Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-06-24

| closed with a song by Mr.. Miller, with
cornet obligato by Miss Miller.
The exercises throughout were of much
excellence, and the bearing of the young
men and women composing the class was
dignited and graceful, their productions
well written and delivered naturally and
with ease. Miss Sawyer and her assistants
may look upon the first class day of the
North street school with iustiiiable pride,
and congratulations both to themselves and
their pupils.
On Tuesday evening friends of the
school gathered at the Unitarian church,
where a brilliant address to the class of
graduates was delivered by Prof. j. III.
Sawyer of Williston seminary, Easthamp-
ton Mass, on Enthusiasm" In a gen
eral way the line of thought followed was
this:
TO many as they reach mature years comes the
thought Il wish were young once more Their
WISH Is not To be placed again in the ignorance
and ineXperience Of their younger days. but to be
again filled with the hopes and enthusiasm which
then inspired them, while they might still keep
the wisdom brought by years of experience to
nave the young heart along with the old head
Men are criticised for being noyish but there is
something in the boy which we cannot sDar,,-the
enthusiasm which is his. Enthusiasm and its i'm
portance as factor in ones life work was consid-
cred aud its extent and limitations shown by H.
itoldIlOnh. EntnuSlaSln IN the medical art has
raised 1t TO noble height, and by enthusiasm the
drudgery of nursing has been dignihed to a pro
'sslon: The carnage of war is dreadful, but war
through the enthusiasm Of lofty patriotism, is
made glorious, not because of its horrors, but in
spite Of them. The Christian teacher among ne
groes or Indians is sustained by something beside
charity or faith, and that is Christian enthusiasm
ne duties of life, from the humdnnn round Of
dally duties To the great actions Of fes work are
more easily performed by due admixture of ro-
nance and reality. Reality takes the rough
straight path to the end to be attained, while ro-
nance points out the beauties of the way. Among
the sources of enthusiasm the chief should be re-
hgloh Life as state of moral probation is filled
with sublime opportunities and responsibilities
winch are weighty and imperative. The Divine
mas recognized the dignity Of human nature since
ms INFINITE power could have forced us to do his
VIII, but instead gives us the chance to choose
Al the basis OF character lies intellectual power
As mas been said on similar occasions to this when
a young person goes into the world and lets 20
TINS enthusiasm for knowledge and the search for
us riches ne loses the man in him A man is
less politician and much more "A statesman il he
COZ tihutS his devotion to letters, and many exam
pies are given Of those who thrown into the
world To labor have pursued knowledge in leisir,
moments ana won fame by il. Among those who
have attained fame as authors. the authorship
mas been often the overflow of intellectual enthu-
slaSin, inspiration having been found in their life
work And if this is So, what hiuders OF he RS from
getting II. If not for the making Of books at
lrast Tor tn" knowing them. Thus in moral
rtlEpus and intellectual realms is found lif.'s re-
lH'Snhent. \ man should bee enthusiastic in
Whatever honest calling he has chosen. The en-
thuSlasu sustained 10y moral nature is most wur-
thy ami It viii be- seen IN prompt performance Of
every duty.
Rev Mr.. Merriam in addressing the class
10 whom he was to present diplomas, after
some pleasantly in regard to the reasons
why he had been chosen for the honor,
spoke OF the delights which he, in common
with the many friends of the school pres
cnt, had in honOring the principal whose
helpful influence had been working quietly
in our midst for i or more wears. This
hrst class to come forwardfor public gradu-
alton is the visible but late Towering of
an influence whose strength is not yet fully
recognized. While he was warmly loyal to
the public school, he felt that there was
room and large room for schools like these
for each system stimulates and supple
ments the other Another warm tribute
to Miss Sawyer and her assistants was
given and the class was addressed i'm help
tul and encouraging words, and then the
diplomas were presented, and the gradu-
ates marched down the aisle and returned
to school. The service was an exceedingly
interesting one. From the church all re-
paired to the school quarters on North
street. The grounds were lighted with
japanese lanterns. In the parlors Miss
Sawyer and the graduates received the CON
gratulations of friends, some 300 or more
being in attendance. Refreshments of ice
cream and cake were served on the lawn
and in the parlors, and later the orchestra
furnished music for dancing. This closed
successfully the first public exercises con
nected with an institution which has made
for itself place among those which the
town values and takes justiiable pride in,
and similar exercises in succeeding wears
will be looked forward to with interest by
an increasing number of our people.