Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-06-17

The commencement exercises of the
High school we're held last evening in the
Auditorium before an audience which filled
the house. The Auditorium was trimmed
artistically, the balconies and boxes being
draped with red, white and blue, the class
coors. The front of the stage was banked
with laurel and palms, and above was
swung the motto mot Finished but Be
gum" wrought in white clover on back
ground of red.
The evenings program opened with
music by the orchestra, followed by song
The County Fair Waltz" by the High
school chorus. Mr. Beeman then offered
prayer, after which a male quartet com
posed of Gilbert, Morse, Dugan and Bra
sor, sang "The Night Song" The or
chestra played a second selection, and the
speaker of the evening, Mrs. Alice Freeman
Palmer, was then introduced. Mrs. Pal
mer said in part:
There are three important duties which
the citizens owe to the public schools at
the present time The first is to provide
the best possible conditions for the work.
Modern science makesit possible in our
homes and schools to provide against
contagious diseases by givinga large
supply of fresh air, pure water, sun
light and all means for securing SPLEEN
did health. Besides these conditions for
securing good health there should be good
books in every schoolroom, pictures upon
the walls and appliances for natuve study
so that the little children may have their
sense of beauty trained and their interest
in good books and in nature stimulated.
II these permanent instructors of higher
sort can be given our children they will be
saved from the temptations of evil and
will be interested in all that is good. But
healthy and beautiful buildings, books,
pictures and collections are not enough.
II great teachers, we'll trained for their
profession and of noble character, are not
chosen nothing else will avail. The citi-
zen has no higher duty TO the children
than to bend every energy to find the men
and women of such training and charac-
ter that they will give the highest ideals of
honor, courage and patriotism TO our chill
dren. New England must be ruled by
these high ideals if she is to retain her rep
utation. This reputation is in the hands
of the public school children of today, who
will be our leaders in every walk of life to-
morrow.
After the address came singing by a
semi-chorus of girls.
The class was then presented to the
school board by Principal Whitaker who
in few feeling words bade the class god
speed, hoping that their purposes and de-
sires throughout life would be actuated
only by the highest motives, and express
ing an earnest wish that at the end of life
they would be able to answer with a good
conscience the question, "How have you
acquitted yourselves ~
Before comforting the diplomas, L. F.
Adams, chairman of the board, spoke a
few words of advice to the class, empha-
sizing the sentiment of the class motto,
"Not Finished but Begun" in reference to
their education as well as to their rela-
tions TO the world. He said that the class
had been transformed from members of
the High school to citizens in commune
ty, and laid stress on the citizens duty as
brought out by Mrs. Palmer. Mr.. Adams
concluded with the thought that whatever
is spoken in this world should represent
the thought in the speakers mind.
After the class had received their diplo-
mas they sang the class ode which was
written by Pearle Cheney. The male
quartet then sang "The Hunters Delight"
and the exercises were brought to a close
with the benediction offered by Mr.. Bee
man.
Following are the graduates who received
diplomas in the three courses: Classical
Pearle Evangeline Cheney, May Hortensia
Douglas, Flora Ella Sanders. Latin-Ed-
ma Marion Hardy, Martha Lavinia Law
renee, Ella Cornelia Newcomb, Florence
Leonard Retting. English-Arthur Har-
rison Brasor, Walter Ellis Cook, Raymond
Stanley Elmer, Frank Alexander Flagg,
Paul Revere Henkel, Ernest Austin Reed,
Francis George Wells, Harry Oscar Will
L..