Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-06-11

afternoon the aCaueHly seniors. observer
class day. These exercises were Instituted
this year for the first time in the history
of the academy. They were held in the
/ schoolhOuse yard and everything passed
| off pleasantly. Fred D. Pierce of Barton,
the president of the class, extended a
| greeting in behalf of the class to the
friends and patrons OF the school. He
also thanked the undergraduates for
| their assistance and the teachers for their
earnest efforts i'll behalf of the class Mr..
! Pierce then took up his subject, 'Has the
| American Republic Reached its Culminat-
! ing Point?" He maintained that not only
| had it not reached the summit but that its
development is really in its infancy. He
| showed that the point raised by many
! that history repeats itself and that our
| nation is to be compared with ancient
Greece and Rome, should have but little
weight, as the conditions which existed in
| those countries, and which were largely
instrumental in causing their downfall, do
not exist in the United States and never
not carried on for the good of the people,
but to add glcries and riches to thenation,
while this country goes to war only for
Of the wonderful progress this country has
made during the past century and ex-
pressed the opinion that its progress would
be far greater in the years to come. Mr..
Pierce spoke in most interesting man
ner. The next speaker was Maud M.
Dutton of Barton, who delivered the
Junior essay, her subject being ''Our
Mission" She said in part: 'sThere is a
mission awaiting every Individual which
if accomplished brOadens ones life and
blesses mankind. If neglected it crippIes
ones usefulness and mars the happiness of
others. In nature we have an example
worthy of imitation; here we find con-
slant activity but no discordant notes;
every force is cheerfully striving to help
every other force. History abounds in the
examples of noble men and women by
whose work the entire world has been
benefited. Martin Luther's work was so
fearlessly performed that the entire world
owes him debt of gratitude. In nature
we see no jealousies. Let us do willingly
and cheerfully whatever comes to us in the
present. Start with the equipment life
has already given us and out of our present
evolve our future" Miss Dutton is an es-
pecially pleasing speaker and held the close
attention of her audience to the end. The
class prophet, Miss Myrtle L.. Woodwork
OF Berkshire, related her experiences in
Greenland, where she met each one of her
classmates in the positions w hich they are
supposed to occupy twenty years hence.
Knowing the characteristics and incfina-
tions of each member of the class, Miss
Woodwork had prepared laugh BILE and
interesting paper which was presented in
a most commendable manner. She is
girl of original ideas and although her ar
ticIe was of necessity longer than the
others. she entertained her listeners
through it all. possibilities ofEthe
Twentieth Century," was the theme of
Edith F. Aldrich of Glover. Her article
was nicely written and was filed with ex-
cellent ideas. She said in part: ssThe
century just closing has been the grandest
III the history of the world. The great
achievements have not been confined to
any one country as in ancient times, but
have extended to nearly all of them. We
are all familiar with the history of the
abolition of slavery in our own country.
Japan has been opened and raised to
higher civilization. The century has been
an age of invention and viewing the past
in the light of the present, who can help
but exclaim, elbow wonderful are the at
tainments of our civilization?" We must
remember that what the centuries have
done for us is not to increase our stature
but to build structure upon which we
may plant our feet. The century closing
adds another block to the great pedestal
and though it has its imperfections yet we
shall rise higher and leave still further be-
low us the errors of preceding ages. Mabel
F. McFarIane of Barton filled the office of
class poet in a most accepta BILE manner.
The poem was very well written, many in
cidents of school life being brought out,
and her presence and mode of expression
were both pleasing. Arthur Boswell chose
"Our Navy" as his subject and gave an
excellent account of the navy and the part
it has taken in our wars from the time of
the Revolution to the present date. Our
new navy commenced in. 1885 has cost us
500, 600, 900 and we now have under con-
struction war ships which are to cost
S63, 900, while our naval program for
1899 calls for an expenditure of $50, 100000
more. With the superior qualities of our
American built ships and our present and
future Deweys there is no reason why
Liberty should not rule in the. place so
long held by Brittania. The next speaker
was Mildred E. Graves of Barton, who
spoke on ''True Nobility" Among other
things she said: 'sThe highest tribute
which can be paid to any one is to say che
is noble" 1t includes all that is great and
good; all the graces and ali the virtues.
Wherever generosity, purity, sell, sacrifice,
truth and fidelity are found there wiIIsbe
found that for which all should seek, true
nobility" The last speaker OF the day