The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-06-21
MONTH ELIER HIGH SCHOOL.
Graduating Exercises Of the Class
of 80.

The eighty-sixth anniversary OF Wash
ington County Grammar School was held
Ffiday evening in Blanchard opera house,
when the graduating exercises OF the class
OF '99 took place. The stage was decorated
with ferns and daises and over the center
was suspended the class colors in which
were caught up the figures "99." Prayer
was offered by Rev. DR., Norman Seaver
and music throughout the evening was fur
nished by the Montpelier orchestra.
The first essay, with salutatory rank, was
by Miss Jean Cochrane. Her theme was
"rhe Bonnie Land of Song and Story" 1t
was graceful tribute to Scotland and her
people, illustrated by apt anecdotes OF the
land of heather.
Kemp Flint delivered an Grafton on THE
Anglo Saxon" He euogized the Anglo
Saxon race for what it has done in the past
and pointed to its possibilities in the tu-
ture. While England and America to.
gether can conquer the world, these Anglo
Saxon nations desire peace and are doing
all in their power to promote it..
The charming legend of The Golden
Fleece" was told by Jennie Sparrow and
from it was adroity drawn the lesson that
there are modern Jasons with us to-day.
Thomas A. Edison was cited as an illustri-
GUS example.
Florence Whittier read a dainty essay
on "Grumblers." The characteristics Of
well-known chronic grumblers were de.
scribed with a deft hand, and happy com.
parson was drawn between them and those
who look on the bright side OF things.
Hartman Leslie spoke on TRUSTS" 1t
was a very rosy view of the good effects re-
su ting from the well applied organization
of capital in trusts. The benefits resulting
therefrom to the laboring man were shown.
Miss Martha Demerritt next read care
Gathers no Moss" The essayist touched
upon the beauties and benefits of consist
ency and referred to Columbus and Cyrus
Field as examples of consistency. Be sure
you are right and then go ahead is as good
a motto for national az for individual life.
An essay on "a Chapter on Hands," by
Miss Nellie Parmenter was an ingenious
unfolding Of the thought that the hand is
the mirror OF the mind ss much as the face
Nearly every emotion of the mind may be
expressed by the hand.
The resources of America and what Amer
ican enterprise has done and contributed to
the worlds progress was shown in first
class Grafton on progress" delivered by
Earle Billings Mr.. Billings also referred
to what literature and free schools have
done for this nations progress.
The essay on "Epitaphs" by Miss Eunice
Baker was one of the most enjoyable OF the
evening. Several examples of tomb stone
epitaphs of former days were given and the
thought was expressed that the epitaph
writer of the olden time has passed away.
voice, Miss Ellen Minard read an essay on
Routine" This somewhat dry subject
was made attractive as tue essayist showed
that daily routine, wearisome at first, may
at last become pleasure. 1t is the only
sure road to success. Only by patient rout-
inc labor can we become successful in our
life work.
In an essay that sparkled with bright
thoughts Miss Kate Fuller spoke of "Imi-
tations." We find nothing in this world
lArn nla
good and bad effects of imitation were
shown in a happy manner, and the thought
that imitation is the sincerest tlattery was
enforced
In an easy and graceful manner Earle
Hunt gave an Grafton on Influence of
Great Men" The lives Of Peter the Great,
Alfred the Great, and Washington, and the
Influences they exerted were forcibly
| shown.
"School pictures by Dickens" was Miss
Florence Haylett's theme. Amusing ex-
! tracts from Dickens portrayal Of the public
! schools of England were given and the idea
was unfolded that these descriptions by the
author were the means Of obtaining bet
! ter system of schools for that country.
Miss Bessie Cummings subject was "Mem-
| orias OF Genius" In choice language,
with a pleasing voice, she referred to some
OF the memorials erected in this country to
the memory OF great men, closing with the
thought that the little things that go to
make up our daily lives will be our mem
orial.
Whitman Ferrin had the weighty subject
| of Disarmament" but he handled it iu-
telligently, showing a thorough knowledge
of the question and Of the proceedings at
| The Hague
"History," dry subject for five min
utes easay, was made bright and interesting
by Miss Eta Wheelock, as she pointed out
the attractive side OF prosy historical facts.
Miss Leone Tobey's essay was I'm Myth
land" Out of the NEUROLOGICAL yarns OF
the Greeks and Romans, and the immortal
names of the gods and goddesses pretty
story was woven.
an Grafton on Evolution of Artificial
Light" but was excused.
Miss Rennie Luke discussed "Women as
Rulers" citing Queen Elizabeth, Katherine
the Great OF Russia, and Queen Victoria as
illustIious examples of those qualified TO
direct the affairs Of great nations.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the bright
essay on American Humor," by Miss Cora
Johonnott. Since the early days OF Irving
and Lowell the spirit Of fun has been per
petuated. Artemus Ward and Mark Twain
were mentioned, with examples of their
humor and the essayist closed by saying
the man who cannot see the funny side OF
things is to be pitied.
Harry Weston's Grafton ON debating
Societies." was d we'll written argument for
| open ulSCusslouI 81 iONoN W .S"I
people. Incidentally the benefits derived
from the debates in the Blanpied lyceum
were touched upon.
Miss Amy Kibby was the valedictorian
A somewhat wearied audience followed with
un1aggng interest her essay on "MotheI
Goose Melodies" as she gave new version:
to the old melodies, and spoke Of the poss.
, bility of a twentieth century edition OF ht
old iady's ditties. Miss Kibby then grace
fully bade adieu to the friends OF the school
, thanked DR.. Seaver for his baccalaureat'
! sermon, the school board and teachers TO
what they had done for the class of 80, au'
, with faltering voice said goodbye to he
classmates. The honor of valedictoria
8 could not have been placed in more com
petent hands
r Gen. j. II. Lucia, chairman of the schoo
r board, then presented each member OF tn
| class with diploma and the benediction b
r DR. Seaver closed the exercises.