St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-06-22
COMMENCEMENT DAYS.
Closing Exercises of the st. Johnsbury
Academy Year.


Academy Year.
The exercises in connection with the
closing of the years work at the st.
.Johnsbury. Academy began on Sunday
evening, with a sermon before the grad
uating class by Rev. Edward T. Fair
banks at the South church. The plat
form was very handsomely decorated in
honor of the occasion. Aside from
profusion OF ferns, palms, and Towering
plants, the immediate front of the desk
was banked with evergreen, and on this
appeared the figures "'93" in white.
Members OF the class, to the number of
49, occupied seats in the body of the
church directly in front of the platform.
Rev. c. NJ. Lamson assisted in the SER
vices, anil the choir sang two anthems.
The pastor based his sermon on the
words found in the second chapter of
Job-"There was a day when the sons
of God came to present themselves before
the Lord" and he drew directly from
Scripture, using many quotations to em-
phasize the points he made. The Bible
idea of purpose was strongly brought
out, the urgent demand Tor consecrated
abilities, for loyalty to principle and un-
selfish devotion to the work which God
desires to have done. In his concluding
remarks to the class, Mr. Fairbanks, by
quoting Bible language laid special
stress upon the significance of this pre-
sentation before the Lord, and set forth
the promises which God makes to those
who come up to do his work.
The Prize Speaking
This annual feature of commencement
week called out large number of peo-
pie who are interested in this elocution-
AIRY contest and enjoy seeing and hear
ing what the Middlers and Juniors can
accomplish in the way of defamation
and recitation. The work of the speak
ers on this occasion was Of high order,
taking the programme through, and
showed the effects of careful drill by
Prof. Chapman and promising amount
of talent on the part of the pupils.
The Power. of Human Sympathy"
was presented in good voice and with
spirit by Charles Edward Lamson; the
sad story of "The Polish Boy was dra
rnaticaly and effectively told by Miss
Fanny Ide; Mad Anthonys Charge"
and heroism was rehearsed earnestly by
Wellington H. Tinker; Miss Margaret
Merrill recitcd with due regard to the
spirit Of her theme the story Of Sister
:, and |; y Hedley P. Patey was vigorous
and full of dramatic effect in "Claudus
and Cynthia" and painted the picture
well; the piece OF strategy by which a
crew of girls with the Atlanta won
'The Boat Race" was spirtedy related
by Miss Mabel L. Brock vivid word
picture of the Battle of Gettysburg"
; was drawn by Charles E. Bagley, who
threw himself finely into the work; the
tender selection Sent Back by the
Angels, was capitally interpreted by
Miss Annie H. Ide; Our Times not De-
generate" was the theme on which John
r. Whitney spoke with a commendable
degree of attention to tone and ges-
, ture; Miss Anna McLam's interpreta-
| tion of Genius Triumphant" was nicely
! done and closely listened to "The Fire
mans Prayer" involving tale of hero
ism was given in good style by Willard
b. Nelson; that familiar scene in the
, study of Murillo, THE Painter of
Seville, was portrayed in pleasing
; manner by Miss Adde NJ. Ranney.
During the evening B, Frank Harris
gave piano solo, "Mazurka Caprice !"
Miss Goodwin sang "rhe Angel Sere-
made, with violin accompaniment ; and
N. R. Young played violin solo, a
Fantasia from Ii Trovatore. Prot.
= Chapman also entertained the company
while waiting for the awards by reading
( Medley.
, The committee-Principal Ranger of
Lyndon, Rev. Costello Weston and C.
T. Waters-reported as follows: First
prize to young ladies, Miss Merrill sec
ond, Miss McLam; first prize to young
gentlemen, Chas. E. Bagley; second,
Willard B. Nelson; honorable mention to
Miss Mabel l.. Brock.
: In addition to the first and second
prizes above mentioned, which were ten
: and five dollars, respectively, F. o. Clark
also gave desirable books to the takers
OF the first and second prizes, besides
similar gifts to the two speakers receiv-
inu hnnnrn hle ,,,ant;n.,