The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-06-06
Graduating Chautauquans.
Eleventh Commencement of the Idea
Hunters-Exercises Held in the Unitarian
yestry at Montpelier-A Fine Programme,
Followed by n Banquet.

L
Followed by n Banquet.
Rainy weather last Friday morning COM
PEELED the members of the Chautauqua Lit
erary and Scientific Circle to abandon their
intended picnic at East Calais, where the
graduating exercises of their eleventh ami
versary were to have been held in Memo
rial Hail. In the presence of nearly every
member of the class and quite large num-
Der of invited guests, the programme was
carried out that afternoon in the vestry of
the Church of the Messiah. Did space per-
NIT us to publish every one of the bright
essays and articles that went to make up
the enjoyable exercises, graduating classes
from every institution in the state would be
convinced that they must look well to their
laurels.
The course of study for the class of '94 in
cluded history, literature, politics and art,
and there were two graduates-Mrs. Clark
King and Mrs Justus L. Batchelder. The
programme opened with a greeting from
Mrs w. o. Chapman, the retiring presi-
dent, and roll-call with quotations from
Latin authors, selected by Mrs. George n.
Gourley.
The first essay was read by Mrs. Clark
King subject Know Thy Opportunity"
In pleasing and forceful way Mrs King
pointed out that great opportunities come
to the few, and come rarely; but life is
crowded with opportunities requiring
knowledge and that the combined power
of systematic study, like the Chautauqua
class, produces the best results.
The Roman Myth" that followed by
Mrs. Frank A Sherburne, was a bright
production from very bright woman. In
imagination, it sketched a class of Roman
goddesses and maidens engaged in work
similar to that of the Idea Hunters; and in
touching upon the trials they passed
through and the different ideas advanced re-
garding their commencement day pro-
gramme and banquet, the essayist gave the
class of which she is member several
sharp thrusts.
A production written in choice language
and showing careful study and under
standing of her subject was next read by
Miss Ella NJ. Bailey on Roman Art" The
thought was advanced that, while the
splendid Greek architecture is now among
the things that WERE Roman art surpasses
that of any other nation in the world. Poets
and painters have exhausted their resources
in describing Roman architecture and yet,
in sculpture, Rome owes all she has to the
Greece she crushed and despoiled The
decadence of Roman art was due TO the
dawn of Christianity; and yet TO Roman
art we still turn as guide to far higher
grade than was ever given to Rome herself
to attain. Mrs. ID. S. Wheatley then sang
The Old Oaken Bucket" with guitar ac-
compartment, in manner that richly de-
served the applause that followed her from
the platform.
The essay on " Vestal Virgins" by Miss
Lizzie NJ Stimsou, was clothed in choice
diction and instructed while it entertained.
1t was an interesting description of this Ro-
man sisterhood, who were for period OF
| thirty years priestesses of the sacred fire.
| Their ef duties were to keep the tre on
! the altar ever burning. AT the end OF
| thirty years they were allowed TO return TO
their homes and marry il they chose to do
| so. Few availed themselves OF TINS prlVl-
| lege, however, as the condition of unmar-
ried women at that time was preferable.
In a pleasing manner, Mrs. George b.
| Walton next told 1.-THE Story OF the Cld,
| the foremost warrior in the protection OF the
Spaniards against the Moors. In Spain he
ia still called The Blessed Cid he hated
the Moors with cordial hatred, and IN the
popular mind he was invulnerable in battle
and unapproachable in character. Mrs.
Walton showed a thorough familiarity with
her subject, and her essay ranked with the
| best.
Mrs G. IL. Shipman next read Lee
gend that gave full play to her powers OF
Imagination and entertained her audience
with the bright ideas so happily expressed
that it contained. The class song, words
| by Mrs Albert o. Cummins, was then sung
TO the air Kind Words Can Never Die,
Mrs. Wheatley singing the solo ana the
class joining in the chorus.
With prophetic vision, Mrs. Frank A.
HAYDEN looked into the future, and in her
"Prophecies " read the lives OF her class
mates in the years that are to come. Her
easy, graceful manner, as she read the fu-
ture from pack Of cards. gave an added