Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-06-17
COMMENCEMENT
The Fifteen Graduates
WERE PRESENTED WITH DIPLO.
MAS LAST EVENING.
Speaking, and Alice Freeman Palm-
er's Address.

event of commencement week, was OBJ
served Wednesday afternoon by the grad
uatng class of 1898 of the BrattlebOro
High school. The exercises we're held on
the south side of the front lawn of the
High school grounds. The speakers adj
dressed their audience from raised plat
form, draped in the national red, white
and blue, the class colors.
OF the exercises as a whole too much
in praise cannot be said, each speaker Civ
ing a carefully prepared and well delivered
paper.
There was a goodly number of people
present when, at o'clock, the class, led
by the marshals, marched from the school
building and took their seats on the lawn.
Frank Wells, president of the class, pre-
sided, and introduced as the first speaker
of the afternoon, Frank Fagg, who de-
livered the class Grafton.
Young Flagg discussed the public school
problem. He compared the systems and
conditions which prevailed in the little red
schoolhouse 2j and more years ago with
those of today in the more pretentious
edlfce containing the graded schools. The
needs of physical and manual training for
both sexes were considered, and stress was
laid upon the failure of parents to give at
home the moral training and guidance
which our fathers, the pupils of the little red
schoolhouse received. The speaker thought
there should be more important training in
citizenship, and that when a young man
graduates from the public school he ought
TO have received the discipline which
will enable him to take up the duties of a
citizen, to have received that general train
ing which teaches courage, truth, honor
and regard for the rights of others. The
overworking of teachers and the loss of
independence to pupils through throwing
too much upon the class were defects
recognized in the present system.
Since the new education is the result of
the most earnest study of the most con-
scientious teachers ii has right to ask
more faith Of the people that ii is seek
ing, and, in a degree, fniing, the best
methods of teaching the best things. 1t
also has right TO ask that a more cordial
and active support of the system should
be given by the people and parents in gen.
eral.
The Sphinx in the pathway of our young
America propounds this enigma: "What
are you going to do with our dissimilar
population, unfit through ignorance or
selfishness, for citizenship, yet in whose
hands you have placed the destinies of
your republic? How can you weld them
into one people devoted to the honor of
the nation?' If We cannot solve the rid
die it is evident We must perish. What
answer is there save "By the public
school, If this, then, the public school,
is our only hope, it behooves us to put for
ward all our powers that it may be
strengthened in every way to bear the
burdens we have placed upon it, 10 save
us from destruction through our own ig-
norance.
Following Mr.. Flagg Miss May Douglass
gave the class poem, most excellent
piece of work entitled, THE Fate of
Marsyas." The story was of a shepherd
boy, Marsyas, who heard the goddess
Athene play upon the flute, and, enchanted
by the music, found the flute after Athene
had thrown it away in disgust. He learned
to play the instrument and becoming conf
dent that he was the best musician in the
world, challenged Apollo to a contest.
Apollo won, and in wrath because Marsyas
had dared claim to be better musician
than he, fayed him alive. The poem was
designed to teach that we, lesser lights,
should not try to outshine the greater
geniuses, but to be content with doing our
best.
The class history was divided into two
parts, Miss Ella Newcomb, covering the
first two years, Walter Cook, the last two.
They told of the great forest, composed of
trees of knowledge, which had been felled
by the class. Interspersed with the trees
of knowledge we're also trees of pleasure.
Now the forest is cleared and but few
stumps remain, and. these are being fast
uprooted.
The class prophecy by Raymond Elmer
abounded in clever and witty hits. He
imagined the class at a banquet 10 years
hence; Arthur Brasor had been chosen
toast master and the members responded
to various toasts.
Following this the class will was read by
Miss Florence Retting, Many things of
"value and otherwise" were left to the va
rious classes by '9S, who desired only to
be given decent burial.
Miss Lavinia Lawrence gave the ivy ora
ton, showing in her essay maturity of
thought and an appreciation of nature and
of the poetic side of life. She referred to
the surroundings which spoke of nature
and her works, and said that next best
to the study of nature first hand
in woods and fields, by lake and shore, we
enjoy the interpretations of poet or paint
err who has loved nature and her "visible
forms" and who is acquainted with her
''varous language" She then proceeded
to consideration of the qualities which
distinguish Bryant, the foremost of Amer
lean landscape poets. The planting of the
ivy inspired the closing part of the grafton.
The ivy was planted at the south end of
the front of the building, each member of
the class putting in a little of the earth.
After this the class ode was sung and '9S's
class day was over.
"a avbib;tfn,, 10, s,;,ro,, H. -,