The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-07-01
tooNTfrUKD FROM FIRST PAaRl

of last week. 1t was pleasant but informal
wedding and was attended by large
number of Miss Bixby's friends and &C
quaintances. Miss Bixby is a young lady
OF great worth and many amiable qualities.
She has made many devoted friends during
her stay in Montpelier, and they all wish
her the best of life's blessings.
The opportunity offered by the Central
Vermont railroad on Friday to visit Ausable
Chasm, was improved by a large number
of pleasure-lovers. Tickets were sold at all
stations between Barre and Williston for
$3.50 for round trip. About four hundred
twenty-five in all were sold and nine cars
left Montpelier The Barre Band accom-
panied the excursionists, frequently dis
pensing music, to the delight Of all. The
weather could not have been better If made
for the occasion, and all seem to have en-
joyed the trip hugely.
THE concert at Burlington complimentary
to II. L. Walker, teacher of music in Bur-
lington and Montpelier, will occur on Thurs
day evening of this week. 1t is given under
the auspices Of the leading citizens of Bur-
lington, and the best musical talent in this
part of the state will participate. f. w.
Bancroft was in Burlington on Saturday to
assist in making arrangements. Many of
Mr.. Walkers friends in Montpelier will
probably attend. The prices for tickets
have been fixed at fifty cents for adults aud
twenty-five cents for school children.
THE closing exercises OF st. Michael's
School were given in the Opera-house on
Saturday evening before large and highly
interested audience. The programme, con-
sisting of twenty-five parts, offered variety
and held the attention of the audience to
the last. Solos and choruses, entitled An
gels lament" given by sixty-three girls,
the d" Marching Song" by thirty boys, and
calisthenics, with dumb bells, by thirty
girls, were special features. A recitation,
!" The Gray Swan,' by William Fisher, and
discours, " Combat de Phomme celebre,"
by John Mcmahon, were we'll delivered and
warmly applauded. The whole programme
was excellently rendered, and spoke well
for the training at st. MichaePs.
THE close of the years work at the Wash
ington County Grammar and Union schools,
last week, was marked by two events of
much interest to the scholars their parents
and the other friends of the school. One
was the reception in the school hall on
Thursday evening, when large number of
the scholars and many older persons were
present, and an exceedingly pleasant even
ing was passed socially. The Montpelier
Military Band played almost continuously
while the boys and girls promenaded,
talked, laughed and ran about to their
hearts content. The reception was pleas
ing and proper way of marking the end OF
the school year. On Friday evening the
regular graduating exercises were held in
the Opera-house, beginning at eight o'clock.
The upper classes were seated ON the stage,
and very pretty sight they made. At the
corners of the stage were large masses of
ferns, with a variety OF flowers. The hall
was completely filed, and the cool weather,
so unusual at these exercises, made it pos
sible to listen to the programme with entire
comfort. The exercises opened with an
orchestral selection followed by prayer by
Rev. A. j. Hough. Then trombone solo
was given by o. NJ. Marshall, and it was so
| al
to repeat it. The first recitation announced
by the principal, Mr.. Wheeler, was by Miss
Bessie Farwell, who gave Whittier's Mary
Garvin." Then the school, under the leader
ship OF Mr.. Walker, teacher of music, sang
Italia,' with very pleasing effect. The
next number was an Grafton on The
Pleasures of Memory" by Harry G. Shurt-
left. The central idea of the Grafton was
that nations and individuals that have
passed successfully through dangers and
difficulties remember those dangers and
difficulties with the keenest satisfaction in
after years. The thought was elaborated
and illustrated in a variety of ways, and a
more logical arrangement was maintained
than is usually seen in high-school orations
| The style OF the composition also was strong
and graceful, and the delivery was earnestin
manner and clear in enunciation. The
speaker was warmly applauded as he left
the stage. Miss Laura K. Smith recited A
Second Trial i" in very finished and natural
manner, and impressed the scene of her
selection upon the audience with great
vividness. The school sang 1.-THE Wood
| thrush" which was followed by declama-
ton, " Toussaint L'Overture," by William
S. Smith. Then came recitation, "Inas.
much" by Miss Maud l.. Shurtleff, and the
orchestra followed with Strauss " Russian
March" Miss Mabel L. Goodwin read an
essay on "What "a Few Women Have
Done" In very sympathetic way she
told of the lfe-work of some of the women
whose names have become famous. After
another selection by the orchestra, Mr., j
! A. DeBoer gave a short address to the schol
ars. Mr.. DeBoer spoke of the possibilities
of brain. cul ure and illustrated the value OF
studies which appear in schoOl-days to
| have little or no value. The little things Of
of school-lfe sometimes grow into great
achievements. Mr.. DeBoer spoke very en-
tertainingly and closed by offering his con.
| CALCULATIONS to the boys and girls of the
school on their opportunities and success
| Colonel j. H. Lucia next presented diplo
mas to Miss Goodwin and Mr.. Shurtleff
who graduated from the Grammar School
and certificates to those who were promoted
from the Union to the Grammar School
! He prefaced the presentation with remarks
to parents, in which he suggested that they
visit the schools more frequently and dis
courage absence as much as possible. The
st. Cecilia Club of girls gave the closing
selection of music, Twilight" and the
benedction was pronounced by Rev A. j
Hough. The exercises passed off very
pleasantly and were credit to all who
/ partinipatp1