Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-09-18

stand upon firm basis They are needed
as the apex in that pyramid whose broad
and solid foundation is our system of ele-
mentary public schools, the hope of the
American peOple-a distinctively Ameri-
can institution, with which no foreign
power, whether political, social or relig-
ious, shall be allowed to tamper. Warm
applause. There are sound reasons in po-
litical science then, for the existence of an
institution such as the one whose anniver-
sary draws us together tonight.
But it seems needless and thankless to
argue for the right of High school to ex-
list when one sees how warmly the High
school is enshrned in the affections of
community like Brattleboro.
The work of the school seems to have
been as solid as were the mathematics Of
the boys who were prepared by Mr.. Bing-
ham, and all its associations to blend as
tremendously and as gracefully as the
names of the ladies, who sing in the quar-
tet, are blended in their unpronounceable
name. You do well to surrender your
selves willingly for this anniversary even
ing to affectionate memories of the past,
and to wise plans for the future of the
school.
The building Of character is the great
thing in education, my friends Boys and
girls may achieve character much earlier in
life than many persons think. Will power
may be developed, will power guided by
conscience and reason. Happy is he who
walks with that strong siding champion,
conscience" says Milton. And | have
known many a boy, who, hardly yet in his
teens, walked serenely with this strong
siding champion. already "happy war
rior," because he had said to duty, "In the
light of truth thy bondsman let me be-"
lis well said that zone is already of con-
sequence in the world, whatever his age,
when men have learned that he can be de-
pended on Judged by this standard,
have known many school boy and girl
who was deserving of respect as "Of con
sequence in the world
| reverence profoundly pure and man
ly boy. | have known boys at IL for whom
| have felt a respect as true as profound,
as | ever felt for man of 80. For such
boys had already achieved noble charac-
ter. And character gives splendOr to
youth and awe to wrinkled skin and gray
hairs"
Idealize your way of locking at the High
school. When these anniversaries come
round, let us know how noble are the pos
sibilities, how worthy is the actual work of
the institution YOU have among you here.
As citizens of Bratteboro you do well to
cherish and to develop still more fully an
institution where your sons and daughters
may be trained to noble living in their ear
liest social life. ITO form the habit Of do
ing the thing know ought to do, at the
time when know | ought to do it, wheth-
er | feel like doing it or not Huxley has
said is the object of an education. This
habit you want this school to foster. TO
do hard things heartily and with a swing is
a great lesson learned.
And as we think of the hopes of our
early youth tonight, my friends, we who
are older shall do well to purify our aims
in life by clear vision of the high hopes
of our youth. As we contrast our limited
achievements and our lowered standards
with the purposes of our earlier years,
when we look at our lives in an hour of
vision such as this, let us listen to the still,
small voice in which God says to each one
of us, Look that thou make it after the
pattern that was shown thee in the mount
in thy youth.