The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-06-23

sewer pipe cue, may DC aUCenueu 10.
j. H. KELso, Village Clerk.
THE GRADED SCHOOL COMMENCE
MENT.
From the programmes published in
full in the BANNER of last week, the
reader has obtained pretty accurate
idea of the exercises of the Commence
ment of 1893. The excessive heat of
Tuesday and Wednesday initiated
against as large an attendance as other
wise would have greeted the pupils in
their especially finely prepared pro-
grammes, while ON Thursday afternoon
the rain kept many at home. Notwith-
standing these facts, however, all the
exercises previous to last evening passed
off successfully, while it was left to the
graduating class to meet crowded
house. Last evening the seats were full,
likewise the windows, doors and halls.
Taken as a whole the Commencement of
1893 surpasses any that have preceded
the long line of successful and notable
occasions in the history of this educa-
tional institution. We say this with the
qualification that there were more of
the exercises of Commencement week,
than on many previous occasions, there
was greater variety calling into play a
larger diversity of talent, and the per-
| sonnel of the class of '93 was of a very
high order.
The full order of last evening was car
ried out. The High school orchestra
discoursed excellent music. This of
itself is highly complimentary to the
students of historic Bennington. We
think that the satisfaction which showed
upon the face of Prof. Downs was per-
missable under the circumstances, for it
is not every school that can reproduce
the music of last evening from within
| its own ranks.
The appearance of the graduating class
was greatly in its favor. All were
dressed in good taste and bore them
selves gracefully, All but the Valedic-
torian carried their essays in hand, but
none looked at their notes. There was
not an instance of prompting in the ora
tions or glancing at the manuscript by
the essayists, from beginning to close.
We regard this as somewhat remarkable
as we'll as commendabe The manner
of delivery has been highly compliment
ed to-day by many who were present A
gentleman, formerly resident here, now
visitor, says emphatically that it was
the finest school exhibition he ever saw
|
of the correct pronunciation of the class
as a whole, the gestures and general ap-
pearance. There is no doubt but that
where all did so well, the orator of the
class was Mr.. Farnham.
The exercises we're opened with prayer
by the Rev. Mr.. Marten. On the stage
were seated the faculty, the class, the
trustees and the clergy. When the exer-
cses closed the stage had become
transformed into bower of flowers.
There was an immense collection of
flowers, and some of the graduates re-
ceived packages and sealed envelopes as
well. The class numbered eight and
had parts as follows: Essayists, Misses
Mary Eadie Temple, Ellen Josephine
Moore, Marion Diadema Clark Excused
from reading because of ill HEALTHY, Flora
Flecta Ball, Jessie Philena Smith, Hattie
Edison Wilcox Orations, Leland LeGrand
Fillmore, Charles Towns Farnham.
Miss Temple gave the salutatory and
Miss Ball was the valedictorian. We
were particularly pleased with the talent
displayed in the essays and orations.
These graduates have learned to think,
and this specimen of their literary abil-
ity is excellent proof of it,
Following the valedictory came the
awards of prizes and honor medals.
Miss Ball was awarded the graduate
prize in mathematics, and George Par
fridge took the undergraduate mathe-
NAUTICAL prize. Then followed the
honors: number two, first honor, Mabel
Newton; I2nd honor, Mary Toomey.
Number two, first honor, Hildred Hart;
second honor, Hope Graves. Number
three, first honor, Lena Ineson; second
honor, Dora Camp. Number four, first
honor, Lou r. Frost; second honor, Lucy
Haynes. Number five, first honor, Ben
nett Thrasher; second honor, Lynn
| HAYNES. Number six, first honor,
Charles Austin; second honor, Cecil
Powers. Number seven, first honor,
Rose Murray; second honor, John Pow
ers. Number eight, first honor, Grace
Sibley; second honor, Edith Walbridge.
Number nine, first honor, Elizabeth
WEIGH; second honor, Arthur William
son. Number ten, first honor, John
Fay; second honor, Minnie Frazer.
Number eleven, first honor, Adele
Pratt; second honor, Louise Thatcher.
In schools one to eight inclusive, only
one medal is awarded in each room, but
we give here in each case the name OF
the pupil who stood next to the winner.
Prof. Davis took occasion TO speak in
very complimentary Terms Vi 'he SonoOls
under his charge and briefly outlined
some of the work performed by the pu-
pills emitting them to the honors.
Col. E. d. Bennett, president of the
Board of Trustees, presented the di-
plOmas, after which, following the bene-
diction by Rev. A. D. Heaxt, the large
audience dispersed and the class re.
ceived the congratulations of its friends.
Col Bennett said: The duty which de.
wolves upon me tonight is one of which
l consider privilege and pleasure. A
privilege, because it is an honor to any
citizen of this school district to stand as
the medium through which passes this