Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-06-10

mastery lhcludtS AT ltdsl tuItt P''i'S'
Seli-deyelopmeut, self-cou,roi, selt-detence.
Ones Creates protection against harm,
physical or moral is in himself. a high
and noble spirit is the best fortress against
evil.
The final feature of the kingdom is this
Gods kingdom is a kingdom of the bless
ei life-blessed in time, blessed in eternity.
We are not obliged to 60 into the battle
unshielded. but We are always accompan-
led by a valiant and mighty helper, Keep
your feet in the true paths, your hearts
fixed on the ways OF truth and right and
everlasting life.
The Exercises Tuesday Evening.
.Fiom Wednesday Daily
Brattleboro academy commencement eX-
| ercises were held at the Congregational
church at West Brattleboro last night,
| The church was profusely decorated with
lastly arranged flowers in which potted
| ferns and hydrangea predominated.
Timothy &. Fellows was the first speaker
OF the evening and discoursed on the sub
| ject, as International Bimetalhsm Feast
| BILE" Deep research and large mastery
/ OF monetary principles enabled Mr.. Eel
! lows TO make so clear an exposition OF his
! subject that III spite of its inherent diff
]
| entertaining to the audience.
After briefly reviewing the financial eN
perleuce of France and the Latin union he
traced the evolution of the theory OF in
ternational blmetallism from its inception
at the conference called by Napoleon II.
The reasons for desiring such system are
| the need OF an international par OF eN-
! change and q counteTactve for the contrac-
tion of the currency in consequence OF the
| universal decentralization OF silver. But
in the history OF international monetary
conferences the speaker found little en-
| couraCement for the belief that such al
arrangement would ever be adopted. In
ternational jealousy will prevent an inter
national coinage. Its need, too, is large
ly dispensed with by the advancing refine
ments in the science OF banking, by the
influx of gold from the south African and
recently discovered Alaskan gold fields and
by the use OF silver as a subsidiary money
metal.
The Credibility of Evolution" was
handled by Geo. +. Mather in his usual
racy style. He took the ground that evo-
luton, Notwithstanding the disbelief that
still fingers in conservative centres, is cred
ible and that any opposite view OF the
case is incredible. He amassed argument
upon argument calculated 10 win the most
skepticAl to his way of thinking.
In the study of the human embryo We
find it passing through an ascending series
successfully initiating animals, from the
very lowest up to man. Scientists can be-
lieve that this is nothing less than a repro
duction of the stages through which man
kind has evolved.
The seventy or more rudimentary OF
gans long since disused, furnish grounds
which alone anatomists believe a sufficient
reason for believing in evolution. On no
other hypothesis have the facts ever been
explained. The vermiform appendix, face
muscles attached to the ears and pincal
gland were explained in detail. In con
clusion the relation of evolution to Gene
sis was briefly discussed.
The Progress of the Nineteenth Cen
tury' was treated by Jesse G. johnson.
The great variety of departments of pro
gress over which the speaker ranged, and
and the iudicious selection of illustrations
made the address one of great interest.
Methods transportation and travel, So
cial and political conditions educational
facilities, manufactures, agriculture, church
policy, population, etc, al the beginning
and end of this century were explained
and compared.
Robert G. Clark, familiar figure before
West BrattlebOro audiences made his las,
appearance and took "The Present Rail
road Situation for his theme.
In spite of the fact that we have the best
roads and best service in the world, oul
railroad situation is far from satisfactory
In the state of New \ ork alone 100000.
600 have been wasted on needless parallel
roads. In the whole country not less
than 81 600, 900, 900 have been wasted al
ready in the construction and operation OF
useless lines. The expenditures for the
various methods of attracting patronage
is something enormous. The worst evil OF
the present system is the fostering OF
trusts by unjust determinations in favor
of heavy shippers. The proposed govern
ment ownership is not the solution of the
difficulty because the roads could not bC
advantageously purchased, rates would be
adjusted and new roads would be located
by political jobbery. The vote of railroad
employees would be a corrupting element
in politics Private ownership and opera
alton with strict government supervision as
illustrated by the railroads of France, anC
the municipal enterprises of Paris he be-
leved TO be the only effective remedy. The
work of the Interstate Commence Com
mission is correct in theory, and in the eX
tension and enforcement of its Legislation
lies the solution Of the railroad question
The exercises were very pleasantly in
terspersed by the singing of the Brattle
borO male quartet which was exceeding
ly enjoyable to the audience, Alton c.
Blodgett ofiiciated as marshal of the even.
ing. Diplomas were presented to the
graduates by the principal of the Acad-
envy.
Robert c. Clark enters Dartmouth next