Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-06-20


party broke up convinced that the
graduating exercises of the class of 1896
would be among the pleasant recollections
of the past.
THE VALEDICTORY.
The valedictory was given by Miss Stella
H. Webb in clear voice and in pleasing
manner and was we'll received. Miss
Webb spoke as follows:
The class of '9G is gathered here tonight
for the last time, as members of the High
school. Our class is the last one to finish
their course in the old building. With the
new one soon to be erected another era
begins in the history of the High school.
Looking back over the past, we find that
the first class Of five members graduated
20 years ago in 1876. Since then the
number of graduates, including our own
class, has increased to l45. At that time
there were about so students in the school /;
at the beginning of the last fall term 113
were registered. The first number of the
Oracle was Published in 1892. To-day,
we are proud to place it among the best
school papers of the state. The student
who completes the course now, is better
prepared for business or college life
than ever before. Our certificates enable
us to enter without examination all the
leading colleges in New England except
Harvard and Yale.
Tonight, we add the last link to the
chain of graduates who have year by year
left the old building. Next year, with the
new building the first link of another chain
will be formed. Is not ours an honorable
position-the last link of the old chain and
the connecting link to the new? We now
stand at the end of our High school course.
The common interests which have bound
us SO closely together for the last four
years, are soon to be severed and we are
to separate. Some of us will enter bust
ness life, while others will continue their
studies. But we shall ever remember our
school days with all their pleasant associ-
atoms. Let us resolve, as graduates, to
keep up our interest in the school where
the preparation for our life's work has been
made as a class, to still take an interest
in one another, although we may be widely
separated.
Our motto I" Ne cede malls" g Yield
not to misfortune" is taken from Virgil.
1t was spoken by the prophecies Sibyl to
encourage Eneas. After the destruction
of Troy, Eneas and his companions set
sail for Italy, the land which had been
promised them. When they reached the
Italian shores 4Eneas sought the SYPHILIS
cave. To his inquiries she replied that
although he had passed through many dan
gers, greater ones awaited him, but she
added 6 Yield not to misfortune, 60 boldly
where Fortune leads" Tradition says
that Eneas was the son of Venus, and so
his descendants, the Romans, were espe-
cially honored by the gods. Later, the
Roman people were proud to acknowledge
him as the one who first brought their race
to Italy and prepared the way for the
glory which the empire afterwards attained
under Augustus. Kneas had great task
assigned him, the establishment of a nation.
He was often tempted to give up his under
taking, but he still kept on and at last
overcame all difficulties.
Our life's work is now before us. There
may be many difficulties in our path but,
like lEneas, let us strive to overcome them
and to do our duty in whatever position we
may be placed. As we press onward,
looking eagerly toward the goal, let us
still take for our motto, 8 Ne cede malls. 2