Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-06-21
Graduating Exercises.

NODN 40 JliNJ llttNO b'OL Ill plONlOtAo J N''lo
they were last night in some respects su-
perior to anything ever held here before.
The doors were opened at 7.30 O'Clock
and in ten minutes all the seats were filled
and chairs were put in the aisle until the
room was packed. The stage was beau
tifully trimmed in festoons of gold and
white, the class colOrs. Conspicuous
over the stagein elegant golden letters
was the class motto. Palms, ferns, pot
ted plants and flowers completed the
decorations. On the stage in the alcOve
were the teachers, prominent clergymen
and others. On the right of the stage
were the Board of Education and on the
left the school orchestra. At exactly
So'clock the following programme was
presented.
Music sc....................II High School Orchestra
Salututory.. .........Miss Nettic Mabel Pierce
Grafton. The Question Of the Day
Walter Clifford Sunner.
Grafton. ....... Engineering Triumphs of the Age
Carol Dunham Partridge.
Original POEM. Man, WOman's Superior
Donald Paul llurlburt.
Music.
Essay ......... Popular Songs and their Authors
Miss Maud Miller.
Grafton on............... Important to the Republic
George Edward Partridge.
Music.
Essay ........:..........Th The woman's Kingdom
Miss Nettie NJ. Pierce
Grafton. ............. Military Reform
Herbert Andrew Hcminway
Music.
Valedictory .............. Miss Maud Miller
Music
Presentation of Silver Medals and Prizes.
Music
Presentation Of Diplomas.
Music.
BenGdiCtiOn.
After a brief reference by Supt. Davis
to the practical character of the oratiOns
and essays Rev. S. II. Mclaughlin made
an earnest prayer and Miss Pierce was
called to deliver her salutation, The
brief words of welcome were spoken in
low, soft tone, Out We're perfectly
heard and well received.
Mr.. Partridge's Grafton was a bright
suggestive outline Of the engineering tri-
umphs of the last one hundred years.
The speaker has good voice but his
manner is suggestive of the scholar rath-
er than the orator.
Mr.. Sumner dealt with the irrepressi-
BILE conflict between capital and labor.
He has many of the qualities of popu-
lar orator, being self-possessed and easy
on the stage, and speaking with a meas
ured deliberation that was pleasing. We
do not agree with Mr.. Summers views,
but he certainly made good speech.
Mr. Hurlburt, who was the poet of his
class, recited an original poem. In his
metrical lines he handles woman in a Sc
we're way, but his severity does not offend.
Mr. uurlburt's poem has very strong
smack of classic diction. 1t is elegant
and scholarly and its rendering found
much favor with the audience.
Miss Mlller's essay on Popular Songs
and Their Authors has a vigorous mas
culine ring in it that gave it an air of
pleasing surprise. IL was bright, in
places martial, occasionally pathetic and
every where interesting. Miss Miller
has good voice and pleasing manner
and her whole effort was a proud success
for any young lady.
George Partridge made twelve min
ute plea for physical culture. 1t was a
strong, manly Grafton full of practical
suggestion and had in it touches Of the
quaint humor which cropped out in his
class history. Mr.. Partridge has a good
voice and figure and made fine appear
ancc on the stage. 1t seems very clear
that George Partridge gives unusual ora
torical promise.
Miss Pierce's essay on The Woman S
Kingdom was strong, practical address
in opposition to the ballot for woman.
1t abounded in mature and telling argu-
ment, was well rendered and held the
close attention of all to the last word.
Mr.. Heminway spoke for Military Re-
form, advocating that the country would
be vastly improved if thirty minutes of
military drill each day were required of
all school boys. The grafton was an ex-
cellent presentation of subject that is
sure to receive political attention in the
near future. 1t abounded in eloquent
periods which the speaker presented
with great effect. Mr.. Heminway is a
natural orator and his effort last night
seemed like that of mature and accom-
plished speaker.
Miss Miller's valedictory was well writ
ten and pleasingly delivered. In this
part she sustained the high expectation
raised by her performance as class proph-
ct, on Monday, and in her graduating es-
say last evening. 1t is safe to say of all
the speakers last evening that their pro-
ductiOns were scholarly and we'll rem
I dered, that their appearance on the stage
was easy, natural and noticably good.
In all respects the parts and their ren.
deriug were characterized by all that
marks good scholarship and effective or.
atory.
The valedictory was followed by the
presentation of the silver medals. The
honors were as follows: School No l, 1st
honor, Guy o. Edison, 9O.S; 2nd, Lorenzo
Moore, 90; school No 2, 1st honor, Bessie
Kennon, OIL; 2nd, Mabel Holt, 900
school No g. 1st honor Clifford Aldrich