Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-06-18


was preached by Rev. Mr.. Day at the Con-
gregational church Sunday afternoon. \
report of the discourse is printed elsewhere.
For the first time in the history of the
school class dav exercises were included in
the program, these being held on the High
school lawn Wednesday afternoon. \ re-
ception and ball to be given this evening
conclude the exercises arranged to cele-
brate the graduation of the class.
OF the years work in the High school it
is to be said that under the charge of H. X.
Whitaker the new principal, who came
here with the beginning of the school year
in September high ideals have been es-
tabshed and real progress has been made
Mr.. Whitaker has proved himself to possess
not only the ability and training for a
good teacher, but he combines with these
unhagging energy and diligence, and a
gift for communicating his own enthusi-
asm to those about him. lie has commanded
the confidence and cooperation Of his As
sistant teachers and of the school board,
and the respect of his pupils. The High
school has never been ON a better basis
than now to 20 forward with another year
to higher achievements and increased use
fulness.
Last Evenings Commencement ENer-
cises.
The exercises were held in the Audito-
rum in the presence Of an audience which
crowded the house The floral decorations
consisted Of bank of laurel blossoms ar
ranged before the footlights Overhead
was the class motto in white daisies upon a
blue back ground. Leitsinger's orchestra
furnished instrumental music. Rev. c. O.
Day offered prayer The High school
chorus directed by Miss Wyman, sang
"The Fisher Maiden's song as an opening
number. The address Of the evening was
then given by Rev p. Mcmillan Of Wood
stock, who said in substance:
The Revelations of Education.
DeQuincey. speaking Of the Roman goddess,
proteCtres~ Of children says of her: "Levaua
performed for the newborn infant the earliest
office of cunOih hing kindness typical by its mode
Of that grandeur which belongs to man every
where. At the very moment Of birth, just as the
infant tasted for the first time the atmosphere Of
our troubled planet. it was laid on the ground.
But Immediately. lest so grand a creature should
grovel there for more than one instant, the pa
ternal hand. proxy for the goddess. raised it up
right, bade it look erect as the king of all this
world, and Tn presented its forehead 10 the
stars, saying in his heart, Behold what Is greater
than yourself, She that would not suffer at his
birth even prefis urative or mimic degradation
for her awful ward far less could be supposed TO
suffer the real degradation attaching to the non
development Of his powers. She therefore
watches over human education "
We have gone but little beyond the principles
underlying the beautiful symbolism of this myth.
ooRy in all the purposes of modern education.
We teach the kinship of nature and human ma
ture, touching the child brow TO the great bosom
from which its physical life comes and is nour-
ished; we teach the child eye and brain to look
upon the fair heritage of the world around and
we teach the child spirit to look beyond the stars
preparing for its final flight. Rightly regarded
the processes Of education are constant revea-
tons. By the magic wand of the instructor out
of the unknown come trooping the figures and
events of the past, the beauties and charms of
life Nature yields her most attractive secrets to
the ardent wooer. The world history of men In
war and peace. art and science philosophy and
faith, are unrolled in vivid panorama; the imag
inatlon projects its fances upon the mental
screen, coloring and peopling the future with its
irridescent creations
The revelation of education first of all in i'm
portAnce, If not first in process, is the fact Of
ones own selfhood. The awakening to self-con
clousness is the greatest revelation, yet mystery
OF our earth. few years ago nothing; now
weighing the stars, measuring their courses
having dominion over forces antedating our APP
proach by Unreasonable time. Have we as
blind, dumb spirits been standing at the vesti
bule of being waiting for the opening into this
world of sensible things ere memory and con-
seriousness were loosed from enthrallment; Only
for a little time is that awakened conscious life
enshrined in the flesh, yet with what eagerness
gazing upon the world, the mass Of humanity,
the stars OF God. To have come In these few
years past to a consciousness of life, to know Of
love, of thought, 70 have reason, to lie able TO
analyze worlds, TO have memory that never dies,
to have longings that this sweet gift of personal
being may never cease, but live with clearer
eye, nature and the heart unshielded, God I'M
veiled-all this is wondrous mystery, yet wondrous
revelation All else that comes into our life is
gagged by the fact that we are thus conscious,
personal beings. The sweetness and greatness Of
life lie in the consciousness Of it.
Through the educational processes there are
revelations not alone of selfhood the independent
existence never lost or merged in the life of an
other but also there are the revelations of rela
tionships between our life and all nature Nature
studies are our first lessons in the first relation
ships we sustain in this world. The study Of ma
ture in her functions, her ministries her laws is
a constant revelation of the relationships we
sustain to her not as dependents or indie
pendents, but that our life is very closely woven
in with the whole of the life of the world and that
we receive of natures life through every absorb
ent power. Many can better understand the
higher functions and ministries of man by first Of
all recognizing that he does not stand on an $50
lated peak separated by barren stretches from
the life around him, though infinitely lower than
his own. The bond is not simply common
creator but up to a certain point, at least there
are common functions and common processes OF
development.
The revelations of education are also Of the
close relationship Of our life with that of all
humanity. Acknowledging every kinship with
lower nature the subtle sympathy of the heart
with all that in way seems part OF himself,
there is no true communion, no true companion
ship of his spirit with nature, Nothing Of
earth save his fellow man follows his thought,
enters into his joys, struggles achievements.
There is no banch of the rose at his grief no
blush Of the lily because of his passion. Educa-
world are with men, and the revelation here places
us as lowly dependents Strip man, body and
soul of everything that has come to him from
outside sources and he is left with what that he
can call his own, his own personal and org
nal possessionS Nothing but a central core 10 his
being-that he is himself and not another with
his own memory, his own n asOn, his own con-
seriousness, which never pass out of himself, and
another reason, memory, consciousness take
their places. But outside OF that selfhoOd all he
holds is borrowed material. His body has no
particle but that has been appropriated from the
life and the inorganic material around him. The
elastic chambers of his mind stored with the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge culled from
the great sources of the world. Back of Homer
are the rude and simple songs of his people, the
humber poets unknown but upspringing in the
epic of the blind bard Through the highest
philosophy of ancient or modern times rise the
straining thoughts of preceding minds, and in
the highest faith Of today We have the longings
and desires of many peoples.
Thus education rightly regarded is a constant
process of revelation OF self poWer-reatonshp
TO nature and humanity II is revelation OF sur
passing interest, and undiminishing The effect
of education should be TO quicken and strengthen
the power of self, to intensity interest in the
world of which we are part and which we dom
nate; to regard with highest interest those human
relationships and human society which are the
clearest and strongest Of all, The revelations of
education from these points of view forever
opening upon us. We have not completed the
course when leaving school or college. Our eyes
have only been opened and trained 70 look upon
the ever unfolding panoramas Of all life, all
nature, our own soul.
After a selection by a male quartet Prin-
cipal Whitaker in brief address, presented
the class to the school board to receive
their diplomas. After speaking 10 the
parents and others present of the signid-
oanca 70 tho oopnununitxr Of tho tio,,