The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-06-21
MONTPELIER SEMINARY.
Exercises Incident to Commencement
Week.
ALUMNI DAY.

ALUMNI DAY.
The browning feature OF the alumni exer-
cises at the Seminary Tuesday was the adj
dress before the Alumni Association by
Rev. A. j. Hough OF White River Junction,
the poet laureate OF the Vermont Confer
ence, Mr.. Hough's theme was "Uncle
Sans Land" and he treated 1t with mas
ter hand. Always a welcome visitor at
Montpelier, where for three years he was
tho faithful aud beloved pastor of Trinity
church, aud at the S minary that lies so
near his great heart, Mr.. Houghs visit this
year az the Alumni day orator was doubly
welcome The hour in which he held his
audience under the sway Of his poetic
genius, eloquence and wit, will be remem-
bered as one of the most enjoyable of the
commencement season OF 1899.
Nc. Hough's address bore the title OF
"Uncle Sans Land" which was Gods
land. The divine hand is seen in its com
ing TO the worlds map All nations
struggled for its mastery, and the Anglo
Saxon won God meant he should, be-
cause he has thrift and industry, and there
was hard work to be done here He had
endurance and needed 1t for his task. He
was thinker, with reverent soul, and
the church and sChool-house could go side
by side. God wanted a land wherein lib
erty and righteousness could make the
same music and go hand in hand
The coming OF leaders to the land was as
remarkable rs the coming of the land to the
map. History always centers around great
personalities. In almost every colony sent
out there were men OF marked power.
Without Washington the achievements OF
the early years could not have been wrought
The power OF this one man held the colo
MES together against England. Uncle
Sans land is big one, yet the people com
prising these vast areas are one. This fact
removes from the future OF these states that
element of uncertainty which restraints the
movements and clouds the brow OF Europe
The answer to the question, are the PEG.
pie competent for self government, is com
ing with less hesitation and more assur
auce with every succeeding crisis OF the
nations life.
What hands have been potent in mould
ing this nation2 First, the divine hand
From the beginning the unexpected ha,
| happened. Men builded better than they
knew. The leaders of this land have been
God fearing men. 1t is not difficult to SEE
the presence of a higher power in the
| movements of the nations life during the
past year. Second among the moulders o.
the nation is the soldiers hand. We are
| to-day, not what the Union soldier made
| us, but what the Union soldier made it pos
sible for us to be. The hand of the young
soldier is completing what the hand OF the
| old soldier began. 1t was for union the ole
| y
the young soldier delivers the goods
| Whence came we? From the cavalier
with his sword, the Pilgrim with his Bible
the Puritan with his faith, the Hollsndel
with his hope, the Huguenot with his valor
| the Quaker with his idealsm, the Scot with
his thrft-and these powers are with Il,
still, welded into one unique national life
| unlike any other national life the world
has known with a destiny peculiarly it,
| own.
The speaker recited three original poem,
to illustrate his theme: "Hobson, the
Hero" 1.-THE Flight Of the Eagle" anC
"Your Uncle Sans Land is the land fol
me-" We give specimen verse from each
HoBsoN.
Hobson a wonder No. Just common American
Tea hundred thousand Yankee boys would do th
same today.
They're bricks from the same hot kiln, and came o
The Mayfiower 1ai ded long ago on reef of Ply
These Dewey's that win in bays, and Hobson's a
Is the kind of stuff we're makr under the Stripe
| and Stars.
It's the cream of the worlds big pan, the fruit o
1t was brought over here in ships and feels at hom
For the southern heart is bold and the northern
heart is true,
| And the nation is gold, pure gold, and hghte
through and through
THE FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE.
| As he sat on rock one day, and heard the boomin
of guns,
He said In Manila bay is of my Green Noun
| tain sons,
| George Dewey, just hamme ring holes Tito Spain
| old fashioned fleet
Then the fire leaped out of his eye, and his hear
| had swifter beat
| Uphe rose on his broad brave wings, took circl
| or two in the height,
Then away over sailed he, the American Eagl
| IL flight,
Paused above two Philippines and accommodation
| every king George, you can geti"
| And the Admiral sauted and answered, the Gree
| Mountain style-"You bet"