Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-05
Arthur G. Toilet.

the class colors; snowballs massed,;on
the choir rail and edge of the pulpit plat
form, row of potted ferns in front, and
the class motto, Paulatim, in green on
white background suspended over the plat
form, all making very handsome effect.
Leitsinger's orchestra furnished the mu-
sic, and gave the following:
March. National Guard wiegand
Overture. La Srene, Auber
Carionet DO, Concert Polonaise, Catlin
Mr.. Leitsinger.
Selection, Princess Bonnie, Spencer
Waltz Artist life, Strauss
March, Napoleon, Levi
Finale, Galop, Cox
As the first notes of music broke over
The expectant audience, the graduating
class, three young women in white and
three young men in evening dress, came
upon the stage and took seats on either
side of the teachers, Prof. L. V. Symonds
and Miss Emily NJ. Colburn. Invocation
was offered by Rev. Mr.. Hardy, pastor of
the Congregational church.
Fred r. Ford was the first speaker:
subject, "The problem of life" This ora
tion was a thoughtful analysis of all the
work and interests in life, constructing
from this analysis the one universal prob
lem, namely, the formation of a personal
character. 1t was written in good Ian
guage, and may well be called a prose
poem. After rapid glance at the many
problems in life, not only in every form of
nature, but also in every phase of human
thought, and the fact that no one mind
| can solve them all, the speaker came to his
theme. "There is, however, one univers-
al problem which may be called the prob
lem of life-one problem which touches us
all, which interests us all, which obligates
us all, and which each one may solve; and
that is the development of a personal
character" The first requisite of charac-
ter is a sense of personal relationship.
"Each one is part of the whole, and, like a
system of wheels within wheels, If even a
single one does not revolve, all the others
are impeded in their notion He then
mentioned other requisites. "There are
obstacles, discouragements, weaknesses
and doubts to overcome; and these must
be opposed by determination, courage and
energy. We may falter, grow faint-heart-
ed, make mistakes, and may fall but the
strength of character is no more in never
falling than in rising every time we fall.
That must be dull character indeed which
does not learn lesson from each mistake
or failure.
4 hold IT. truth with him who sings
To one clear harp in divers tones,
| OF their dead selves to higher things
The qualities which have welded nations
and tunneled mountains, and forced from
nature the key to her profoundest mystic
ries-these same qualities of brain and
heart, applied subjectively, will be potent
in the formation of personal character"
Self-control is also necessary. "To over
come objective hindrances is much to con-
troll the subjective is more. He that
ruleth his spirit is greater than he that
taketh city, OF what use is a character
of strength, of resource, unless it has a
master? OF what avail to chain the light
ming, to store the power of cataract, I'M
less we know how to use them? One may
have strength and opportunity, but unless
he be the master of himself he may prove
his own destruction, as surely as the I'M
curbed volcanic force may rive the noun
tain from base to summit" Growth, too,
is necessary. "The bulb sends forth tiny
sprout, and it, develops into branches,
leaves, blossoms and fruit. And so the
human mind, if it be true to itself, must
be ever unfolding, ever turned to the light,
bearing sweeter blossoms and better fruit"
Mr.. Ford is an earnest and effective speak
er, often showing touches of true oratory,
and he was listened to with marked atten-
ton. His closing sentence was finely and
impressively delivered: "He who would
build an ideal personal character must
arouse himself, look about, see where he
stands and what he is, think where he
might stand and what he might be; sci
about the task with courage that will not
break, with determination that will not
weaken, with energy that will not falter
and command of self that will conquer
add to these a sense of justice and charity
toward others, striving for more purity
of thought, broader and clearer vision
and faith that looks to the future as to