to men in
their dreams and visions, as both Old and
| New Testament writings abundantly show.
| Like the dream, our life, for the greater part,
is unreal and visionary, and our conceptions
of truth most imperfect. The experiences
of Robert Louis Stevenson and Agassiz. as
recalled by themselves, were cited TO dem
onstrate the suggestive and helpful effects
of dreams, and the speaker also quoted from
her own experience by relating in rhyme
a dream she had dreamed and utilized.
| When she came to the final words to he
| spoken to the class she contrasted the
unrealites of the dream and the uncertain
| things of life with the real work demanded
! of us all. She thanked the class for its
! sympathy and support during the past year
and closed with this sentiment " May all
past, present and future members of this
| circle of Idea Hunters be satisfied with no
knowledge which does not enter into their
| hearts, their lives, their characters, and be-
come part of themselves for that is the only
way in which we can become truly educated
women" The Chautauqua song, words by
Mrs. n. X. Shipman, was then sung, and thus
closed another pleasant and memorable grad
uating exercise of the Chautauqua Literary
] nd Sain 40 rirn1a