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

~ pretty anu ulElllN SutNtSSl vi lnnON dllOu
of commencement time was introduced by
the class of 1897 in the form of class day
exercises held on the lawn in front of the
school building at o'clock on Wednesday
afternoon. John c. Heaphv. president of
the class, presided. At his right were
seated the class members. In front was an
interested assemblage of teachers, pupils
and parents. The exercises opened with
singing by quartet of boys. This was
followed by the class poem by Louise Chan
dler. The poem was in the guise of Indian
legend, telling the story of an Indian boy
who dwelt in these primitive sylvan scenes,
who sought in vain to solve the mystery
of Wantastiquet's familiar echo, "Wee-
too, and who finally threw himself in de-
spair into the waters of the Connecticut
and was drowned. Perhaps, in long years
TO come, the poem suggested, members of
the class of 81 who revisit familiar scenes
and wander over the mountain may like to
recall the legend of the Indian boy and the
mountains echo, "Weetoo, Weetoo."
"TOday's Demand"
To John Edward Tasker was accorded
the honor of delivering the class ora
ton. His theme was "Today's Demand "
The address of the young speaker was
NlCdll utuutu III It's luOuEnI anu express
sion. Its initial illustration was drawn
from the marvellous exhibit of machinery
at the Worlds Fair. When one looked at
any individual piece of this mechanism the
first query was, regardless of beautiful
polish or nice adjustment, "What will it
do" Does the product justify the ma
chimes beingl" Just so the question re-
garding every period of the worlds
civilization is about the men behind
the epoch. What was its result, not in
monuments, or temples or laws, but in
character, in menl This is the question
which is already being asked of our own
civilization, and indications are not wanting
that the answer does not please. We have
to admit that our progress has been mate
rial rather than moral; that it is shown in
methods of living rather than in lives and
character; that its outcome has been self
ishness and greed rather than love for ones
neighbor We cannot close our eyes to the
fact that wealth is grasping and unmindful
of the rights of the poor; that our politics are
corrupt; that our legislators grossly betrav
the trusts confded to them; that clever
and unprincipled men find a way TO escape
the results of their wrong doing. The man
shows himself to be more than the system.
And herein lies the key of the whole mat
ter. The only effectual remedy is the cor
rection of the individual 1t is in the indi-
vidual that the reform must come. All sue
cess that has been gained has come in that
way. The great means of regeneration Of the
individual are our various educational insti-
tutions, the church and the schools Be
sides the great task of teaching men that
right living, as eXemplified in the life and
character of the Nazarene, is the great
source of moral strength, the church, real
izing her opportunity, has undertaken to
educate men in the duties of their secular
life, and she stands today, as never before,
for the great principles of brotherhood and
the elevation of our Common humanity.
The same work is being done by the schools
in ever increasing measure. They can and
do reach the dangerous classes" as no
other instrument of enlightenment and re-
form can.
"What, then, is the greatest need of our
dayl There can be only one answer-Men.
Men of character; men of unselfshness,
of large brains and large hearts; men of
courage, who will do right because it is
right, men who in private life aud public
station will be true to themselves men
taught
To reverence the King as If he were,
Their conscience, and their conscience as their
King,
To break the heather and uphold the Christ
To ride abroad redressing human wrongs
To speak no Islander, no, nor listen TO it,
To honor his own word as If his Gods
God give us men, time like this demands
Strong minds great hearts, true faith, and ready
hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men who possess opinions and will
Men who have honor; men who will not lie
Tall men sun crowned, no live above the fog
In public duty and in private thinking,